# Is there something one can do to block the tip of a knife? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 6, 2014, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-one-can-do-to-block-the-tip-of-a-knife/678027 "2014-01-06T15:07:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-one-can-do-to-block-the-tip-of-a-knife/678027/21 "2014-01-06T23:52:18Z")
> [@mr.jp](#): > > I still want to cut with the knife! I just don’t want to risk pricking myself with the tip. And I don’t really have any use for a sharp tip anyway. No, it’s standard design. Could you tell us what knife chore you do? Is it kitchen food prep, butchering, camp chores, carving, whittling, cutting open boxes and other packaging? The next step after identifying the task is to choose the right knife. Or maybe you’ve gone through those two steps but we’d like to hear them anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-one-can-do-to-block-the-tip-of-a-knife/678027/22 "2014-01-07T00:09:59Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Why I suggested taking it to a professional =) > > I suppose you could find a knifemaker and commission some custom knives. I could ask my roomie what a set of the traditional 3 kitchen knives would cost in carbon steel. Nah, just take it to your local butcher and ask him to do it. He probably won’t even charge you. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-one-can-do-to-block-the-tip-of-a-knife/678027/23 "2014-01-07T01:56:39Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > Could you tell us what knife chore you do? Is it kitchen food prep, butchering, camp chores, carving, whittling, cutting open boxes and other packaging? The next step after identifying the task is to choose the right knife. Or maybe you’ve gone through those two steps but we’d like to hear them anyway. I cut food stuff, onions and such. I have recently acquired a sharp chefs knife. I feel like it is under control while cutting, but I lightly moved my left hand into the tip while holding the knife still and talking, and it that was enough to make a cut. ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-one-can-do-to-block-the-tip-of-a-knife/678027/24 "2014-01-07T02:10:23Z")
For an non permanent unobtrusive solution: get some air-drying polymer clay put some over the tip in a suitable shape remove and allow to dry = cap for knife tip. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-one-can-do-to-block-the-tip-of-a-knife/678027/25 "2014-01-07T03:47:10Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > “…and I do wonder why manufacturers put sharp points on kitchen knives…” Coring apples, removing eyes from potatoes, starting cuts for slicing tomatoes… etc etc., ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-one-can-do-to-block-the-tip-of-a-knife/678027/26 "2014-01-07T05:21:51Z")
> [@mr.jp](#): > > So that I can avoid cutting myself on that (again). Like a cap or something. Wear a leather glove on your left hand? Tie your left hand behind your back? ---
**Author:** ![Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speak_to_me_Maddie)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-one-can-do-to-block-the-tip-of-a-knife/678027/27 "2014-01-07T07:02:14Z")
Stick a piece of cork on the end, Ruprecht style. ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-one-can-do-to-block-the-tip-of-a-knife/678027/28 "2014-01-07T10:47:24Z")
Or this [http://www.superiorglove.com/work-gloves/cut-resistant-gloves/stainless-steel-cut-resistant-gloves](http://www.superiorglove.com/work-gloves/cut-resistant-gloves/stainless-steel-cut-resistant-gloves) ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-one-can-do-to-block-the-tip-of-a-knife/678027/29 "2014-01-07T11:20:33Z")
Those are cut resistant - they don’t do such a great job against jabbing or pricking yourself like to OP describes. It’s a great product, I use them and when I teach my kids how to properly use a knife I but them their own, but they just don’t protect against stab-like injuries very well. ---
**Author:** ![Habeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-one-can-do-to-block-the-tip-of-a-knife/678027/30 "2014-01-07T11:33:10Z")
Well, switch to a cleaver and use a cut resistant glove. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-one-can-do-to-block-the-tip-of-a-knife/678027/31 "2014-01-07T12:32:36Z")
This thread reminds me of the British Medical Journal editorial calling for a move away from having long, sharp kitchen knives: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk\_news/magazine/7508404.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7508404.stm) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-one-can-do-to-block-the-tip-of-a-knife/678027/32 "2014-01-07T12:41:00Z")
When a friend did her medical training she told me she couldn’t believe how many bagel slicing lacerations she had seen in the ER. ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-one-can-do-to-block-the-tip-of-a-knife/678027/33 "2014-01-07T12:52:30Z")
