How the heck do you play mumblypeg?

[[digidude]]

I've heard about this game (under a few different variations of the name) but I can never seem to find a simple explanation of the rules. What is the simplest most basic way to play this classic game?

 

[Caffeinepirate]

From wikipedia:

"Mumblety-peg (also known as mumbley-peg, mumblepeg, mumble-the-peg, mumbledepeg or mumble-de-peg) is an old outdoor game played by children using pocketknives. The term "Mumblety-peg" came from the practice of putting a peg of about 2 or 3 inches into the ground. The loser of the game had to take it out with his teeth. Mumbletypeg was very popular as a schoolyard game in the nineteenth and first half of the twentieth centuries, but with increased concern over child safety the game has declined in popularity. The game continued as a popular activity at summer camps into the 1970s. It has gained popularity in South Dakota over the years.


Mumblety peg is generally played between two people with the aid of a pocket knife. In one version of the game, two opponents stand opposite one another with their feet shoulder-width apart. The first player then takes the knife and throws it to "stick" in the ground as near his own foot as possible. The second player then repeats the process. Whichever player "sticks" the knife closest to his own foot wins the game.

If a player "sticks" the knife in his own foot, he wins the game by default, although few players find this option appealing because of the possibility of bodily harm. The game combines not only precision in the knife-throwing, but also a good deal of bravado and proper assessment of one's own skills.

A variant of mumblety peg has evolved as a drinking game where several matches of mumblety peg are played successively. At the end of each, the loser must take a penalty—generally taking a shot of alcohol. Consequently, the precision with which the knife is thrown often decreases as the game progresses. Whichever player backs away from the game first is declared the loser.

Another variant of the game called Split or Split the Kipper involves each player throwing the knife at the other player.

Mumbletypeg involves tossing a pocketknife into the ground in a progressively more difficult competition usually limited to two players. If the knife tossed by a player does not stick in the bare ground, the player loses his/her turn. Beyond these basics, the rules varied greatly according to location. In South Dakota, the first player to win makes a "peg" and hammers it into the ground,(using ten hits with the blade or three hits with the handle) at which the losing player must dig out of the ground with his teeth.

Some versions of the game involved a series of about a dozen progressively more difficult trick tosses. For example, after first tossing the knife right and left for a 1/2-turn in the air from the open palm of each hand, the next step is to toss it similarly from the closed fist of each upward-turned hand. The third turn, with the knife laying on the back of the hand pointing away from the player, is to flip it up 270 degrees and down into the dirt. Fourth was "Spank the Baby": holding the blade flat between the first two fingers of one hand, the knife handle was "spanked" with the other hand causing the knife to flip up 270 degrees and stick into the ground. The knife had to always stick into the ground securely enough to put two fingers (or a beer can) under it. "Tip of the fingers" was another turn, with the knife being required to stick in the ground after doing a somersault off the tip of each index finger (and thumb, to hold the tip), and a subsequent turn was "Tony Chestnut" where the knife was similarly flipped off the toe, the knee, the chest and the forehead (nut). Another turn was "Over the fence". The knife was just barely stuck into the ground, leaning over to the right or left. The player's free hand made a "fence" and the knife was slapped up and "over the fence" with the other hand. It had to flip completely at least once, then come down sticking in the ground with the accepted "two fingers" clearance. In some versions, this turn was last, called "Over the Fence is Out" and the winner was the player who got "over the fence" first. Another trial was standing with the knife in one's hand, tip pointing away, then throwing the knife over one's head backwards and having it stick in the ground.

Mark Twain's book Tom Sawyer, Detective recounts "mumbletypeg" as one of boys' favorite outdoor games.[1]"

 

[Scott Free]

"Tip of the fingers" was another turn, with the knife being required to stick in the ground after doing a somersault off the tip of each index finger (and thumb, to hold the tip), and a subsequent turn was "Tony Chestnut" where the knife was similarly flipped off the toe, the knee, the chest and the forehead (nut).

This is mostly how I played it as a kid too many years ago.

 

[jbombelli]

From wikipedia:

Mumblety peg is generally played between two people with the aid of a pocket knife. In one version of the game, two opponents stand opposite one another with their feet shoulder-width apart. The first player then takes the knife and throws it to "stick" in the ground as near his own foot as possible. The second player then repeats the process. Whichever player "sticks" the knife closest to his own foot wins the game.

If a player "sticks" the knife in his own foot, he wins the game by default, although few players find this option appealing because of the possibility of bodily harm. The game combines not only precision in the knife-throwing, but also a good deal of bravado and proper assessment of one's own skills.

This was how we played.

 

[jeffa]

This is mostly how I played it as a kid too many years ago.

we palyed the same way when I was a kid in Western N.Y.

 

[FLymon]

The way my dad taught me how to play was to alternate turns doing progressively difficult flips/tricks while getting the knife to stick in the ground. The first one to fail a level while the other one completed it was the loser. The winner would get 3 whacks with his pocketknife to drive the peg (a 1-2 inch stick, or piece of toothpick) into, or under the ground. The loser would then have to retrieve the peg with his teeth.
Fun was had by all.

