[graypegg]

Playing diners advocate here, it's odd to see a knife where the curved part is not the cutting part. I know most knives I've eaten with are curved so you can sort of "roll" it thru a cut.

Combine that with dark restaurant lighting and the need to not seem like an idiot around polite company, I don't think I would personally clue in right away that I need to hold the knife opposite to every other steak knife I've ever used, nor inspect it close enough to realize the cutting edge is on the "back" in front of people who will think this is the first time I've used a steak knife before or something.

[otteromkram]

Hmm...I think the comment about people getting dumber still stands.

If you're not dumb, then you would figure out how to use the knife after taking a look at it and seeing which side is the sharp one.

That's almost textbook intelligence; being able to resolve abstract problems based on limited information.

[graypegg]

I think I just dislike the framing that

not investigating something = being dumb

You can just ask if you aren't sure. If I welcomed you into my house, and asked you to turn on the lights, while not telling you it's wired in a three-way switch config where another switch has to be turned on first, I think the dumb solution there is flicking on and off every light switch for 5 minutes till you get it, rather than just asking me. To me, holding the knife up to my phone's flashlight, or gently grazing the side against my palm has the same sort of "why are you doing that" energy everyone wants to avoid.

Dark restaurant, social pressure to not do weird things at the table, I get why anyone could mess up.

[SAI_Peregrinus]

Santoku-style chef's knives and sailor's knives are other examples with a straight blade and curved spine.