The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SPLITS

THIS WAS A RELATIVELY SIMPLE GAME FOR TWO PLAYERS. THE
TWO PLAYERS WOULD STAND, FEET TOGETHER AND FACING
EACH OTHER, ABOUT THREE FEET APART. ONE PLAYER WOULD
THROW THE JACKKNIFE. HE WOULD HAVE TO THROW IT IN
FRONT OF HIM AND OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE PLAYER WHO
FACED HIM. IF IT STUCK BLADE FIRST INTO THE GROUND
SO THAT TWO FINGERS WIDTH SEPARATED IT FROM CONTACT
WITH THE GROUND AT THE HANDLE, THEN IT WAS A LEGAL
THROW. THE OTHER PLAYER WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE ONE
FOOT STATIONARY AND STRETCH THE OTHER ONE FAR ENOUGH
TO REACH THE KNIFE. HE WOULD THEN HAVE TO REACH OVER
AND PICK UP THE KNIFE IN ORDER TO HAVE HIS TURN. A
BAD TOSS MERELY MEANT THAT IT WAS THE OTHER PERSON'S
TURN. THE THROWING CONTINUED UNTIL ONE OF THE PLAYERS
COULDN'T STRETCH THE REQUIRED DISTANCE OR FELL OVER IN
ATTEMPTING TO PICK UP THE KNIFE, WHICH MADE HIM THE
LOSER.

Submitter comment: OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD BOYS TAUGHT ME THIS GAME.

Where learned: INDIANA ; FORT WAYNE

Date learned: 00001949 CA.