A video of a traveling knife sharpener in Portugal has gone viral on TikTok.
The clip was posted by Emily Damon (@emilydamon3), a 57-year-old American who has been living in Lisbon, the Portuguese capital, for nearly two years.
The footage shows Damon sitting at a desk looking at a laptop screen in her home. She suddenly takes off her glasses and looks up from the screen.
A caption shared with the post reads: “The traveling sharpener man is near.”
Damon is later seen grabbing a few knives and heading outside. She waves at a bearded man shown standing next to a bicycle. A brief whistling sound is heard as he blows into a small whistle device. The man is later shown sharpening a knife against a wheel mounted onto the center of the bike, as he peddles the bike.
Damon told Newsweek: “I had heard his whistle before but had only recently seen him on the street to realize what he did. He charged me €7 euros for four knives, and I added €1 tip.”
The poster works as a commercial model with Elite Lisbon and does consulting work with Maia International Properties to help other foreigners who are interested in relocating to Portugal and want to buy a property.
“I am also continuing to solo travel throughout Europe and visited Morocco several times. I document my travels on TikTok and Instagram to encourage other people who want to travel but are scared to do it solo,” she said.
Knife Sharpening: A Brief History
According to a June 2023 blog post from Knife Sharp, a knife sharpening company based in the U.K., the roots of the trade can be traced back to ancient times, during which our ancestors realized the importance of sharp edges for survival, hunting and crafting.
They enhanced the cutting abilities of their tools with primitive techniques such as rubbing stones and using abrasive sands as well as naturally occurring sharpening stones.
These basic methods of sharpening formed the foundation for the development of more sophisticated and specialized techniques by skilled craftsmen.
The blog post explained: “Their knowledge of various stones, sharpening angles, and honing methods elevated the art of knife sharpening to new heights, solidifying its significance as a distinct discipline within the realm of craftsmanship.”
Today, there are guilds and other communities dedicated to the knife sharpening profession. The blog post noted: “The wisdom and traditions preserved within these guilds shaped the art of knife sharpening, instilling reverence for the craft and ensuring the dissemination of best practices.”
‘So Unexpected’
A message overlaid on the video reads: “You are home in Lisbon, Portugal when you hear a sound that has you running for your cutlery.”
In a later comment, Damon said: “When I first moved to Lisbon I would hear that sound and not know what it was. Then one day I saw him on the street and was waiting until I heard it again.”
Damon began solo traveling after she was laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic from her job at a boutique interior design firm in Chicago.
She first went to Croatia with a companion and later traveled to Italy, Switzerland and Turkey before heading to Bali for an extended stay. She later left Bali to see her two adult children who reside in Boston and New York City.
“Missing the history and culture of Europe, I spent a month visiting Portugal… Porto, Lisbon, and Algarve before deciding to buy a property in Lisbon,” Damon told Newsweek.
Users on TikTok were amazed by the moment captured in the latest viral video.
TikToker amhblank said: “This sound has been a mystery for us since moving to Caldas da Rainha [a city in central Portugal]! This was the last piece of the puzzle—how do I catch him? lol now I know.”
Cw79golden said: “That was so unexpected and excellent!”
Martin said, “Haven’t seen this in years…” and Jenn.x3 wrote “So stinking cool.”
Spoopy Goblin said: “I love learning little things like this about peoples’ lives. You’re very beautiful!!”
iStock / Getty Images Plus
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Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.