For about the third time today I'm watching the episode of Ray Mears, Bushcraft where he's in Sweden and has a knife blade made by Julius Pettersson.
When he gets the knife he says:
"I think there's a tradition which we both share, both in England and in Sweden, and that is, if somebody gives you a knife, you must give them a silver coin lest the blade cut a friendship."
I find this kind of thing really interesting, and find myself wondering...
Where does the tradition come from?
What does the giving of a coin do to avoid the friendship being cut?
And, perhaps most importantly of all, does it just need to be a silver-coloured coin as we have in the UK (not a scrap of silver in them), or does it need to contain actual silver like they used to? (50% to a bit over 90% depending on how far back you go)
I'm looking forwards to any responses and information people have on this one.
Cheers folks.
When he gets the knife he says:
"I think there's a tradition which we both share, both in England and in Sweden, and that is, if somebody gives you a knife, you must give them a silver coin lest the blade cut a friendship."
I find this kind of thing really interesting, and find myself wondering...
Where does the tradition come from?
What does the giving of a coin do to avoid the friendship being cut?
And, perhaps most importantly of all, does it just need to be a silver-coloured coin as we have in the UK (not a scrap of silver in them), or does it need to contain actual silver like they used to? (50% to a bit over 90% depending on how far back you go)
I'm looking forwards to any responses and information people have on this one.
Cheers folks.