10 Knife Myths Action Movies Made Us Believe

1. Holding a knife with your teeth is a good way to keep your hands free

In cinema and literature, pirates are often depicted with a dagger between their teeth. This is a very recognizable and stereotypical look. Allegedly, it was more convenient for the sea robber to climb the boarding nets aboard the captured vessel.

But in reality, a self-respecting filibuster needed a dagger in his teeth just like a wooden leg or a parrot on his shoulder - it looks cool, but in practice it only gets in the way.

Holding a knife with your teeth is a bad idea for several reasons. Firstly, they can be trite to cut themselves, getting themselves a “Glasgow smile”. Nolan's Joker will like it, but more sane people won't. Secondly, it is inconvenient to talk. Thirdly, there is not much benefit from a short blade in battle if the enemy knows how to fence, but you can’t slander a heavy boarding saber or sword in your mouth - it weighed from one and a half to two kilograms.

The real historical pirates are most likely not worn their knives and other edged weapons in their teeth, because in the world there is such a thing as a scabbard. Convenient, practical, the probability of knocking out one's own tooth or cutting one's cheeks tends to zero. No cons.

2. Knives easily pierce body armor

Stills from the film "V for Vendetta"

In films, we see the following picture over and over again. The character is hit with all types of firearms, but he does not care, because he wears a bulletproof vest. But as soon as the villain grabs a cold weapon and arranges a knife fight, the real danger begins to threaten the hero.

We saw similar scenes in action films like "John Wick" and "Tyler Rake", when the enemies managed to cut up the heroes in bulletproof vests. And in dystopia “V means vendetta” V easily killed armored commandos by throwing daggers.

In reality, of course, everything is so. If something cannot be pierced by a bullet from a firearm, then poking with a knife is all the more pointless.

Bulletproof vests, helmets, collars and other protective equipment are designed to minimize possible damage from knife attacks. And a knife that was thrown from afar is completely harmless to a person in body armor. You will not believe it, but even a tight jacket he will break through far from immediately. Only if the blade is heavy and thrown at close range with great force, and the target in front of it is motionless.

Footage: "Not a club member!!!" / Youtube

In general, the character of Jason Statham from The Expendables, Lee Christmas, a cold-weapon lover, would hardly be able to cause any noticeable damage to his enemies in a real fight.

3. Knives make a loud clang

In the movies, sharp weapons constantly make clanging noises. Not a single stabbing scene is complete without this. In the sagas of Jason Bourne, John Wick and Tyler Rake, knives creak, whistle and grind when they are taken out of scabbard, swinging them in the air and sticking them into the enemy - in short, every movement is accompanied by accompaniment.

In the horror series "Scream", the knife even made a grinding sound when maniac wiped the blood from it with a gloved hand. Perhaps Ghostface has steel claws like his colleague Freddy Krueger, he just keeps them retracted into the pads of his fingers.

In reality, it is easy to notice that knives do not make sounds. If you don’t believe me, go to the kitchen and try to cut yourself sandwiches, listening carefully.

Tradition to give sound to melee weapons went since the 19th century. HEMA historian and fencer Matt Easton tellsthat then the actors in the theaters were supplied with the so-called singing scabbards with a metal edge. When a sword was pulled out of them, a rattle was heard - for heightening the drama. From contact with metal, however, the blade was constantly dulled, but actors it wasn't much of a concern.

4. You can throw knives very far and very accurately

Stills from the film "The Expendables"

Professional assassins and special forces from movies and games show truly incredible accuracy and range when it comes to throwing knives. The same Lee Christmas from The Expendables manages to hit the enemy directly in the neck or eye socket from a distance of several tens of meters. Can we implement such a trick in reality?

The recorded world record for throwing a knife at a distance belongs to Connor Seyfert from Washington. With his Cold Steel Pro-Flight Sport blade, he hit the target from a distance of 112 feet, or 34 meters. In order to "shoot", or, more precisely, to crouch, he it took only 80 tries.

Moreover, the record holder threw knives not at a squirrel in the eye, but at a wooden target with a diameter of one meter according to the principle “but stick it somehow”.

International Association for Sports Knife Throwing holds world championship with the participation of the best throwers. Usually athletes throw blades for accuracy at a distance of 3 to 9 meters. Everyone has several knives and attempts, the winner is revealed by adding up points for successful hits.

And for pros who have been throwing all their lives, not all blades hit the target safely. Moreover, they enjoy multi-turn technique of throwing a knife - more accurate, but rigidly tied to a distance and not applicable in battle.

Imagine what would happen if the target was alive, armed and ran at the thrower with the clear intention of harming him. Probably, most athletes at this moment would prefer to have some kind of pistol in their hand, rather than a knife.

5. Knife throwing was a very common technique in the past.

Some might say that throwing knives is really useless these days, because we have automatic firearms. But in the harsh Middle Ages throwing a dagger into the face of some knight and laying him down without a fight is a nice thing.

Throwing a dagger is an extremely popular way of attacking an enemy with various fantasy thieves and spies. But as a real medieval martial art, it was not common. German swordsman Hans Talhoffer (c. 1410–1482) and Paulus Hector Mayr (1517–1579) mention throwing daggers in his treatises, but not as a combat technique, but as a distraction. Throw something heavy at the enemy, and while he hesitated, pull out the sword and chop the adversary - such a plan.

Various throwing blades were slightly more in demand during the tribal wars in Central Africa and India. These guys were bad at forging armor, so chain mail and plate armorlike the Europeans, they did not invent. Throwing each other with different sharp things was more convenient for them.

