Silent Hill Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Silent Hill Wiki
Era-Sh2Era-ShtrEra-ShhcEra-ShbomEra-FilmsEra-ComicsEra-Weapons

The Great Knife is a recurring object in the Silent Hill series, first appearing in Silent Hill 2 as the signature weapon of Pyramid Head. It is a heavy half-scissor manifested from James Sunderland's psyche, wielded by Pyramid Head to symbolize his role as a reflection of James' inner thoughts. It can obtained as a usable item later in the game.

The weapon has been adapted and reworked into various forms of Silent Hill media, including the film and its sequel, Silent Hill: The Arcade, Silent Hill: Homecoming, Silent Hill: Book of Memories, comic books, Dead by Daylight: Chapter XVI - Silent Hill, and in artwork by Masahiro Ito.

Appearances[]

Silent Hill 2[]

Great Knife table

James finding the Great Knife.

In Silent Hill 2, just before finding Maria in the labyrinth, it is possible to find the Great Knife in a room located in the octagon-shaped hallway.

The Great Knife is an huge blade similar in design to Angela Orosco's kitchen knife, despite obvious size differences. The Great Knife was carried by Pyramid Head, but he later switches to a lightweight spear as his weapon of choice. The weapon is extremely heavy and rusty and is often seen being dragged across the ground by its wielder, making severe screeching noises. The sheer weight of the weapon is enough to cause terminal damage to its victims, with even Pyramid Head himself swinging this weapon fairly slowly. An overhead swing from Pyramid Head can kill James Sunderland in one hit, even on the Beginner difficulty.

It's cold here

James equipped with the weapon.

One strike from the Great Knife deals a colossal amount of damage to enemies, killing most in a single hit. In fact, it is so powerful that even Pyramid Head can be momentarily stunned when hit with an overhead swing, although actually accomplishing this can be tough. However, it is a slow and cumbersome weapon to use, and James cannot run while it is equipped or move beyond turning when in combat pose. Even James's walking speed slows considerably. James drags it behind him and handles it with both hands, unlike Pyramid Head, who holds it single-handedly due to his supernatural strength. James's use of the weapon is limited to lurching horizontal swings and a strong but slow overhead swing. A good tactic when using the Great Knife, if the player wishes to move quickly, is to have a light weapon out, and upon reaching the desired target, quickly switch to the Great Knife. This can only be done on the PC however, as the other versions do not have a "quick switch" feature. Due to how inconvenient it is for James to carry and attack with the Great Knife, there are very few times in the game where the weapon is actually useful. One of the most notable exceptions is when fighting Eddie Dombrowski in the first room of the boss fight with him, as just one hit with the knife will immediately send him fleeing into the second, larger meat locker. Using the knife here is highly beneficial, as James can quickly evade being shot in such tight quarters, so long as the player acts swiftly.

The handle of the Great Knife is continuous with the sharpened edge of the blade; considering the weight of the weapon, such a design would make the weapon rather top-heavy, and thus the carrier would require considerable grip and upper body strength just to prevent the weapon from flipping upside down. The size of the Great Knife and the tremendous strength it requires to drag and attack with can also be a metaphor for the burden James carries for murdering his wife, or perhaps the burden of caring for her.

Silent Hill: Homecoming[]

Bogeymanknife

The Bogeyman Knife.

In Silent Hill: Homecoming, a similar weapon, the Bogeyman Knife, is used by the Bogeyman, but has a different design, similar to a military-issue combat knife, having a serrated edge on one side and a tapered point at the end. This provides a symbolic connection for the Bogeyman to the protagonist and his father. It cannot be used as a weapon by Alex Shepherd, but it retains the characteristic rusty texture and great mass. It can be heard being dragged across the ground, even in areas where the Bogeyman does not appear.

Silent Hill film[]

RedPyramidSchool

The Great Knife in the film.

The Great Knife as depicted in the film appears as a solid blade with a handle shaped at one end.

Silent Hill: Revelation[]

Pyramid Head uses his Great Knife again in the film sequel, Silent Hill: Revelation. However, the blade isn't as thick and more resembles a katana, very similar to its appearance in Silent Hill: Homecoming. Although its form has changed, its wielder proves it is no less lethal. Unlike in the games and the first film, the weight of the Great Knife does not seem to affect Pyramid Head, and he is even able to swing the knife through the air with great speed while fighting the Missionary.

