The Real History of National Knife Day [With Evidence]
A Blade HQ investigation into the origins of August 24th's holiday
Since 2011, the knife community has celebrated National Knife Day every year on August 24. But who actually started it?
If you do a quick online search, you’ll likely find the same explanations repeated across the internet:
- That it was founded around 2011 by the knife-rights advocacy group Knife Rights.
- That it started in the Wild West.
- That nobody really knows.
The problem? Those stories don’t hold up well when you start looking for evidence.
So we dug deeper to uncover the truth behind this enigmatic holiday.
What we found was shocking.
However NKD really began, we believe Blade HQ played a role in making it as awesome and widespread as it is today.
In This Article
- Why is National Knife Day on August 24th?
- Who Started National Knife Day?
- Did Knife Rights Start National Knife Day?
- Early Evidence Points to Spyderco
- The Mysterious Facebook Page
- A Tradition is Born Through Blade HQ
- National Knife Day is Here to Stay
- Celebrate National Knife Day with Blade HQ
- National Knife Day Timeline
- Sources & Further Reading
Why is National Knife Day on August 24th?
Nearly 200 years ago on August 24, 1838. Rezin P. Bowie, the older brother of James Bowie, wrote a letter to the Planters’ Advocate in Louisiana. [1]
In that letter, Rezin claimed credit for creating the knife that would later become famous as the "Bowie knife." [1.1]
"The first Bowie knife was made by myself in the parish of Avoyelles…"
– Rezin Bowie [1.2]
He described it as a hunting knife with a blade roughly 9 1/4 inches long, 1 1/2 inches wide, single-edged and not curved. The letter was written to correct sensationalized accounts on the knife’s origins that had appeared in newspapers earlier that year. [1.4]
That is the strongest historical connection we have to the modern holiday.
In other words, National Knife Day could be tied to a specific historical event, and the date was likely chosen to commemorate the letter written that day in 1838 by a man who claimed to have created one of America’s most famous knives.
But there’s a catch.
The Bowie Knife Origin Isn’t So Simple
Rezin Bowie said he made the first Bowie knife; however, his descendants and later historical research give a slightly different story.
Allegedly, Rezin’s granddaughter claimed a hired blacksmith on the Bowie plantation, Jesse Clift, made the knife using an old file under Rezin’s direction. [2]
Rezin may have designed the knife. He may have commissioned it. He may have even helped make it. One thing’s for certain, though: his 1838 letter claimed that he made it, and that letter is dated August 24.
Regardless of who made the Bowie knife, its fame comes from Rezin’s younger brother, James Bowie.
James’ 1827 Sandbar Fight in Mississippi turned him into a national legend. James later died at the Alamo in 1836, cementing his place and the Bowie knife in American folklore. [2.1]
You can read all about James Bowie and his famous knife in our article on the subject.
Now, more than a century later, August 24 has become National Knife Day—and we think there’s good reason to believe that date was chosen for its connection to James’ legendary fixed blade.
But the question remained: how did a Bowie knife and a letter turn into a widely celebrated holiday?
The Bowie Story Circulates in the Knife Industry
In a Knife Dogs forum discussion that started in January 2011—the same year National Knife Day began—internet user Mike Carter published a story covering the history of the Bowie knife. [6]
A comment in the thread from another user stands out:
"In Blade [Magazine] last year there was a super on going story about the origin of the Bowie." [6.1]
So we have two publications addressing the same topic, the Bowie knife, around the same time NKD started.
Coincidence? Maybe.
Or maybe all this talk of the Bowie knife’s origins inspired someone to celebrate knives annually. And why not on August 24th, the date of Rezin’s letter?
Who Started National Knife Day?
This is where the story gets murky.
Some people online confidently state National Knife Day was founded by Knife Rights. [3] [3.1] Many say the origins are unknown. [3.3] [3.6] Others simply cite Rezin Bowie’s letter, leaving out important details. [3.7]
We wanted to know what the evidence actually pointed to, so we went directly to the subject of some of the main rumors: Knife Rights.
Did Knife Rights Start National Knife Day?
Doug Ritter founded Knife Rights in 2006 after reading an inflammatory Wall Street Journal article titled "How New, Deadly Pocket Knives Became a $1 Billion Business." He began legislative work to expand knife freedom as early as 2009 and 2010. [4] [4.1] [4.2]
Those years line up well with the 2011 National Knife Day foundation claims attached to Knife Rights. Just a year or so prior to NKD’s foundation, Knife Rights was at the forefront of defending everyday knife carriers around the same time the holiday began.
But Knife Rights never publicly said it created the holiday.
