# In a standard silverware set, what is the point of the smaller forks?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-standard-silverware-set-what-is-the-point-of-the-smaller-forks/940274>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [April 19, 2021, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-standard-silverware-set-what-is-the-point-of-the-smaller-forks/940274 "2021-04-19T00:40:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-standard-silverware-set-what-is-the-point-of-the-smaller-forks/940274/41 "2021-04-19T22:44:26Z")

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> [@kanicbird](#):
>
> Anyone else use it as a children’s fork?

My parents did, when we were children. We got older and my sister prefers the short fork, and I prefer the long. And for some reason, my silverware set has twice as many short forks as long forks. I’ve never noticed any difference in the short forks, but I admit to not examining them.

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**Author:** ![vbob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vbob/32/4439_2.png) [@vbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vbob)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-standard-silverware-set-what-is-the-point-of-the-smaller-forks/940274/42 "2021-04-20T09:29:59Z")

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“I eat my peas with honey; I’ve done it all my life. It makes the peas taste funny, But it keeps them on the knife…”

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**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-standard-silverware-set-what-is-the-point-of-the-smaller-forks/940274/43 "2021-04-20T11:43:51Z")

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> [@vbob](#):
>
> I eat my peas with honey; I’ve done it all my life. It makes the peas taste funny …

Yuck! That’s what they make mashed potatoes for, silly! 👌

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**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-standard-silverware-set-what-is-the-point-of-the-smaller-forks/940274/44 "2021-04-21T16:35:12Z")

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Discussion of salad forks always makes me think of the [last three panels of this Erfworld webcomic.](https://archives.erfworld.com/Book+1/91) Forks from the barbarian mercenary perspective.

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**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-standard-silverware-set-what-is-the-point-of-the-smaller-forks/940274/45 "2021-04-22T12:24:47Z")

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Our silver set had what Wikipedia calls a “master butter knife” (it was left in the butter dish/plate, and was only used to transfer butter from it to your bread & butter plate) - in addition to butter knives for each diner. [Butter knife - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butter_knife)

In addition - we had a set of (at least six - maybe eight?) “grapefruit spoons” - from the 1893 Columbian Exposition on Chicago - this would be part of the set. Each had an illustration of a building and its name on it. [4 Souvenir Grapefruit Spoons 1893 Columbian Exposition | #16695101](https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/4-souvenir-grapefruit-spoons-1893-columbian)

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