Silent Hill: Book of Memories[]

The Great Knife appears in Silent Hill: Book of Memories, found in certain rooms or randomly dropped after defeating Pyramid Head himself. It's usually close to breaking when obtained via the latter method and requires a repair tool to put it back into good shape.

Though powerful, the Great Knife also has very low durability and should be saved for difficult fights. If this weapon is used to defeat 25 Pyramid Heads, the player will earn the "Pyramid Scheme" trophy.

Sinner's Reward[]

In the final issue of Sinner's Reward, Finn Conway prepares to shoot Jack Stanton, but the town will not let him interfere with Jack's potential path to redemption; Pyramid Head appears and impales Finn with the Great Knife.

Symbolism[]

See also: Pyramid Head#Appearance and symbolism

Great Knife Scissors

The Great Knife takes the shape of a scissor. Could it be that Pyramid Head and James are two sides of the same coin?

Creature designer Masahiro Ito specifically had the "In Water" ending of Silent Hill 2 in mind when creating Pyramid Head,[1] a manifestation of James Sunderland's guilt and desire for punishment. The Great Knife can first be seen in Pyramid Head's possession after James stops Angela Orosco from killing herself with a kitchen knife. He himself considered using it for suicide shortly after.

It takes the shape of half of a pair of scissors. The developer's intent was for James to obtain the other half of the scissors later in the game, symbolizing Pyramid Head's role as a reflection of his psyche. However Ito did not have enough time to put a second Great Knife in the game. James ultimately obtains the same knife wielded by Pyramid Head.[2][3] Pyramid Head's mannerisms while carrying the Great Knife imply that he is in pain, mirroring James' emotional state.[4]

Ito's drawings of Pyramid Head outside of Silent Hill 2 have featured a differently shaped Great Knife.[5]

Trivia[]

  • According to Masahiro Ito, picking up the Great Knife in Silent Hill 2 can affect what ending the player receives.[6]
  • The concept of a monster wielding giant scissors would again be used by Masahiro Ito in NightCry.[7] However, he has stated that the design similarity was a coincidence rather than an intentional callback to his earlier work.[8]
Not so great knives

James' delusion manifests itself in more subtle ways.[9]

  • Many scissors hang unnaturally from the table in Pyramid Head's lair where James obtains the Great Knife.[9]

Gallery[]

See also[]

References[]