We went one step further and asked Ritter himself. His answer was straightforward: he didn’t start it.
However, according to Ritter, he noticed a retailer promoting the holiday and decided that the "made-up holiday" was good enough to get behind. [4.3]
Screenshot from Knife Rights’ Article
So, while NKD didn’t originate with Knife Rights, there is a connection. Knife Rights celebrated it, used it to promote its advocacy work, and still recognizes it today. [4.4]
So, if not Knife Rights, then who?
Early Evidence Points to Spyderco
We searched internet archives, internal records, social media posts, and forums for evidence of National Knife Day mentions between 2009–2011.
We found some intriguing clues.
On August 22, 2011—two days before National Knife Day—someone under the name "dapagco" posted an announcement on both BladeForum and Spyderco Forum:
"National Knife Day is this Wednesday!"
This post announced that Spyderco would be celebrating, directed people to Spyderco’s social accounts, and pointed them toward a dedicated Knife Day page on Spyderco’s website (which has since been taken down). [5] [5.1] [5.2] [5.2.1]
This suggests Spyderco’s post wasn’t just thrown together; it was part of a campaign. Because of that, Spyderco is the strongest candidate we have for the earliest brand to promote NKD.
But we can’t call it the founder. Here’s why…
The Mysterious Facebook Page
Another clue left us scratching our heads in the same 2011 BladeForums discussion.
On August 24, a forum member posted a link to a standalone Facebook page called "National Knife Day." Then they asked, "Is this the 1st annual NKD?" [5.3]
Unfortunately, the Facebook page is no longer available, so we can’t determine when it was created, who operated it, or whether it predates Spyderco’s campaign.
That matters, because if that page existed before Spyderco’s promotion, it could mean NKD was already circulating independently, and Spyderco just seized an excellent opportunity.
A Tradition Born Through Blade HQ
After all of our research, though, what Ritter said still nagged at us. He said he first saw a retailer promoting the holiday—not a brand (like Spyderco).
We couldn’t find archived webpages for knife retailers that matched the timeframe. But we did find something: Facebook posts.
We searched through several retailer Facebook histories to determine who went the furthest back and continued the celebrations year after year.
Smoky Mountain Knife Works initially posted in 2011 but wouldn’t post about NKD again until 2016. [7.1] KnifeCenter didn’t post until 2016. [8] DLT Trading didn’t post until 2017. [9]
In contrast, Blade HQ’s earliest documented NKD post dates to August 24, 2011—the same day that Spyderco publicly celebrated the occasion after their initial announcement. [10]
But we didn’t stop there.
In 2012, Blade HQ ran a dedicated National Knife Day promotion, giving away free gift cards to 15 lucky winners if we reached 9,000 YouTube subscribers, with the gift card value increasing incrementally as we surpassed our goals. [10.1]
By 2015, Blade HQ called National Knife Day "the pinnacle of all holidays" and built a full promotional event around it, complete with exclusive knives, special pricing, and free shirts with qualifying orders. [10.3]
And we’ve continued celebrating NKD ever since, sharing the joy of knives with everyone we can.
So, while we can’t confirm whether Blade HQ was the retailer Ritter saw, we can confirm that Blade HQ has been observing NKD from the beginning.
We’ve spent 15 years carrying a tradition forward, influencing brands and retailers along the way.
We’re proud of that.
National Knife Day is Here to Stay
Whether the origins of National Knife Day came from a grassroots Facebook community or was popularized by the folks here at Blade HQ, one thing’s for certain: it has become a beloved tradition within the knife community.
And that’s what’s most important.
Knives have been with us for thousands of years. They’re tools, pieces of craftsmanship, collectibles, outdoor companions, kitchen essentials, and everyday-carry gear. For many of us, they connect us to our hobbies, our families, and our history.
National Knife Day gives us a way to intentionally appreciate all of that every year. That’s one reason it’s so important to Blade HQ.
Celebrate National Knife Day with Blade HQ
Blade HQ has been celebrating National Knife Day since 2011, and we’re not about to stop.
Whether you’re a lifelong collector, an everyday-carry enthusiast, a chef, an outdoorsman, a knife maker, or someone simply fascinated by these incredible tools, National Knife Day is your day, too.
If you’re wondering how you can celebrate humanity’s knife innovations, here are some ideas:
Ideas for Celebrating National Knife Day
- Sharpen your beloved kitchen knife or favorite daily carry.
- Clean up the pocket knife you’ve used and abused for years.
- Take your favorite fixed blade outside for some quality time.
- Learn about the history behind a classic knife design.
- Try a new sharpening technique.
- Teach someone how to safely use and care for a knife.
