**This article addresses erotic knife play. It could be a possible trigger for some. It is intended as an educational article for consenting adults**
“A deadly weapon. Sharp. Slick. Seductive. Sliding across the skin slowly, not knowing where it will stop. Caressing the curve of her neck, causing her skin to unconsciously shiver with desire. A groan escapes her taut lips. It glints as it glides down her soft belly to the moist spot waiting below. Teasing so lightly that it feels like butterfly wings, it makes her seek to squirm and wiggle away. She knows that one small move and the butterfly will die.”
Now that I have your attention, let’s talk about the weapon itself and how to recreate the above scenario safely. Knives! Small ones, tall ones even pocket ones: all mean instant orgasm to me. Recall the scene from Sweeny Todd (if you have seen it) with Johnny Depp where he makes love to his razors. Caressing them, making them gleam and glint. Now I am of course not advocating using knives violently but the image put forth in that scene was designed to invoke one thing: arousal. Just the sight of a shiny blade is enough to make me gush (like a new pair of shiny stilettos, just a different shine). Used as an erotic tool by one you love, the blade takes on a deeper meaning. Trusting someone you love to come at you (or vice versa) with what we have been conditioned to view as a deadly weapon takes an enormous amount of trust. No matter how hard we fight, it is ingrained in us to react. The intrinsic reaction of fear or protection is based upon the object, not the person in this case. It could be anyone behind the knife, we would still react the same, with our survival instinct. Fear in the object and what possible harm it could cause us. It is a predicament scene playing out in our head without so much as a touch.
In our lifestyle, trust is the cornerstone upon which we base our interactions. Introducing a deadly weapon as a play instrument pushes this boundary. For many, knife play is a hard limit. While the sub trusts you to never actually harm them, you are not what they are worried about. From a young age, we are told not to play with sharp, pointy things or we get hurt. This is not a bad reaction.
A healthy respect for things that can harm us is a good thing to have. It is how we learn not to do things such as put our hand in the fire or walk on sharp glass. When we see the knife, we are reacting to this conditioning. Some of react like a child and want to play with what we are told not to
Any factor of the knife may cause a reaction in your play partner. From just the sight of it to the sound of it opening near them.
When a knife is placed near or on us, we can react in one of two ways: fear or aggression. Both reactions can be a negative thing to encounter in a knife scene gone awry. Pre-scene set up can prevent or lessen this. Before you even show a blade, conversation is a must. When you start to play in this area, one or both of you may have history with knives. Ask the details if they will share. If not, discuss how they feel they may react to this type of scene. Do they desire to engage in it, and why? Many people who do try knife play do so to help work through some past issues. If the person has been attacked or assaulted it will bear in the scene structure.
Discuss if the scene goes south, how you will keep them calm and controlled while managing to remove the weapon from range. Be aware of this aspect when you are the knife top. If you undertake the play, you must be prepared for possible triggers and the fall out that may occur from the scene. Good communication will go a long way here.
So once you decide to engage in knife play, discuss the boundaries. Sight, touch, use all must be determined. Some start out with just the threat of use without ever seeing the blade. Others are full blown knife-skin contact. While the act of drawing the blade across the belly may not be enough to send your slave flying, the verbal accompaniments before, during and after might be. Imagine whispering in the ear: ”Just wait till tonight when you are bound. I suggest you not move too much.” How about a soft command given when they are bound for them not to move or your hand might slip. Determine what is right for you both.
In a knife scene, there are not only the human participants. The knife becomes the third element. It has its own power that no matter how much the wielder thinks they have control can be taken away instantly. It has its own force where with just one wrong move, it can harm where none was intended. To properly control a blade, you must first have the utmost respect for it. It is not a toy to be flung r brandished willy-nilly. It is an instrument of potential harm that is granting the wielder the privilege of controlling it for a short time. Remember the blade is the one in ultimate control. It is up to the wielder to instill enough control to successfully manipulate it where I desire it to go.
