LOVE FOR KNIVES

[winst]

My first encounter, with a pocket knife as a tool, came when I was just a towheaded boy of 8. My granny ask me to go with her to the garden to pick green beans. She wore a big white apron that she used as a caring container fo all most every thing. Needless to say we filled her bean "basket" [apron] with fresh tinder half runner beans. As we were leaving the garden my granny ask me for my pocket knife to cut some morning glory vines that had climbed to the top of a stalk of sweet corn. I looked at her with what, no doubt, seemed puzzling that she would ask an 8 year old for a pocket knife. I answered her with a blank I don't have a knife. Her reply still lingers in my mind today. " a man that don't carry a knife is no 'count'. Later on that week she surprised me with a brand new Case XX bone handle small 2 blade whittler. Man was I proud. Fast forward to the mid 60s when knife trading and collecting became extremely popular in the Mt of Kentucky. I had to get into this craze and got my first encounter with a bad trade. I soon learned that if I stick to Case XX in my trading, I could learn the values of one brand at a time. As time went on I began to have more interest in the old Case knives and developed an appreciation for the construction, materials, blade, covers, shapes and history of these old knives. They became a form of beauty to me that caused me to value them far above there real worth. This mind set caused me to begin to collect these beauties and lay them up just to get them out once and a while to lust at their beauty. When you are young the future seem endless but now as I have to admit that the future is soon swallowed up by the past and those thing that were once the "apple-of-our-eye" seems to depreciate in value...but not knives...Even now at the age of 83 I still love to explore the beauty of these old "jewels". There is nothing that man has created that surpasses the beautiful components of a POCKET KNIFE. They become a part of your soul.

[Steve Warden]

Amen.
Great story. Thanks for sharing.

[Runner 4 Knives]

Really terrific story. My sentiments exactly about the history and materials behind knife collecting. Thanks for sharing

[Gtrclktr-351]

Thanks for sharing that family story.

[woodwalker]

Very nice sentiments! I think most of us feel that way! Cant beat an old knife with history! I am partial to Case knives myself! Especially those older ones! I enjoyed your story! Thank you!!

[Mumbleypeg]

Thanks for sharing that. Your story is very similar to mine. My grandfather was a major influence on my affinity for knives, and I was fortunate to have uncles (10 of them!) who also carried pocket knives. By the time I was a teenager I had a “pile” of mostly hand-me-down knives, and eventually decided it was a collection. That was the beginning of a life-long appreciation for pocket knives.

Ken

[Lansky1]

My first encounter, with a pocket knife as a tool, came when I was just a towheaded boy of 8. My granny ask me to go with her to the garden to pick green beans. She wore a big white apron that she used as a caring container fo all most every thing. Needless to say we filled her bean "basket" [apron] with fresh tinder half runner beans. As we were leaving the garden my granny ask me for my pocket knife to cut some morning glory vines that had climbed to the top of a stalk of sweet corn. I looked at her with what, no doubt, seemed puzzling that she would ask an 8 year old for a pocket knife. I answered her with a blank I don't have a knife. Her reply still lingers in my mind today. " a man that don't carry a knife is no 'count'. Later on that week she surprised me with a brand new Case XX bone handle small 2 blade whittler. Man was I proud. Fast forward to the mid 60s when knife trading and collecting became extremely popular in the Mt of Kentucky. I had to get into this craze and got my first encounter with a bad trade. I soon learned that if I stick to Case XX in my trading, I could learn the values of one brand at a time. As time went on I began to have more interest in the old Case knives and developed an appreciation for the construction, materials, blade, covers, shapes and history of these old knives. They became a form of beauty to me that caused me to value them far above there real worth. This mind set caused me to begin to collect these beauties and lay them up just to get them out once and a while to lust at their beauty. When you are young the future seem endless but now as I have to admit that the future is soon swallowed up by the past and those thing that were once the "apple-of-our-eye" seems to depreciate in value...but not knives...Even now at the age of 83 I still love to explore the beauty of these old "jewels". There is nothing that man has created that surpasses the beautiful components of a POCKET KNIFE. They become a part of your soul.

well said ... and I think we as a community are unfortunately the only folks that truly appreciate a good pocket knife ... and thats ok. If you know, you know

[stockman]

Do you still have that knife?

[treefarmer]

Wonderful story, winst!
Treefarmer

[winst]

Yes I have that knife forever in my memory but not in my hand. Pocket knives and coins are the two items that a country boy has problems keeping for long.

[stockman]

Yes I have that knife forever in my memory but not in my hand. Pocket knives and coins are the two items that a country boy has problems keeping for long.

I know what your saying.I’ve left a few knives on the river bank. They were probably 79 cent ones off a counter top display.

[OneDoxa]

OP, your grandmother was right. I’m not sure how any adult goes anywhere without a pocketknife.

[tvic]

Great memories, winst! Thanks for sharing!

[1967redrider]

[toomanyknives]

My first encounter, with a pocket knife as a tool, came when I was just a towheaded boy of 8. My granny ask me to go with her to the garden to pick green beans. She wore a big white apron that she used as a caring container fo all most every thing. Needless to say we filled her bean "basket" [apron] with fresh tinder half runner beans. As we were leaving the garden my granny ask me for my pocket knife to cut some morning glory vines that had climbed to the top of a stalk of sweet corn. I looked at her with what, no doubt, seemed puzzling that she would ask an 8 year old for a pocket knife. I answered her with a blank I don't have a knife. Her reply still lingers in my mind today. " a man that don't carry a knife is no 'count'. Later on that week she surprised me with a brand new Case XX bone handle small 2 blade whittler. Man was I proud. Fast forward to the mid 60s when knife trading and collecting became extremely popular in the Mt of Kentucky. I had to get into this craze and got my first encounter with a bad trade. I soon learned that if I stick to Case XX in my trading, I could learn the values of one brand at a time. As time went on I began to have more interest in the old Case knives and developed an appreciation for the construction, materials, blade, covers, shapes and history of these old knives. They became a form of beauty to me that caused me to value them far above there real worth. This mind set caused me to begin to collect these beauties and lay them up just to get them out once and a while to lust at their beauty. When you are young the future seem endless but now as I have to admit that the future is soon swallowed up by the past and those thing that were once the "apple-of-our-eye" seems to depreciate in value...but not knives...Even now at the age of 83 I still love to explore the beauty of these old "jewels". There is nothing that man has created that surpasses the beautiful components of a POCKET KNIFE. They become a part of your soul.

Great memories. Your love for knives is shared by many of us. Thanks for sharing