Seven men and a woman have died in knife attacks and several people have sustained serious injuries over the past two weeks.
The Dean of the School of Sociology at Queen's University Belfast, Prof John Brewer, believes this is a sign that knife-carrying is becoming a substitute for carrying a gun.
"I think the recent surge in knife attacks might well be a knock-on effect of the peace process. The ways in which macho-culture has been lived out over the past 30 years are no longer open to young men or former paramilitaries. They are now highly restrained in the ways they can express their masculinity."
The fact that paramilitaries no longer have the same access to guns may be another reason, says Prof Brewer. Northern Ireland, however, is following a broad trend in Western culture in which knife-carrying has become commonplace over the past few years.
"In fact, Northern Ireland has picked up on this trend at a relatively late stage compared to England, the Republic or the States due to the frequent searches that people had to undergo during the Troubles. They were very restricted for a long time about what they could carry on their bodies."
An RUC spokesman agrees. "In the old days, we would hardly ever have any prosecutions for possession of a knife. People knew there was a great likelihood they might get searched at some stage."
The law stipulates it is an offence to carry a weapon in a public place, as is the manufacture, sale or hire of certain types of knives. The sentence for any of these offences ranges from six months' imprisonment to a fine of up to £5,000. Most shops are prepared to sell knives to anybody aged 18 or over, according to a local shop assistant.
Despite the number of attacks it would be wrong for the media to create a "moral panic", Prof Brewer adds.
"Given that at least two of the incidents were domestic-related - where a kitchen knife is often the most handy weapon - and a number of others have been attributed to drink, drugs and rows happening at parties, it would be unfair to describe the spate of attacks as a trend.
"The one thing I would be truly worried about is the increase in people carrying knives as a matter of course."
The fact that somebody has been charged in connection with all but a paramilitary-related attack is an indication that people are no longer prepared to tolerate violence as inevitable, the RUC spokesman adds. "Given that Northern Ireland society has for long been desensitised to violence, we feel it is a good sign that people are coming forward to help us in our investigations."
Detectives yesterday arrested a man in connection with the fatal stabbing of Mr Martin Crozier (20) in the Poleglass estate, Belfast, on Sunday.
They have also stepped up their investigation into the death of a senior Ulster Defence Association figure, Mr George Legge (37), whose body was found with stab wounds in south Belfast on Saturday.
Police are trying to establish if there is a link between his death and a fire at an east Belfast pub where he was last seen. Security sources have linked the stabbing to an internal paramilitary dispute over drugs. The other victims of fatal knife attacks are: Mr William Morrison (38), stabbed in his east Belfast home on Christmas Eve; Mr Eric Connor (37), stabbed in his Limavady, Co Derry, home on Christmas Eve; Mr Martin Mongan (23), who died following a dispute among members of the Travelling community in Derry on Christmas Day; Mr Edward Robinson (35), knifed in the chest outside his Shankill Road home in Belfast on December 27th; Ms Julie-Ann Osborne (22), found dead in her Shankill Road home on December 27th - her partner has been charged with her murder; and Mr Alistair Holmes, (30), whose body was found in his south Belfast flat on New Year's Eve following a party.