 

[EricV]

This was how we played.

Thats how we played as well.

 

[sunnyd]

The way my dad taught me how to play was to alternate turns doing progressively difficult flips/tricks while getting the knife to stick in the ground. The first one to fail a level while the other one completed it was the loser. The winner would get 3 whacks with his pocketknife to drive the peg (a 1-2 inch stick, or piece of toothpick) into, or under the ground. The loser would then have to retrieve the peg with his teeth.
Fun was had by all.

This is almost exactly how we played it too in the 1960's in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virgina. Albeit, the more advanced version of MP after one had masted the basic rules..

.. Truth be known, we also played a version of the very same game with the fine and proper young gals that lived in the valleys too.. Sort of like strip-poker, only strip-mumblypeg.

 

[Dag-nabit]

From wikipedia:


Mumblety peg is generally played between two people with the aid of a pocket knife. In one version of the game, two opponents stand opposite one another with their feet shoulder-width apart. The first player then takes the knife and throws it to "stick" in the ground as near his own foot as possible. The second player then repeats the process. Whichever player "sticks" the knife closest to his own foot wins the game.

This is pretty much how we played as well, except that we added the rule you had to move your foot out to where your knife stuck in the ground. As the rounds progressed your feet became wider apart and keeping your balance and getting the knife to stick into the ground became more difficult.

If you were a poor tosser, you could quickly find yourself trying to toss your knife while doing the splits.

The first person to not stick his/her knife, lost the round.

We never did the "pound the peg" thing.

Trick tosses were also often added to enhance the the fun and skill level.

Kevin

 

[freedoom]

What's the game where you lay your hand flat on a table with fingers spread and stab a knife between each finger as fast as you can?

 

[stabman]

What's the game where you lay your hand flat on a table with fingers spread and stab a knife between each finger as fast as you can?

I think it's called "Stupid".

 

[arjung]

So you toss a knife as close to your foot as possible?

That sounds like a very bad idea to me.

 

[Dag-nabit]

I think it's called "Stupid".

X2 :thumbup:

 

[kamagong]

If a player "sticks" the knife in his own foot, he wins the game by default, although few players find this option appealing because of the possibility of bodily harm.

What happens if you stick the knife in the other person's foot?

I don't get this game. Growing up with video games I never played mumbly-peg. Now that I'm older and actually know about this game, I have to ask myself why. It sounds like an excellent way to ruin a good knife. I can't imagine taking a razor sharp knife and purposefully dulling it by throwing it into rock-strewn dirt. Maybe that's what cheap imports are for.

 

[unit]

This is pretty much how we played as well, except that we added the rule you had to move your foot out to where your knife stuck in the ground. As the rounds progressed your feet became wider apart and keeping your balance and getting the knife to stick into the ground became more difficult.

If you were a poor tosser, you could quickly find yourself trying to toss your knife while doing the splits.

The first person to not stick his/her knife, lost the round.

We never did the "pound the peg" thing.

Trick tosses were also often added to enhance the the fun and skill level.

Kevin

+1

This was how I saw it played. I never actually played myself...some would (and did) call me a wuss, I called it respect for my blade. I threw a folder one time, and one time only...it broke the tip and I actually learned a lesson.

 

[Apec]

What's the game where you lay your hand flat on a table with fingers spread and stab a knife between each finger as fast as you can?

Five finger fillet/knife trick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suA2Hy-0mxI

[youtube]suA2Hy-0mxI[/youtube]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knife_game

 

[hatchet jack]

When I was a kid we used to play a game where you stand facing your opponent on a deck or picnic table or big piece of particle board or whatever, something made of wood, with bare feet equally apart, and then you simply drop your knife point first into the wood between your feet so it sticks in and you try to drop it as close as you can to your foot. So after it sticks in the board you have to move one of your bare feet over until it hits the knife. and then you and your opponent repeat this process, with your feet getting progressively closer together. And the first person to chicken out because thier feet are too close together has to give the other person their knife.

 

[rinos]

This is pretty much how we played as well, except that we added the rule you had to move your foot out to where your knife stuck in the ground. As the rounds progressed your feet became wider apart and keeping your balance and getting the knife to stick into the ground became more difficult.

If you were a poor tosser, you could quickly find yourself trying to toss your knife while doing the splits.

The first person to not stick his/her knife, lost the round.

We never did the "pound the peg" thing.

Trick tosses were also often added to enhance the the fun and skill level.

And almost same how we played,with some small variations.(in Croatia,some 40 years ago)

What's the game where you lay your hand flat on a table with fingers spread and stab a knife between each finger as fast as you can?

There is version played by couple players,they are seating in circle,and each is stabbing between next guys fingers,and it is played by rithm of some tune that is getting faster and faster,it stops when first one gets stabbed(usually more than one)
I believe it is Albanian,not sure about name.

 

[Scott Free]

It sounds like an excellent way to ruin a good knife. I can't imagine taking a razor sharp knife and purposefully dulling it by throwing it into rock-strewn dirt.

None of the knives I owned as a kid would have qualified as "good" or "razor sharp." Also, when you're a kid, sticking knives in anything is just cool!