The throwing weapons of the Africans did not resemble knives, but wild hybrids of sickles and karambits with several blades, to be sure.

However, the good old spears, darts, slings and bows were more effective than such marvels of engineering.

Popularized throwing knives only in the 19th century in the USA, and not the military, but artists from stray circuses, the most famous of which was the Barnum and Bailey Circus. Later, knife throwing migrated from the circus arena to the cinema. Thus was born the myth of the incredible martial art of the past, which allows you to turn kitchen utensils into a deadly projectile.

6. Knife kills instantly

In movies like The Raid and John Wick, the characters swing their blades left and right and manage to kill their enemies with a single, well-placed blow. But Hollywood filmmakers overestimate the effectiveness of knife fighting.

Real stab wounds appear in criminal cases around the world much more often than gunshots. Which is logical, since running to the kitchen for a knife is much easier than getting hold of a gun. But at the same time, gunshot wounds rank first in terms of mortality, and knife wounds account for less than 10% of all deaths from penetrating injuries.

By statistics According to British forensic scientists, stab wounds are four times more common than gunshot wounds. However, the mortality rate from knife wounds ranges from 0 to 4%, while 85% of injuries inflicted by knives are limited to damage to the subcutaneous tissue.

Most stabbed victims received dozens of stabs before dying.

In general, in order to reliably disable the enemy, one blow with a blade, as in action movies, is clearly not enough. And the lethality from knife attacks is lower, and the ability to stop them is worse than that of firearms. Therefore, if John Wick were a real professional killer, he would not take a knife with him, but an additional clip: the weight is comparable, but there are more benefits.

7. Throwing a knife is the best way to take down a sentry

And in games like Hitman or Assassin's Creed, and in numerous militants the heroes briskly throw knives at their enemies, and none of the nearby comrades even turn around - unless their attention is attracted by a too loud fall of the body.

This common cliché has given rise to the idea in the public mind that throwing a knife is supposedly the best way to take down a sentry. The saboteur makes only one movement with his hand - and his opponent falls, without having time to understand what he is dying from.

In reality, people who have been stabbed with a knife make quite a noise, wheeze and make various sounds.

And even if the blade hit them right in the head, as is often the case in the movies (which is actually unlikely, because the skull is a strong thing), a penetrating wound to the brain is still does not guarantee instant death.

In addition, as we have already mentioned, the accuracy of even world champions is not enough to constantly hit a person exactly in the eye or neck. Unless, of course, do trial throws. But this is clearly not the best way to stealthily kill.

That is why, by the way, the soldiers of the armies of Singapore, Germany and the US Marine Corps They say about not being taught how to throw knives. And if anyone does this, it is only as entertainment in free time. After all, why do this when you can shoot the enemy.

8. Mercury blades always fly right on target

on the internet for a long time walks a tale about the "mercury knives of the Soviet special forces." These are allegedly special projectiles with blades half filled with mercury. When they are thrown, the mercury travels to the front of the blade, providing a secure thrust into the target.

Invented "mercury knives" supposedly for counterintelligence immediately after the end of World War II. And similar models are still armed commandos, paratroopers and other secret guys.

But in reality, no blades with weights and "mercury knives of the Soviet special forces" have ever existed.

Most likely a tale about them in 1993 invented author of the book "How they fought in the NKVD" Alexander Medvedev. A similar unit in one of his books was also mentioned by the writer Andrei Konstantinov, the author of Gangster Petersburg. Therefore, knives with mercury inside are rather replicated urban legend.

Mercury will not make the knife more convenient to throw, so you can’t even dream of a “homing” blade. But the hollow blade will be less durable. And a few photos of mercury knives allegedly created in the USSR on the Internet - forgeries.

9. An unarmed man can handle an armed knife and remain unharmed.

In Hollywood action films, unarmed characters regularly demonstrate complex tricks and grips that allow them to take a knife from the enemy without risk to health. As a result, the adversary is stabbed with his own weapon, and the hero remains without a scratch.

The chances of staying unharmed in a real knife fight are very slim, even if you're well-prepared. Often in films, villains fencing with blades, providing the opponent with plenty of opportunities to intercept their hands and disarm them. However, no one in their right mind would do that. It is enough for a thug to take a knife and strike, closing himself from counterattacks with his free hand. A simple stab to the chest or belly will not block unless you are a knight and carry a shield.

In the video below, a US Marine demonstrates the perfect melee defense technique.

Seems a lot smarter than trying to pull off the tricks of the guys from The Raid and The Expendables.

10. Magicians use fake knives

In the cinema, fighters are mainly engaged in throwing knives, although in life this is rather a prerogative. magicians. But even their work becomes an object of myth-making, although, unlike members of the special forces, circus performers usually keep themselves in sight.

According to one of the myths, during tricks with throwing knives at a helper tied to a target, no throwing occurs. The magician only pretends to throw the blade. In fact, he hides the props in his sleeve, and a false spring-loaded knife built into it jumps out of the target. Some artists, like Val Valentino, have actually done this.

But most professional magicians do throw knives. About it testify frequent injuries among assistants.

For example, in 2003, speaking on the air of the British morning TV show, knife thrower Jade Hanson seriously wounded his assistant Yana Rodionova. Two years earlier, at the World Circus Festival in Paris, a "target" girl named Catherine Jamet was almost killed by her partner with a crossbow. And actress Ronnie Claire Edwards in her memoirs described, as a magician with a pseudonym The Great Shoshone Mahaffy, with a knife throw, accidentally cut off the little finger of his assistant Fifi.