v · e · d
Characters
Major Characters
James Sunderland - Mary Shepherd-Sunderland - Angela Orosco - Laura - Eddie Dombrowski - Maria
Other Characters
Ernest Baldwin - Amy Baldwin - Mary's Doctor - Rachel - Thomas Orosco - Mrs. Orosco - Jennifer Carroll - Patrick Chester - Mira - Harry Mason - Greys - Scott Fairbanks - Walter Sullivan
Monsters
Abstract Daddy - Bubble Head Nurse - Creeper - Flesh Lip - Lying Figure - Mandarin - Mannequin - Mary - Prisoners - Pyramid Head
Weapons
Chainsaw - Chinese Cleaver - Great Knife - Great Spear - Handgun - Hyper Spray - Pipe - Revolver - Rifle - Shotgun - Wooden Plank
Locations
Baldwin Mansion - Blue Creek Apartments - Brookhaven Hospital - Church of the Rebirth - Dog House - Heaven's Night - Jacks Inn - Labyrinth - Lakeview Hotel - Lake Shore Restaurant - Neely's Bar - Motor Home - Observation Deck - Pete's Bowl-O-Rama - Rosewater Park - Silent Hill Historical Society - Silent Hill Ranch - Silent Hill Woods - South Vale (Carroll Street - Katz Street - Lindsey Street - Nathan Avenue - Neely Street - Rendell Street - Saul Street - Vachss Road - Wiltse Road) - Texxon Gas - Toluca Graveyard - Toluca Lake - Toluca Lake Island - Toluca Prison - Wiltse Coal Mine - Wood Side Apartments
Terms
Flashlight - Fog World - Little Baroness - Manifestation - Map - Monster - Otherworld - Radio - Red Square - Siren - Seal of Metatron - UFO Ending - Sexuality - Toilets
Archives
Memos - Items - Keys - Puzzles - Soundtrack - Secrets and Unlockables - Pachislot
v · e · d
Characters
Major Characters
Henry Townshend - Eileen Galvin - Walter Sullivan - Cynthia Velasquez - Jasper Gein - Andrew DeSalvo - Richard Braintree - Joseph Schreiber
Other Characters
Frank Sunderland - Billy Locane - Bobby Randolph - Eric Walsh - George Rosten - Jimmy Stone - Mike - Miriam Locane - Peter Walls - Rachel - Rick Albert - Robbie the Rabbit - Sein Martin - Sharon Blake - Steve Garland - Toby Archbolt - William Gregory - James Sunderland - Mary Shepherd-Sunderland
Weapons
Aluminum Bat - Chainsaw - Handgun - Submachine Gun - Knife - Pipe - Bug Spray - Chain - Eileen's Bag - Golf Club - Nightstick - Pickaxe of Despair - Revolver - Rusty Axe - Riding Crop - Spade - Stun Gun - Torch - Wine Bottle
Monsters
Bottom - Conjurer - Eileen Head - Ghost (Victim 16 - Victim 17 - Victim 18 - Victim 19) - Greedy Worm - Gum Head - Hummer - Patient - Sniffer Dog - The One Truth - Toadstool - Tremer - Twin Victim - Wall Man - Wheelchair
Locations
Albert's Sporting Goods - Ashfield - Bar Southfield - Garland's - Hotel South Ashfield - Room 302 - Room 302 of the Past - Silent Hill Woods - South Ashfield Heights - South Ashfield Station - Spiral Staircase - St. Jerome's Hospital - Toluca Lake - Water Prison - Wish House Orphanage
Terms
21 Sacraments - Death Machine - Haunting - Holy Candle - Manifestation - Map - Monster - Real World - Ritual of the Holy Assumption - Saint Medallion - Sword of Obedience - The Order - Walter's Otherworlds - Great Knife - Sexuality - Halo of the Sun - Red Square
Archives
Items - Keys - Puzzles - Soundtrack - Limited Edition Soundtrack - Secrets and Unlockables - Memos
v · e · d
Characters
Main Characters
Alex Shepherd - Joshua Shepherd - Elle Holloway - James Wheeler - Margaret Holloway - Curtis Ackers
Other Characters
Adam Shepherd - Carol Doyle - Lillian Shepherd - Nora Holloway - Sam Bartlett - Joey Bartlett - Martin Fitch - Scarlet Fitch - Travis Grady - Order Soldier - Nash - Robbie the Rabbit
Families
Bartlett Family - Fitch Family - Holloway Family - Shepherd Family
Monsters
Amnion - Asphyxia - Bogeyman - Feral - Lurker - Needler - Nurse - Scarlet - Schism - Sepulcher - Siam - Smog - Swarm
Weapons
12 Gauge Shotgun - BlueSteel Shotgun - Chrome Hammer Pistol - Ceremonial Dagger - Circular Saw - Combat Knife - Crowbar - Fire Axe - Laser Pistol - M14 Assault Rifle - Mk 23 Handgun - Police Marksman Rifle - Pulaski Axe - Steel Pipe
Locations
Alchemilla Hospital - Central Silent Hill - Church of the Holy Way - Dargento Cemetery - Dr. Fitch's Office - Grand Hotel - Hell Descent - Koontz Limited - Lair - Overlook Penitentiary - Rose Heights Cemetery - Salvage Yard - Sewers of Shepherd's Glen - Shepherd House - Shepherd's Glen - Shepherd's Glen Town Hall - Shepherd's Glen Police Station - Silent Hill Docks - Toluca Lake - Toluca Lake Offices - Toluca Lake Water and Power - Toluca River - Dog House
