All About Pocket Knives

I don't know if a similar or like thread to this has already been posted before, but here we go.

Where are the oddest or most unique places you have found knives or purchased them?

It happened to me at a baby shower I reluctantly went to with the wife. The Dad and I were the only men there, so we were talking man stuff, which lead to knives. He showed me his knives, and I came home from the party with eight Case knives he sold me.

But, there was a glitch before the deal finalized. I didn't quite have enough money with me, so I had to borrow some from my wife to pay for them. You can imagine what a show that was for all there to see! Short story, she had some fun with me in front of the women, but didn't make me beg, and he got some extra diaper money in the bank!

Has anyone ever borrowed money from the wife to buy a knife, or am I the only one?

Community college..

VA law says you're not supposed to have anything bigger than a 2.5" blade on a school campus, a rule that no one cared about; or batted an eye to. Only one or two people did not have a knife on them in my class--and I started with small folders, then switched up to the same stuff I carry for farm work (few real tools, a Leatherman Super Tool, and two or three sizes of knife).

I hated the way the "my age" students in a mechatronics class I attended acted, so I stuck with a group of laid-off and retired coal miners ranging from about age 40-65. One of the guys gave me four of his old work knives--a Klein hawkbill, two Klein coping knives, and a Boker 9215M "The Miner" hawkbill. I usually kept one on me as my school knife for the duration of the class. Now, the Klein hawkbill resides alongside my Granddad's mining gear (and his own hawkbill) in a display case. Coping knives are still carried daily, but the 9215M got related to backup once I found a worse one in my Granddad's collection (tip snapped off--but he had two mint ones as well).

Later on, right before we had a class trip to a few factories, he gave me a Boker 495 Razor Barlow.

Corn Creek Cutlery wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 1:15 am
But, there was a glitch before the deal finalized. I didn't quite have enough money with me, so I had to borrow some from my wife to pay for them. You can imagine what a show that was for all there to see! Short story, she had some fun with me in front of the women, but didn't make me beg, and he got some extra diaper money in the bank!

Has anyone ever borrowed money from the wife to buy a knife, or am I the only one?

Let me say this - we have been a single income family, been married for near 38 years now, or 37, I am sure it is more than 36, I am pretty sure of that. Anyway, because we are a single income we don't have just piles of money, we do alright, but that's about it. But, anything I buy for myself, I am essentially borrowing it from my wife - otherwise, she'd spend it!!

I have stopped older men down town and bought their knives. I have bought two that way. Harold

Cool Cody ... that gentleman was very generous and gave you some very useful knives too!

Here in TN, there are no knife restrictions. But most government regulations classify them as a weapon. So, I don't carry them on school campuses, government or public areas, where of course weapons are not allowed. I always treat my knife carry the same as my concealed carry ... if it is no gun allowed, I don't carry the knife either.

I imagine those knives and your Grandpa's are ones you will never part with.

enuf wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 1:57 am

Corn Creek Cutlery wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 1:15 am
But, there was a glitch before the deal finalized. I didn't quite have enough money with me, so I had to borrow some from my wife to pay for them. You can imagine what a show that was for all there to see! Short story, she had some fun with me in front of the women, but didn't make me beg, and he got some extra diaper money in the bank!

Has anyone ever borrowed money from the wife to buy a knife, or am I the only one?

Let me say this - we have been a single income family, been married for near 38 years now, or 37, I am sure it is more than 36, I am pretty sure of that. Anyway, because we are a single income we don't have just piles of money, we do alright, but that's about it. But, anything I buy for myself, I am essentially borrowing it from my wife - otherwise, she'd spend it!!

I hear ya Dan! My wife and I never have a disagreement over money because I play it safe and do what is in my signature below.

If you have a good wife she will let you have a little bit of your paycheck. Just treat her like the Angel she is!

enuf wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 1:57 am

Corn Creek Cutlery wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 1:15 am
But, there was a glitch before the deal finalized. I didn't quite have enough money with me, so I had to borrow some from my wife to pay for them. You can imagine what a show that was for all there to see! Short story, she had some fun with me in front of the women, but didn't make me beg, and he got some extra diaper money in the bank!

Has anyone ever borrowed money from the wife to buy a knife, or am I the only one?

Let me say this - we have been a single income family, been married for near 38 years now, or 37, I am sure it is more than 36, I am pretty sure of that. Anyway, because we are a single income we don't have just piles of money, we do alright, but that's about it. But, anything I buy for myself, I am essentially borrowing it from my wife - otherwise, she'd spend it!!

