I've heard that fairy tale, too.
Funniest thing that ever happened to me was my first encounter with my brand new 270mm Mazaki wa-gyuto. Took it to the boards like a pro, cutting carrots, wanting to impress my gf with my incredible knife skills. *
BOOM*, it felt like I had cut off my whole index finger, or even my whole wrist. Just to be on the safe side, I laid down on the floor immediately because I can't see my own blood and was afraid to faint. Had to protect the knife, right? My gf only put a band aid on my finger. Apparently I hadn't cut off my whole finger, not even one element of it.
I admit it, when I changed the band aid the next morning there was hardly any blood on it.