Knife game

Simple order for playing the knife game.

More complex order for playing the knife game.

More complex order for playing the knife game.

The knife game, pinfinger, nerve, bishop, stabscotch, or five finger fillet (FFF), is a game wherein, placing the palm of one's hand down on a table with fingers apart, using a knife, or sharp object, one attempts to stab back and forth between one's fingers, moving the object back and forth, trying to not hit one's fingers. The game may be safely played with the eraser side of a pencil. The game originated in Ra'anana Israel where a group of sixteen year old boys used to place bets on who can play the game the fastest.^{[citation needed]} The order in which the spaces between the fingers are stabbed varies. In North America, the most popular version is to simply stab all the spaces in order, starting from behind the thumb to after the little finger, and back again:

1-2-3-4-5-6-5-4-3-2 (repeats).

In Australia this order is used.

1-2-1-3-1-4-1-5-1-6 (repeats).

In Europe, a more complex order is used. With the spaces numbered 1 (behind the thumb) through 6 (after the little finger), the order would be as follows:

1-2-1-3-1-4-1-5-1-6-1-5-1-4-1-3-1-2 (repeats)

or an even more complex order:

1-2-1-3-1-4-1-5-1-6-2-6-3-6-4-6-5-6-4-6-3-6-2-6 (etc.)

Popular culture

Film

A similar knife game appeared in the 1962 Polish film Knife in the Water.

In the 1986 film Aliens, the android character Bishop begins a knife game in the mess room.

The knife game also appeared in the 2012 comedy Ted.

Video games

The knife game appears in the 1995 PC game Full Throttle when a trucker is seen playing it in a bar. If Ben (the protagonist) persuades the trucker, the game becomes playable as an Easter egg. The player must complete two passes in order to win, or lose if Ben accidentally stabs his hand too many times.

Five finger fillet is a mini-game in Red Dead Redemption.

A knife game also appears in Assassin's Creed 3 and Rage; in Rage, the player character plays the game with each of the orders listed above as the challenge increases.

Knife game song

In early 2013, the knife game became a trend on the internet. Several internet users uploaded videos of the singing a song while playing the knife game. Hannah Fylling Ellingsetter's video which received over 350,000 views was removed due to copyright claims by Rusty Cage. Cage claims he created the knife song. A new version of the song with additional lyrics was later released on March 29, 2013.

Knife game song videos were a topic on the Fine Brothers' series, YouTubers React.

Original Lyrics:
Oh, I have all my fingers, the knife goes chop, chop, chop!
If I miss the spaces in between, my fingers will come off!
And if I hit my fingers, the blood will soon come out!
But all the same, I play this game, 'cause that’s what it’s all about!

Oh, Chop, Chop, Chop, Chop, Chop, Chop, Chop,
I’m picking up the speed,
And If I hit my fingers then my hand will start to bleed.

New Lyrics:
There is an old tradition, a game we all can play.
You start by getting liquered up and sharpening your blade.
You take a shot of whiskey; you grab your knife and pray.
And spread apart your fingers, and this is what you say.

Oh, I have all my fingers, the knife goes chop, chop, chop!
If I miss the spaces in between, my fingers will come off!
And if I hit my fingers, blood will soon come out!
But all the same, I play this game, 'cause that’s what it’s all about!

No, you can't use a pencil! You can not use a pen!
The only way is with a knife, when danger is your friend.
And some may call it stupid, some may call it dumb.
But all the same, we play this game, because it's so damn fun!

Oh, I have all my fingers, the knife goes chop, chop, chop!
If I miss the spaces in between, my fingers will come off!
And if I hit my fingers, blood will soon come out!
But all the same, I play this game, 'cause that’s what it’s all about!

Oh, Chop, Chop, Chop, Chop, Chop, Chop, Chop,
I’m picking up the speed,
And If I hit my fingers then my hand will start to bleed.