Ok....guess I havent heard that one....what was the penny for?
:o

expat, thanks!!

BagCSC, I think the penny is to ward off the bad luck that is supposed to go along with giving a knife to someone (see the old wives' tale discussed upthread).

To remove rust from knives it is recommend to use a product called Bar Keepers Friend (you can find this at your local walmart). It is also recommended to hand wash, dry immedietely, and apply (vegetable or olive oil) to the blades to save the lives of them.

I work for a company that sells and warranties knives and pitting is caused by high acid foods such as the tomatoes..

We also recommend that knives be stored in a wooden block not only for safety but also it keeps the blades from getting nicked.

I always make sure that my knives are not wet when I keep them in the drawer. I also make sure that they are sharpened once in a while.

I've also heard the story about not giving knives as a gift. I've also heard of people attaching a penny and after the gift has been opened, requesting the penny back. That way the gift giver is being "paid" for the knives and superstition says the friendship will not be "cut".