- Get that new knife you’ve been eyeing for a while.
Whatever you decide to do, we wish you a Happy Knife Day from everyone here at Blade HQ!
National Knife Day Timeline
| Year | What happened |
| Aug 24, 1838 | Rezin Bowie dates his famous letter claiming to have created the first Bowie knife. [2] |
| 2006 | Doug Ritter founds Knife Rights. [4.1] |
| 2009–2010 | Knife Rights begins securing significant legislative victories for knife owners. [4.1] |
| 2010 | Blade Magazine allegedly publishes an article on the history of the Bowie knife. [5.1] |
| ~2011 | A Facebook page titled "National Knife Day" was likely created. [5.4] |
| Aug 22, 2011 | Spyderco publishes first NKD announcement and promotes a dedicated campaign. [5] |
| Aug 24, 2011 | Blade HQ publicly celebrates NKD along with knife brands like Spyderco and Kershaw. [10] [10.1] |
| 2012–2014 | Blade HQ runs a NKD giveaway; Benchmade, CRKT, Cold Steel and other brands begin appearing in the holiday’s promotional ecosystem. [13] [14] [15] |
| 2015 | Blade HQ publishes its first article celebrating NKD. [10.3] |
| 2016 | More brands and retailers start acknowledging NKD. [7.1] [8] |
| 2017–2018 | Blade HQ does a "parade" for National Knife Day. |
| 2019–2020 | Knife Rights celebrates NKD via press outlets wishing knife owners well and ties the day to their advocacy mission. [4.4] [4.5] |
| 2021–Present | NKD is widely recognized by knife companies, retailers, enthusiasts and holiday websites. |
Sources & Further Reading
Our research into National Knife Day draws from historical records, archived websites, knife-community forums, first-party brand records, and direct correspondence.
Research note: This article distinguishes between documented facts, strong evidence and unresolved historical questions. The absence of an earlier surviving record does not prove that an earlier celebration did not exist. As new primary-source evidence becomes available, this article may be updated.
The Bowie Knife (1827–1841)
[1] Texas State Historical Association. "The Life and Legacy of Rezin P. Bowie: Pioneer and Inventor." Accessed August 13, 2026. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/bowie-rezin-pleasant.
[1.1] Texas State Historical Association. "The History and Evolution of the Bowie Knife." Accessed August 13, 2026. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/bowie-knife.
[1.2] The Historical Marker Database. "The First Bowie Knife." Accessed August 13, 2026. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=98048.
[1.3] Historical Images Facebook Page. "Craig Meador’s Post." Accessed August 13, 2026. https://www.facebook.com/groups/histimages/permalink/4433313450254430/.
[1.4]Texas State Historical Association. "The History and Evolution of the Bowie Knife." Accessed August 13, 2026. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/bowie-knife.
[1.5] Bowie Knife Fights, Fighters & Fighting Techniques. "Who Invented the Bowie Knife?" Accessed August 14, 2026. https://bowieknifefightsfighters.blogspot.com/2011/02/who-invented-bowie-knife.html.
[2] Avoyelles. "Rezin Pleasant Bowie: Avoyellean of 1826." Accessed August 13, 2026. https://avoyelles.com/Avoyelleans/1826-1827/RezinPleasantBowie.html.
James Bowie, the Sandbar Fight, and the Alamo
[2.1] Texas State Historical Association. "The Life and Legacy of James Bowie: A Texas Hero." Accessed August 13, 2026. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/bowie-james.
NKD Holiday Tied to Knife Rights, Bowie History, or "Other" Sources
[3] Emerson Knives. National Knife Day landing page claiming Knife Rights founded the holiday. Accessed August 2026. https://www.emersonknives.com/pages/national-knife-day.
[3.1] Cretan Knives. "Why Do We Celebrate National Knife Day?" Accessed August 2026. https://www.cretanknives.gr/en/history-of-knives-en/why-do-we-celebrate-national-knife-day.
[3.2] The Outdoor Wire. "National Knife Day." August 24, 2017. https://www.theoutdoorwire.com/features/231988/.
[3.3] Knives Illustrated. "Today is National Knife Day!" August 24, 2019https://www.knivesillustrated.com/national-knife-day/.
[3.4] Daysoftheyear.com. "National Knife Day." Accessed August 2026. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/knife-day/.
[3.5] Knife Depot. "National Knife Month & Knife Week: History, Best Knives, Care Tips & How to Celebrate (2026)." August 13, 2026. https://knife-depot.com/blogs/sharpened-values/national-knife-month.
[3.6] BPS Knives. "The History of National Knife Day." Accessed August 2026. https://bpsknives.com/the-history-of-national-knife-day/.
