All About Pocket Knives

I can remember when I was little, I really didn't want anything to do with my Grandfather, he was old and gruff, and he swore at Grandma a lot. I was afraid to be alone with him, I thought he didn't like anyone. But, he would take me to flea markets and Gun shows, which I always liked, but there was always a distance between us. That was until I asked him some questions, then we started talking, mostly about hunting, and fishing, then as time went on we started talking a lot. I would go "Gun Running" with him, which mean't we'd stop at every sportsman's shop and see what was new. He did a lot of dealing, I never wanted to bother him so I was usually checking out the knives while he dealt. Everyone knew he was a "Gun Nut", but it wasn't until a few years ago that I realized he's a Knife Nut too, but I'll get to that later. We would pass an ol' butcher's place on the way to one of the Gun shops, he'd stop and have me run in and get a package of ring bologna. We'd sit in the parking lot and and eat it, I remember he'd reach into his pocket and pull out his one blade knife, then he'd ask me how big a piece I wanted, he slice through the bologna like it was warm butter. I always thought it was cool that he carried a knife. As time went on our relationship got closer, he would teach me things about hunting and such and we spent a lot of time just watching the field. When I got older, I fell in love with knives, I learned all about the different brands and such, I already knew about Buck because of my Dad, but it wasn't until a few years after I first saw Pappy's one blade knife, did I realize it was a Buck.

My Mom had got my grandfather that knife for his birthday, years before I was around. He has a love for single blade folders, I guess he just never liked a stockman or trapper knife. He broke the blade in it and sent it back to Buck, they wanted to charge him for the blade, which they had the right to, because he voided the warranty when he broke it, and he knew better too. He told them he wasn't paying and to ship the knife back and, that he didn't understand how a lifetime warranty didn't cover the repair. Well, a few weeks later he got his knife back, with a brand new blade. He tells me that the old blade was better, and that he could never get this blade as sharp as the old one could get. It's pretty sharp now, but when I'm done with it, it'll be razor sharp.

He has an old Buck display case that he bought from a sporting goods store, they got a new one in, so he offered them a couple bucks for the old one, which they accepted. The plate that was on there fell off and I couldn't find, but he said he knew where it was and that he would put it back on so I could take pictures. Then he offered me the display, but I couldn't take it from him.... he has a nice collection in there, and it wouldn't be right to remove them. I asked to borrow his Buck pocket knife so I could get some pictures, he said, "take every Buck knife home, you can have them" My mom was in the room, so she asked if he was getting rid of his ol' knife. He realized that she had given him that knife so he told me I could borrow it for a week or two. I took him up and that offer and have had the knife ever since. I'm carrying it in my pocket and it feels amazing, I love having it, but having it for good wouldn't feel right, I see that knife and think of him.


It's not all that old, but it's seen some good years of use, and I've seen him dump that knife out of his pocket with a few pennies, and an empty 22 hornet shell, more than a few time. I imagine it's cleaned more than a couple squirrel, and rabbit too.

Thanks for letting me share, I'd love to see a Buck that means something to you.
P.S.
Now that I'm older, I realize why he was always swearing at Grandma.

very cool mate, and love the last part nice buck, is this the same scale as a buck 55 ? glad you have it ,its nice to have something like this, ive bucks that i like but not one like yours with family connections, your grandad sounds like a real charcter, my great grandad was like this, but hey most old guys are grumpy

I believe it is smaller than the 55, I don't have a 55 now, I gave it to my cousin for Christmas.
It is almost the same length, exactly, as the 303, just a lot more slim.

It locks up like a tank too.

johnny twoshoes wrote:I believe it is smaller than the 55, I don't have a 55 now, I gave it to my cousin for Christmas.
It is almost the same length, exactly, as the 303, just a lot more slim.

It locks up like a tank too.

ive found so far that most bucks have a great solid snap

MR J.Twoshoes;Great story and knife

.22 Hornet fer squirrels??--pretty pricey round fer a tree rat sure you don't mean .22LR lot more meat left to em too

PS, my grandfather hunted squirrel with a shotgun, usually a 410.
He carry's an empty 22 hornet shell to remember the good times he's had afield, he went 11 years in a row getting a Pa buck with a 22 hornet.
Thats what I meant when I said I'd seen that knife dumped out with one many times before.

Oh didn't realize he was killin deer with it they don't let us use .22's here but that is a hot round i used to load those for my son to kill ground hogs and coyotes there is no doubt you can dump a deer with one long as ya hit em rite

That was ( and is ) a magnificent story. Your writing is wonderful. It is concise and articulate. Your story is great and evokes the love and admiration for your Grandfather.

I've said this before and I have to say it again, young men such as yourself give me hope for the future of this country.

THANK YOU!!

Keep up the good work.
Willie

Very well put Mr Wullie

And there you go Johnny! Two tumbs up.

Thanks Guys, I really enjoy the history we share with knives and the people who use them, if it wasn't for them I don't know that I'd be a collector.
And thanks Wullie, it's an honor to hear that from you.