Athames?

[NeoPhoenix]

I have a question concerning Athames. I'm in the process of purchasing one and was wondering when is an Athame no longer one? What I mean is, at what length? I was looking at one that is 16 3/8" in length with a 10 1/2" blade. So at that length is it still considered an Athame, or would it be considered a dagger or something else?

Thanks

Sandor

[Lavender]

Is that something that has to adhere to strict rules? I always thought an athame was just a knife Wiccans used in their rituals. The ones I've seen people used seems to be all different in size & shapses. But they're all personal to the person owning them.

[WolfWoman]

I agree with Wildchild on this one, it's basically what you're comfortable with.

I have a knife that I use for cutting herbs etc., but my athame isn't really a knife at all. It's almost like a 'pointer', made out of brass, about a foot long total. It's from Bali and it has carvings on it, good for meditation. It's edges aren't sharp and it's got four points that meet at the tip. I hope that makes some sense, I'm not sure it does even to me!

[Myst]

Yup. Some people have an athame for ceremonial use and a separate knife for cutting physical things, some people (usually those into folk magic and herb craft) use the same athame for both. From my understanding the length isn't set down, unless perhaps if you're trad or coven says it is.

[Old Witch]

I've never heard of a set length either.

[Scott]

i heard some use butter knives! :)

[Dria El]

The only 'rule' I've heard of (and this is unless your tradition says otherwise!) is that it be easily usable by you. Meaning... It shouldn't be so big that you can't weild it comfortably and not so small that it's dwarfed by your hand.

Hope this helps...

[NeoPhoenix]

Thanks for the info; I just wanted other opinions before going to purchase my Athame. And though your say it is ok to use any type of knife I pretty much prefer to follow the guidelines I have learned thus far.

Though you can correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't true Athames double edged?

Also I wanted to show you a pix of the one I was thinking about getting, and the one I have decided to get, which is only 12 7/8 inch.

One I was looking at http://www.whisperedprayers.com/Cart/Athame_KnightsDagger_Large.gif

One I'm going to get http://www.whisperedprayers.com/Cart/Athame_RoundTable_Large.gif



Sandor

[Imagi]

I like the one that you were looking at (the first link posted) best . . . but that's just my personal taste :D I do believe that "true" athames are double-edged . . . *brain-fog*

[Lavender]

They're both beautiful blades. The details on them are wonderful. What made you decide on the second one? I'm sure it must have been a tough decision.

I've read that athames are double edged too. What are the other guidelines that you have to follow?

[CondurerMan]

Originally posted by Scott
i heard some use butter knives! :)

Yep butterknives do the trick alright (personal experiance) :)

[amberlaine]

oh i much prefer the first one. Everyone and their mom has that second blade.

[Myst]

Whether single or double edged if something works it works.

[white_draco]

I think there would be obvious characteristics and physical appearance that would make it different then a sword.


- White Draco -

[minx]

Here is my Athame. It's about 10" long and is a replica of a ceremonial 12/13th century sword, It's as sharp as a sausage, and very small, but so beautiful :) (single edged too - but it works)

[Pesha]

I have always used what s called a boot antheme. It is only 7 inches in length and suitsmy needs just fine. Double edged. I used to have a boline to cut herbs but is was stolen.

BB
D'S...also known as...

[BlueFlame]

Stolen? that's mucho sucky.

I've ordered from Whispered Prayers before, and I know the owner from his messageboards, good choice!

My athame is, (don't laugh!) a letter opener. I figured it was best, because I was 14 when I got it, and I know doubble edged blades are illegal in some states. I consider it my "training athame." I was really concerned about getting one, but I actualy use my wand more then the Athame. Oh well. I think eventualy I'll get a nicer one.

[kblackthorne]

My athame -- which I've been using happily for nearly a decade -- is also a letter-opener. (Dagger-shaped, from the Fellowship Foundry (http://www.fellowshipfoundry.com/) -- though not one they currently seem to carry.) Depending on how I hold it, I can conceal the entire thing in my hand.

