All About Pocket Knives

Heirloom are an important part of a family history, often they can tell stories that would otherwise be forgotten. They can connect us to out past with something we can hold and use and because of this we remember those who have passed away even more clearly. Whenever I use a heirloom knife or lighter I think about the men in my family who used the before me and I feel a connection to them that I think would be lost otherwise.

I am fortunate in that I have three knives that belonged to my great grandfather shown here from left to right...

a small silver pen knife that was used as his watch fob (I have the watch as well)
a Kutmaster hawkbill with his initials cut into it
a three blade Remington (R3153) with beautiful jigged bone



I also have two of my grandfather's pocket knives, left to right

a two blade Boker
a two blade J.A. Henckels



I have quite a few other family heirlooms as well including the family bible from Germany, lighters and match safes. These knives come from my father's side of the family, they came from Germany and became coal miners, mostly in east Kentucky. My father has given me several of his knives as well....quite a few actually and I have given quite a few of mine to the next generation as well. Sadly I don't have any from my Mother's side of the family, I am sure those from my Mom's father went to his sons rather than the daughters.

It is great to have 3 knives from your great-grandfather!
I have a razor that belonged to a great-grandfather, though I never knew him. Did you know your great-grandfather?

The knives that belonged to someone in the family, are the ones I prize the most.

Here is a knife & hatchet my grandfather made. He carried them during the Depression when he cruised timber for the CCC.
Later he gave them to my dad.
I remember many of the hunting trips as a boy when my dad carried this knife.

Dale

Sadly enough I did not know my Great Grandfather on my father's side of the family. His Jenny (Curtiss JN-4) went down Christmas of '21 on a cross country flight. I actually have a picture of him in the cockpit leaving on that trip. The hawkbill was in his personal effects.

I got the one Gramps had on him the day he left us This one is True Pocket worn wouldn't take anything for it

That main blade peeled an apple or two! You can tell he depended on that main blade for most of his chores. I should be thinking about passing down the heirlooms I have to the next generation but I still can't bear to part with them, I still carry that Remington at least one day a week.

Man that little jack has probably skint 5 or 6 hundred bushey tails I remember watching him skin 7 or 8 in the time it took my to skin one

I sure like that Remington R3153. Looks like it was well cared for.

The bone on that knife is the prettiest I have ever seen, the color and texure could only come from years and years of carrying and using. On several occasions I have been able to take that out of my pocket when guys have shown me the brand new "Pocket Worn" Case they just picked up...mean of me ain't it...lol.

I have a good assortment of heirloom knives to share with everyone--these were my grandpa's knives he had and was given to me just 2 months prior to my grandpa's passing this last year--top knife is a wilbert, bottom is big john(his name)hammer brand--

My grandpa's russell barlow--He was a knife enthusiast. He thought every man should own one of these--I was given this knife before his passing

These 2 small pearl knives were my grandma's sewing machine knives, given to me by my grandpa b4 his passing and after her passing

My very 1st pocket knife--I am 34 years young, I know this brown richards england knife is at least 30 years old and my 2nd pocket knife a parker bulldog, I carried it so much I wore off the handles(these knives now belong to my 11 year old son--he loves knives I wonder why??---(lol)

My 1st switch blade knife--I got this one about 25 years ago(11 or 12 years old)--It also is my son's now

My dad's U.S.M.C issued pocket knife--My father was a marine veteran from 1970-1974

I posted this knife before, but this is a typical PSK that my father owned and used during his time in the Air Force. He was EOD, and this was part of his kit. It is about as old as I am...



This is one my Grandfather owned and used. He was quite a good leather worker, and liked knives. He sent me many Queen knives over the years, but was also fond of Case and Schrade.



Glenn

Here are some knives that I think qualify as heirloom knives;some are from my family and others have their own special story.These are part of the book I am writing and the stories here are condensed a bit.

First is one I have pictured and told the story of before:my first knife.I acquired this when I was 10 years old after a lot of pleading with my grandfather.It was left at his home(where I grew up) in 1964 when I entered the Navy and I didn't get it back until 1987 when I found it while cleaning out my mother's apartment after she had died.A long story.

The second is my grandfather's Kamp King.It was the first knife(but definitely not the last)to inflict a wound on my fingers when I was 8.It too was acquired when my mother died.

Next is an Indian trade knife that my cousin obtained along with a bunch of artifacts.He passed away from a brain aneurism at the age of 32 and my uncle gave it to me knowing I collected knives.

Next is a Schrade double switchblade given to me by a friend.It belonged to his grandmother who kept it in her sewing basket to cut thread.The master blade was dull and the celluloid scales had many grooves running diagonally across them from thread rubbing against them.It came in it's own little leather pouch.

Lastly is a Jos. Rodgers bowie hunter with a 9" spear blade in great shape,beautiful stag scales,and the original sheath that looks as though it has never been on a belt.Circa 1880.This knife I found in an antique shop about 10 years ago and was what got me back into knife collecting.

The stories of these knives are as fascinating as the knives themselves.There are several more that will be featured in my book and hopefully I can find enough time to finish it this year.

Hi Guys, My father just found this picture in his stuff & sent it to me just this last week. I thought it would go well w/ the knives that I already posted in this section that I received before my Grandpas passing. He went by "Big John" & this picture was taken around 1983 when my Grandpa was set up at the Tulsa show. I was around 8yrs old at the time.
Maybe someone on here would recognize him & could tell me a story? He was into Case, Remington, Winchester etc. mostly just BIG knives(as you can see) & had a passion for Remington Bullets as well
Thx Mark

Mark, great picture of your Grandpa. I am sure you were very happy to get that one.
Dan

Thanks Dan, I was extremely happy happy HAPPY!!!!
Kind Regards,
Mark

Hey Guys/Gals, Last fall I found this "Case Collectors Club" Card from my Dads Stash. I wondered what they looked like back in the day, Now I know. Here is a picture of the card below, JUST FOR OLD TIME MEMORIES SAKE of some of you OLD GUYS out there. Hahahahah
Kindest Regards,
Mark

Mark,that`s pretty cool

Thx Roger!! Did you ever have one from back in the day?
Kind Regards,
Mark

No,I only go back to around 2000 or so.

I have a heirloom fork. It was my Fathers fathers. He was in the Navy just before ww2. Remember the movie Sandpebbles?

Hey that fork is really Cool!!! Thanks for sharing it. I never seen that movie Sir
Kindest Regards,
Mark