From Sunny Florida - Nice to meet everyone!
Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2021 8:11 pm
New forum member living in Florida - always looking to learn something new! I have been a “collector” of things since my childhood. My first collections I can remember as a kid were coins & beer cans in the 1970’s, then WW2 relics when I lived in Europe with my family. All of those are long gone, unfortunately, but still have the memories, including the smell of sweat & cordite in the chin strap of a particular GI helmet. For me, the thrill is in the hunt and in learning the history. Fast forward to my adult years, and I primarily collect & repair vintage fountain pens and have recently gotten into pocket knives (vintage as well as some modern ones).
I think I’m drawn to the history of certain utilitarian objects, and thinking about the lives of those who may have used a particular pen or knife before me. I find it incredibly satisfying to “bring something back to life & service” that may have lain in a desk drawer or garage for 50-100 years, and being able to use it again. I also enjoy the “ritual” involved with restoration and with daily use. IMO, certain things built between 1900-1970 were built in ways that today’s “planned obsolescence” & disposable culture don’t always appreciate. But I do. I mainly focus on American-made products, but I can appreciate quality items made in other countries.
Fountain pens for me started in college when I really wanted a nice pen and could not afford one. So I picked up a 1940’s Sheaffer pen at a flea market for a few dollars, learned how they worked, invested in basic repair tools, made lots of friends & acquaintances who were incredibly generous with time and knowledge, learned from my mistakes & over time accumulated a collection in the hundreds: primarily Parker, Sheaffer, Wahl-Eversharp, & Waterman. I enjoy sharing my knowledge with others.
My interest in pocket knives has had a similar, but more recent evolution. Although I’ve always had a few knives around associated with hunting or fishing, or as a Boy Scout as a kid, the pocket knife “passion” for me began only over the last couple of years. I’m mainly drawn to vintage jack knives, canoe and Barlow-style patterns. I’m a fan of bone and love the patina that old bone or stag takes on over time. To date, I’ve restored about a dozen knives (nothing extreme, mainly just basic cleaning, polishing and sharpening to bring a dusty, lint-clogged relic back to user condition), but I enjoy using them daily.
Looking forward to reading from the experiences of others and appreciate the opportunity to see things through the shared experience of this community. Cheers!
I think I’m drawn to the history of certain utilitarian objects, and thinking about the lives of those who may have used a particular pen or knife before me. I find it incredibly satisfying to “bring something back to life & service” that may have lain in a desk drawer or garage for 50-100 years, and being able to use it again. I also enjoy the “ritual” involved with restoration and with daily use. IMO, certain things built between 1900-1970 were built in ways that today’s “planned obsolescence” & disposable culture don’t always appreciate. But I do. I mainly focus on American-made products, but I can appreciate quality items made in other countries.
Fountain pens for me started in college when I really wanted a nice pen and could not afford one. So I picked up a 1940’s Sheaffer pen at a flea market for a few dollars, learned how they worked, invested in basic repair tools, made lots of friends & acquaintances who were incredibly generous with time and knowledge, learned from my mistakes & over time accumulated a collection in the hundreds: primarily Parker, Sheaffer, Wahl-Eversharp, & Waterman. I enjoy sharing my knowledge with others.
My interest in pocket knives has had a similar, but more recent evolution. Although I’ve always had a few knives around associated with hunting or fishing, or as a Boy Scout as a kid, the pocket knife “passion” for me began only over the last couple of years. I’m mainly drawn to vintage jack knives, canoe and Barlow-style patterns. I’m a fan of bone and love the patina that old bone or stag takes on over time. To date, I’ve restored about a dozen knives (nothing extreme, mainly just basic cleaning, polishing and sharpening to bring a dusty, lint-clogged relic back to user condition), but I enjoy using them daily.
Looking forward to reading from the experiences of others and appreciate the opportunity to see things through the shared experience of this community. Cheers!
We are in the middle of the Panhandle.
to AAPK.