A bit small, maybe, but it works for me! :)

[Witchsistah]

Here's mine. I got it for ten bucks at Lilies War!

[Kimberlily]

My first athame was a letter opener too :lol: I still have it, in a box where I keep old ritual items that have meaning to me (like the black candle I used for my first major banishing ritual... serious energy there!)

Here's mine. It *is* a work in progress. I purchased it from an army surplus store, and it had been used as a hunting knife, and had been abused (the blade was all scratched up, and the handle was chipped) so a friend of a friend took it from me to remake it into something beautiful, which he never did finish. He had it for nearly a year by the time I told him to forget it :( The handle is purpleheart, which needs to be shaped a bit more and have the brass pins put in, as well as needing to be polished. He cut and shaped the blade, and the hand guard and pommel are new. He also cut the Triskele on the blade as well. All of the remaining work will be done someday, by my husband. If he ever has time, that is :geez:

[Arylon]

My athame is really quite ugly, actually, completely black. But it has a nice weight to it, and I like the way it feels in my hand. I haven't done any ritual or spellwork for *cough cough*, BUT I will probably keep the athame I have because of its "feel". :)

[HerbGurl]

Your athame is beautiful, Dierna!! My one and only athame was a letter opener that I found at Disney World at the Epcot Center's Wolrd showcase, in "Germany". It didn't look like a letter opener at all, more like a minature sword or dagger. It had eagle heads on the hilt and gorgeous flowers on the blade. My grandmother had to buy it for me cause I was only 16 at the time, and they wouldn't let minors buy knife type stuff I guess... (How she chewed them out when that happened! :lol: ) Unfortuantely, I misplaced it soon after we got home, (I think I threw it it out *blush*) and I haven't gotten another one to replace it. Guess it just means that I will have to go back to Disney World to get another one! :lol:
HerbGurl

[BlueFlame]

LOL I think that may be a first! Acidentaly throwing away your athame! :lol:

[Demeter]

Knife, dagger, whatever, are definitions of its shape; athame is a definition of its job. The smallest athame I've used is a pin (from my teeny tiny matchbox emergency altar kit). Anything longer than your forearm would probably be called a sword. I've seen books which advise that the athame should be double-edged, black-handled, and personalized in some way, but really anything vaguely knife-like and pointy will work. The athame I use most often is a clear lucite-handled knife; the lucite doesn't conduct energy very well, but I just make sure my thumb is in good contact with the metal cross-piece, and it works just fine.

[Theres]

they are double-edged because they are a tool for projection, and the double edge suggests balance.

and yes, there are some traditions which separate an 'athame' from a simple knife or dagger. one is that they are NEVER used to cut anything. the only exception to this is the handfasting cake. i mention this because mine was used for that very purpose today!

[Rae ShadowWolf]

This is what I am currently using.

http://ebay1.ipixmedia.com/abc/M28/_EBAY_66fe959619d2c1cc5574009be6caf9b5/i-1.JPG

I want to find another one. Something simpler (sp)

[BlueFlame]

I've seen one like that before. I don't like the kris style blades personaly, I'm with you, I like simple. Actualy something alot like Dierna's. A nice rounded point and broad blade, handle that feels good to hold, and maybe a tripple moon hilt. I hardly ever see athames in stores, and it's hard to know how an athame will feel in your hand by looking at pictures over the net. :/

[HerbGurl]

LOL I think that may be a first! Acidentaly throwing away your athame! :lol:
Yeah, I think it was on my desk, and I threw it out when I grabbed a pile of things for the trash can. My desk is a total disaster and things are always buried. :whatgives Just goes to show that you shouldn;t clean, you always lose stuff you need later! Safer to leave it in one big pile. :lol:
Either that or my mother threw it out... :geez:

[Witchsistah]

For folks looking for athames, Ebay is an excellent source. I buy knives there for my SCA garb. I got a knife from them for $1.50 that I'm going to use as a boline. You can get some really nice pieces for very decent prices there (she says while she's watching a Scottish dirk she's got her eye on).