Terms
Bogeyman Knife - Flashlight - Fog World - Map - Monster - Otherworld - Real World - Siren - The Order - Walkie Talkie - Manifestation - UFO Ending - Great Knife - Welcome Sign - Sexuality - Halo of the Sun
Archives
Keys - Puzzles - Soundtrack - Secrets and Unlockables - Items - Memos
v · e · d
Characters
Major Characters
Ashley Baker - Derek Copeland - Graham Reynolds - Howard Blackwood - Jack Merrick - Katie Collins - Matthew Collins - Protagonist - Lorelai Reynolds - Shannon - Trent Baker
Other Characters
Alex Shepherd - Cybil Bennett - Emma - Harry Mason - Heather Mason - James Sunderland - Jason - Joshua Shepherd - Lisa Garland - Mary Shepherd-Sunderland - Mira - Murphy Pendleton - Travis Grady - Walter Sullivan
Monsters
Air Screamer - Blood Baby - Blood Guardian - Blood Mama - Bogeyman - Bubble Head Nurse - Butcher - Double Head - Earth Guardian - Fire Guardian - Flesh Lip - Ghost - Grey Child - Insane Cancer - Light Guardian - Needler - Mother - Pyramid Head - Raw Shock - Tremer - Schism - Steel Guardian - Swarm - Valtiel - Water Guardian - Wood Guardian - Wood Sapling
Weapons
A. Y. Guitar - Assault Rifle - Baseball Bat - Bare Hands - Beam Saber - Bogeyman's Hammer - Chainsaw - Circular Saw - Crossbow - Crowbar - Dagger of Melchior - Earth Sword - Fire Axe - Fire Sword - Flamethrower - Great Cleaver - Great Knife - Great Spear - Grenade - Guitar - Handgun - Hyper Spray - Katana - Knife - Maul - Meat Cleaver - Laser Gun - Pickaxe - Pillow - Pipe - Princess Heart - Robbie Doll - Rock Drill - Shovel - Shotgun - Steel Sword - Stun Gun - Sword of Obedience - Submachine Gun - Television - Torch - TV Remote - Water Sword - Wine Bottle - Wood Sword - Wood Plank
Locations
Howard's Shop - Library - Forsaken Room - Otherworld
Terms
Monster - Flashlight - Accessories - Artifacts - Karma Meter - Book of Memories - Welcome Sign
Archives
Memos - Broadcasts - Michelle's Diary
v · e · d
Characters
Major Characters
Rose Da Silva - Christopher Da Silva - Cybil Bennett - Dahlia Gillespie - Thomas Gucci - Anna - Christabella - Sharon Da Silva - Alessa Gillespie - Dark Alessa
Other Characters
Sister Margaret - Eleanor - Adam - Colin - Lisa Garland - Jennifer Carroll
Monsters
Armless Man - Colin - Creeper - Dark Nurse - Grey Child - Red Pyramid
Locations
Brahms - Brookhaven Hospital - Church - Da Silva House - Gans County - Grand Hotel - Midwich Elementary School - Nathan Drugs - Pete's Bowl-O-Rama - Sacrificial Chamber - Silent Hill, West Virginia - Smitty's - Toluca County Archives - Toluca County Mining Museum - Toluca County Orphanage - Toluca Lake
Terms
The Brethren - Monster - Flashlight - Manifestation - Otherworld - Fog World - Real World - Siren - Great Knife - Welcome Sign - Brethren Symbol
Archives
Soundtrack
v · e · d
Characters
Major Characters
Heather Mason - Christopher Da Silva - Vincent Cooper - Claudia Wolf - Leonard Wolf - Dark Alessa - Douglas Cartland - Alessa Gillespie
Other Characters
Rose Da Silva - Dahlia Gillespie - Suki - Travis Grady - Order Soldier - Detective Santini - Mannequin Girl
Monsters
Armless Man - Delusion - Leonard Wolf - Lobotomy - Mannequin Monster - Memory of Alessa - Missionary - Nurse - Pyramid Head - Valtiel
Locations
All Hallows High School - Brookhaven Asylum - Central Square Shopping Center - Jacks Inn - Sanctuary - Silent Hill, West Virginia - Lakeside Amusement Park
Terms
The Brethren - Halo of the Sun - Monster - Manifestation - Otherworld - Fog World - Real World - Robbie the Rabbit - Seal of Metatron - Siren - The Order - Great Knife - Welcome Sign
v · e · d
Characters
Jack Stanton - Jillian Conway - Sara Linwood - Finn Conway - Jimmy Shea - O'Conner Brothers - Michael Stanton - Digger
Monsters
Nurse - Pyramid Head - Sniffer Dog
Locations
Brookhaven Hospital - Charon's Bar-B-Q - Pete's Bowl-O-Rama - Rosewater Park - Silent Hill - Texxon Gas - Toluca Lake
Terms
Brand of Samael - Fog World - Monster - Otherworld - Real World - Siren - Manifestation - Great Knife - Welcome Sign
Creators
Tom Waltz - Steph Stamb - IDW Publishing
Advertisement