[3.7] Urban EDC. "National Knife Day: History, Significance, & Celebration Ideas." December 16, 2025. https://urbanedc.com/blogs/analog-field-guide/national-knife-day-history-significance-celebration-ideas.
[3.8] Sambonet. "Everything you need to know about the National Knife Day." Accessed August 2026. https://www.sambonet-shop.com/en-us/national-knife-day.html.
Knife Rights
[4] Knife Rights. "Wall Street Journal – July 25, 2006 – How New, Deadly Pocketknives Became a $1 Billion Business." July 24, 2016. https://kniferights.org/legislative-update/wall-street-journal-july-25-2006-how-new-deadly-pocketknives-became-a-1-billion-business/.
[4.1] Knife Rights. "Knife Rights Was Born 10 Years Ago Today!" July 25, 2016. https://kniferights.org/legislative-update/knife-rights-was-born-10-years-ago-today/.
[4.2] Knife Rights. "Knife Rights Was Born 20 Years Ago!" July 25 2026. https://kniferights.org/legislative-update/knife-rights-was-born-20-years-ago.
[4.3] Ritter, Doug. Chairman, Knife Rights, Inc. Email correspondence with Blade HQ. August 12, 2026. Source available upon request.
[4.4] Knife Rights. "Court in California Hands Down Decision for National Knife Day!" August 24, 2024. https://kniferights.org/legislative-update/court-hands-down-decision-for-national-knife-day/.
[4.5] Ammoland. "Knife Rights Celebrates National Knife Day!" August 24, 2020. https://www.ammoland.com/2020/08/knife-rights-celebrates-national-knife-day/.
Spyderco Evidence
[5] BladeForums. "National Knife Day – August 24, 2011." Post by "dapagco." August 2011. https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/national-knife-day-august-24-2011.876171/.
[5.1] Spyderco Forums. Post by "dapagco." August 22, 2011, 12:06pm (last edited August 24, 2011). https://forum.spyderco.com/viewtopic.php?t=51161&hilit=national+knife.
[5.2] Wayback Machine snapshot of spyderco.com news page, dated August 22, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110824101940/http://www.spyderco.com/news/news.php.
[5.2.1] Wayback Machine snapshot of Spyderco Knife Day landing page. Captured April 10, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120410203524/spyderco.com/knifeday.
[5.3] BladeForums. "National Knife Day – August 24, 2011." Comment linking to standalone "National Knife Day" Facebook page and asking "Is this the 1st annual NKD?…". August 24, 2011. https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/national-knife-day-august-24-2011.876171/post-9935500.
[5.4] National Knife Day Facebook page. Owner unknown. Content unavailable. Accessed August 2026. https://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Knife-Day/.
Renewed Bowie-Knife Interest (2010–2011)
[6] Knife Dogs Forum. "The Legend of the Bowie Knives." January 2011. https://knifedogs.com/threads/the-legend-of-the-bowie-knife.15306/.
[6.1] Knife Dogs Forum. "The Legend of the Bowie Knives" comment mentioning Blade Magazine. January 2011. https://knifedogs.com/threads/the-legend-of-the-bowie-knife.15306/post-140702.
Retailer & Brand Evidence
[7] Smokey Mountain Knife Works. Facebook post. August 24, 2011. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1SPPBggAxQ/.
[7.1] Smokey Moutain Knife Works. Facebook post. August 24, 2016. https://www.facebook.com/share/1Ey5JiZsbb/.
[8] KnifeCenter. Facebook post. August 24, 2016. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1E2ENpYWSj/.
[9] DLT Trading. Facebook post. August 24, 2017. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/194D9sX4ri/.
[10] Blade HQ. Facebook post. August 24, 2011. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EghvmBFdy/.
[10.1] Blade HQ. Facebook post announcing giveaway campaign. August 21, 2012. https://www.facebook.com/share/1C5bJcT96e/.
[10.2] Blade HQ. Facebook announcement for giveaway winners. August 24, 2012. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AcHJRthoH/.
[10.3] Blade HQ "Knife Life" Blog. Internal records. August 21, 2015. Source available upon request.
[11] Spyderco. Facebook post. August 24, 2011. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BfmzXDFyd/.
[12] Kershaw Knives-KAI USA Ltd. Facebook post. August 24, 2011. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JbNrvNAPa/.
[13] Benchmade Knife Company. Facebook post. August 24, 2012. https://www.facebook.com/share/19BrNxw19b/.
[14] CRKT. Facebook post. August 24, 2012. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FwsbNoyKo/.
[15] Cold Steel. Facebook post. August 24, 2012. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ExpKbtNui/.
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