Prop knives for film use?

[analog_addict]

Hello,

I am making a knife crime awareness drama and need some form of prop knives. There are 2 types of knife required (1 pocket knife and 1 kitchen knife). Both knives must be used outdoors (Police have been informed and will be watching over) and obviously cannot be live blades.

Does anyone know where we can buy stunt/prop knives that look realistic (UK only)? I have checked out rubber training knives but I'm not sure how realistic they actually look.

Thanks!

 

[Doc Bernard]

It depends on the scene and the action (and the laws in UK). But what I have done for certain scenes is take a knife and just dulled the blade so it would be hard to cut butter. Literally ground down the edge so I could run it across my hand with no harm done.

Example: I worked a scene where a man was being shaved with a straight razor and the "shaver" purposely slices the "shavee". We used a real straight razor that was dulled on a brick. All parties involved verified it could not cut anything anymore when I was done dulling it.

But for scenes involving stabbing/slashing/running with the knife....you definitely want a rubber/prop one for those scenes. Though for any establishing shots, you will want a "hero" knife that can stand up to extreme close ups. Having a "hero" and a rubber duck is important so you can switch between them for safety, yet keep the authenticity.

The trick is to match them up.

 

[robster180]

Try Martial arts stockists, they have practice knives of all shapes and sizes which have dull edges to them. They're made from all sorts of materials from wood to aluminium.