All About Pocket Knives

My wife recently returned from a 3 week visit to Kansas to take care of some family business and while there, she managed to find this old, totally worn out Imperial USA knife that used to belong to her Dad, who passed away about 12 years ago from cancer.

He was a Kansas wheat farmer and a man of some means and could certainly afford a knife in any price range he wanted, but he chose these old Imperials because he used them for everything from a pry bar to a screw driver....as quite evident from the photo. He refused to throw them away and would keep reshaping the broken blades so they were somewhat useable (?) then, toss them in a box in his shop....still not willing to throw them away.

This one was a rusty mess when she brought it home, so I put it to the buffer wheel and cleaned most of the rust off and oiled it very generously. Believe it or not, all three blades....or what's left of them.... have a fair amount of walk and talk!

I never had the priviledge of meeting the man, but when handling this old hunk of junk, I somehow feel close to him and his way of thinking and his general approach to life.

So....like I said, a knife doesn't have to be valuable to have worth. Know what I mean?

Dewman

I Absolutely know what you mean!

Excellent
Thanks for sharing.

Dale

...a pry bar to a screw driver...

We all have done it or seen it done in our life time.

I also feel that he never looked at his knife as a Weapon.
Just a handy tool to abuse if he had too.
Waste not want not.

Thank you for the clean job and sharing.

Great story Dewman, thanks for taking the time to share it with us..

Sunburst

My Grandfather always had a penknife in his pocket. A very abused penknife. The blades were always worn like the one pictured here. I think he could have afforded a good brand name penknife but I doubt he would have used it or even carried it. I did see him sharpen his penknife once. He had a hand operated grinder that he used. It really wore the blade down too much. But that was his way of doing things. I may have one of his last penknives, which is probably a "no name" brand and well worn. I'll look for it. I know it is worth nothing except to me as a keepsake. So I know what you mean, dewman. I'd say that to me, my Grandfather's old penknife is priceless.