Quote Originally Posted by bigdad1 View Post
It seems an extremely stupid way to open champagne and is a terrible way to treat a blade. The cork is meant to be removed slowly so as not to lose your bubbly. If I caught anyone using one on my blades to chop the top off a bottle of anything there would be hell to pay. If the purpose is to impress a lady then buy a more expensive bottle of champagne. And if it takes actions such as that to impress her then she isn't the lady you need. IMHO
I would agree (though not as strongly-worded as above) that perhaps the tradition isn't the best way to open a bottle or treat a blade, but the tradition behind it -- legend says it comes from the Hussars of Napoleon's Grand Armee, who would open bottles with their sabres -- certainly is a great story, if nothing else.

"Champagne! In victory one deserves it; in defeat one needs it."
-- Napoleon

T.