Learn some basic knife skills prior to introducing them into your play. Do not just walk into the kitchen and grab a steak knife. Or go purchase the biggest blade you can find. If it too heavy for you to handle comfortably, you will have less control over the minute movements of it. In handling a knife, where you hand moves, so does the blade. However, it has a millisecond delay. This is important when placing it near or on a body. You may think you are clear and safe but the blade is still in a dangerous position.
Know that when you turn your hand, the blade does not instantly turn with you.
Types of blades:
Dead vs. Live:
A dead blade is one that does not have a harmful edge to it. Dull, non-sharp. A dead blade can be a good introduction tool for a submissive fearful of knives.
Live: Has at least one sharp, potentially harmful edge.
Types of Edges
Single: one sharp edge.
Double: edges on both sides.
Serrated: wavy edges.
The angle the knife blade is cut at will effect how sharp it is. That is why even very small knives can be extremely sharp. Smaller the cut angle, the sharper the knife. When purchasing, look at the blade edge and see how severe the angle is, or ask the retailer. Knife simulators for play:
Bamboo Skewers
Playing cards
Credit cards
Dental tools
Vampire nails
Barbeque tongs
Keys
Tweezers
Knitting needles
Ice pick
If you choose to begin with one of these items, be aware some of them also have sharp edges and can cut skin.
**A SCAPEL IS NOT A KNIFE. DO NOT TREAT IT AS SUCH.*
Oil your blade on a regular basis, usually at least once every few months. Too much oil degrades the blade and make it difficult to use in play scenes. For a lubricant, ask what the retailer suggests for the type of knife you have. We use pivots 3 in 1 oil for most of ours. Wd40 also works.
If a blade develops spurs and blemishes, it should be retired from direct skin contact. It can cut and harm unexpectedly. A rusty blade is obviously not good for play.
Safety:
First thing you must decide is whether there will be blood involved. If so, you will need to make sure you have the proper materials on hand to not only clean your play partner but the blade.
Blades do not respond well to cold soaks or alcohol wipes as it makes them rust quickly. However, it is still the best way to decontaminate metal. To prevent rusting, make time the next day to oil the blade used.
Learn the legality of having a deadly weapon on your person in the state you will be playing. Due to the fact you are using a deadly weapon on another person, you must consider what can happen if the scene goes bad. If this person is upset enough, can they press charges? Sue you? If a mistake occurs, can you afford hospital costs? It deglamorizes the fetish but we must be realistic in the day and age. We have all heard horror stories of consensual scenes turning ugly.
When touching the blade to your partner’s skin, you will leave what are known as “phantom trails”. These appear white and fade quickly for a bit. BUT then they can turn red and welt up. Keep this in mind when you decide if and where to drag it. If a person has to be discrete refrain from doing this action.
Two important factors in wielding a blade: pressure and sharpness. A dull blade can still cause harm with sufficient enough pressure.
Safety gear for a knife scene includes: Styptic pen or powder, clean water source, disposable towels, bag to collect any fluid materials, Bactine, gauze bandages.
The fun stuff:
Now that we have covered all the must know stuff, here are some fun scene ideas to get you started.
Use all the aspects of the knife, not just the blade. Consider the sound, weight and texture as elements. Handles make great impact toys.
Simply placing the blade on the belly or genital area of a naked, bound submissive can send them flying. Blindfold them and open or unsheathe it next to their ear.
v Use the knife as a paintbrush with grease, paint or cosmolean.
v Show your victim a large, sharp blade then blindfold them. Switch to a dull one.
v Place the blade in a fold of skin, such as the mouth. Be careful here if using a live blade. Harm may be caused if they move.
v After a hot wax scene, use a blade to remove the wax.
v Place blade in freezer than on sub.
v Dead blade along, around genitalia area. Insertion of the handle.
v Push into a nipple, then eye drop warm oil to simulate blood.
v Write phrases with the blade.
v Combine with electric play.
v Knife suspension over softy bits. Be careful here. Knots do come untied.
v Blade tied to the sub in a strategic place.
v Place dull blade in mouth of sub. Use live blade on their body.
To simulate blood, you can use vegetable oil, dish soap, shower gel.
Have fun but…
Keep in mind, knife play touches the edge of our psyches. Do no permanent harm.