I was watching a TV show yesterday (Guy Martin’s Speed) and when attempting a hydroplaning on a scrambler bike distance challenge, in case of emergency and needing to cut strap on his helmet, he was carrying a diving knife with a covered tip but sharp edges, so he could push it up against his throat and cut outwards safely. Anyhow, it looked to me like the tip was coated in clay or maybe even wax. So for a non-permanent solution (if it is only to protect from accidental slips) then dipping the tip in wax or covering with potter’s clay might be a simple option? (not sure how robust it would prove to be though). ---
**Author:** ![Habeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-one-can-do-to-block-the-tip-of-a-knife/678027/34 "2014-01-07T13:19:31Z")
This begs the question : what common kitchen tasks needs a pointed knife? Cut some cheese - no Peel potatoes - no Cut pre-butchered meat - no Cut vegetables - no The only way I can imagine the tip helping is if you are cutting meat that you need to insert the tip to start on a deboning task. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-one-can-do-to-block-the-tip-of-a-knife/678027/35 "2014-01-07T13:30:09Z")
My dad brought his cheap whetting stone to my house over for dinner once, and dulled the tips of my four good knives at my request. It took him about five minutes per knife. He too had seen too many accidents where the knife is accidentally dropped and spears the cook’s foot. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-one-can-do-to-block-the-tip-of-a-knife/678027/36 "2014-01-07T13:31:52Z")
> [@Habeed](#): > > This begs the question : what common kitchen tasks needs a pointed knife? > > Cut some cheese - no > Peel potatoes - no > Cut pre-butchered meat - no > Cut vegetables - no > > The only way I can imagine the tip helping is if you are cutting meat that you need to insert the tip to start on a deboning task. Jason Bourne style kitchen fights of course. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-one-can-do-to-block-the-tip-of-a-knife/678027/37 "2014-01-07T13:43:39Z")
> [@Habeed](#): > > This begs the question : what common kitchen tasks needs a pointed knife? Opening packaging when the kitchen shears are hiding. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-one-can-do-to-block-the-tip-of-a-knife/678027/38 "2014-01-07T14:00:03Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Opening packaging when the kitchen shears are hiding. That is much safer and better done with a can opener anyway. Doing it with a sharptipped knife is asking for bloody accidents. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-one-can-do-to-block-the-tip-of-a-knife/678027/39 "2014-01-07T14:46:33Z")
> [@Habeed](#): > > This begs the question : what common kitchen tasks needs a pointed knife? Scoring things - the skin on a duck breast before grilling - the flesh of a halved mango before turning out - scoring peeled carrots before roasting Stabbing things - cutting deep, narrow slits in a joint of meat before larding it or inserting slivers of garlic or other seasonings. Breaking things up - I use the tip of a pointed knife to crumble cheese, to break up hard, brittle root vegetables such as Jerusalem artichokes or eddoes Piercing things - the initial cut when gutting a fish pretty much demands a pointed blade. Testing if things are cooked - I find that a sharp point is better for poking a potato (or whatever) to test if it is fully cooked. I guess I could use a fork or a skewer, but I already have the knife out that I used for preparing them. There are probably others ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_York](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_York](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_York)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2014, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-one-can-do-to-block-the-tip-of-a-knife/678027/40 "2014-01-07T22:23:27Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Scoring things - the skin on a duck breast before grilling - the flesh of a halved mango before turning out - scoring peeled carrots before roasting > > Stabbing things - cutting deep, narrow slits in a joint of meat before larding it or inserting slivers of garlic or other seasonings. > > Breaking things up - I use the tip of a pointed knife to crumble cheese, to break up hard, brittle root vegetables such as Jerusalem artichokes or eddoes > > Piercing things - the initial cut when gutting a fish pretty much demands a pointed blade. > > Testing if things are cooked - I find that a sharp point is better for poking a potato (or whatever) to test if it is fully cooked. I guess I could use a fork or a skewer, but I already have the knife out that I used for preparing them. > > There are probably others My wife has more than one knife. Some have points, others do not. I can’t understand why it’s necessary to limit yourself to one knife, or take the trouble to get involved with altering your current knife. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-one-can-do-to-block-the-tip-of-a-knife/678027.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-something-one-can-do-to-block-the-tip-of-a-knife/678027.md?page=3)