I feel you my dude. I am not the primary bread winner in my home. Anytime i buy a knife, Im essentially borrowing "mommy's money". This causes me to be frugal, which causes me to look under every rock for old knives.

Nothing too strange, but I do find if I go to a garage or estate sale and don't see any knives, I can strike up a conversation with the person running it and about 50% of the time they'll go find some knives for me. Having already been friendly i typically get quoted good prices on what is essentially private stock.

Many years ago, before I even started collecting seriously, I was remodeling my kitchen. I cut through the wall and found a small, very used, Case Tested knife lying on a fire stop. Don't remember what happened to it. Always laughed to think the guy who built my house left his pocket knife on a fire stop and sealed up the wall. The house was built in '51 and I found it in '74. J.O'.

This may be my first post about one of my knives, instead of my dad's. Shortly after arriving December 1998 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for work, my boss from Cardiff, Wales invited me to a group weekend campout at what the Brits called the Saudi Stonehenge area. It came time to split up some pallets to start a fire and I got an Old Hickory chef's bowie style knife I had and started making some kindling. Around the fire conversation turns to camping, fishing, guns and knives of course. Week or so goes by and I go in one morning and find this Korean made switchblade on my desk. Always reminds me of one of the most unique places I've ever spent the night in a tent.

These are some great posts you guys are putting up in this thread, full of stories, memories, wit, and wisdom!
Thank you for sharing Cody, Dan, Stockman, Bill, TWKG, John, & Rick!

When I was a youngster there was tradition among older men (the “greatest generation” and older) called “dropping knives”. When you saw a friend sometimes you’d reach into your pocket and grab your pocket knife. Then with the knife enclosed within your fist, extend your fist, fingers down, toward the friend. If he wanted to participate, he would do likewise. Both of you extend your other hand, palm up. Drop the knives into each others hand. You just made a “sight unseen” knife swap! Usually followed by a good natured round of teasing, with both parties claiming to have gotten the better end of the deal.

That custom was still going on when I was a young man in the 1970s. The last time I did it was with an older friend at church. We swapped our well-worn EDCs back and forth nearly every Sunday, until a couple years ago when he had to move to assisted living (Alzheimer’s). I think he liked giving me his knife, and getting it back sharpened.

Ken

now that sounds like fun

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Tue Apr 02, 2024 2:02 am When I was a youngster there was tradition among older men (the “greatest generation” and older) called “dropping knives”. When you saw a friend sometimes you’d reach into your pocket and grab your pocket knife. Then with the knife enclosed within your fist, extend your fist, fingers down, toward the friend. If he wanted to participate, he would do likewise. Both of you extend your other hand, palm up. Drop the knives into each others hand. You just made a “sight unseen” knife swap! Usually followed by a good natured round of teasing, with both parties claiming to have gotten the better end of the deal.

That custom was still going on when I was a young man in the 1970s. The last time I did it was with an older friend at church. We swapped our well-worn EDCs back and forth nearly every Sunday, until a couple years ago when he had to move to assisted living (Alzheimer’s). I think he liked giving me his knife, and getting it back sharpened.

Ken

Cool story Ken! I enjoyed it!!

There are two knives in my collection that I didn’t “find”, nor “buy”. They were gifted to me by another knife collector/business acquaintance/friend. We are both in physical therapy, and he gifted me the knives in the PT clinic. The first was a Fight’n Rooster “The Kentuckian” mid/lock. We met as customers of a local knife shop/Fight’n Rooster dealer. The Kentuckian was a personal knife of the shop owner. After the shop owner died, the knife was gifted to my friend by the owner’s father. He gifted it to me, telling me he knew the shop owner would want me to have it. The second knife was a well worn Case Tested XX Barlow. It turns out my friend bought the Barlow specifically to give it to me.

Although many of the knives I have acquired over the years have stories attached to them(and are included in a book I've been working on for several years), the one that usually comes to mind concerns an Anton Wingen gravity knife.
One of my customers for whom I've pinstriped quite a few vehicles & was serving as a curator of the Witch Museum in Salem Massachusetts called & asked me to stop by & see him on my lunch hour.
It was only 5 minutes from work so I drove over. Upon arriving I noticed workers doing renovations to the interior of the building.
My friend came up & handed me the knife; explaining it had been found behind a wall that was being replaced. He had no idea when the wall had been put up; it was before his tenure!
I thanked him profusely, gave him a coin; explained the legend of the coin for a knife, & went back to work with my new knife. After cleaning, it appeared to be unused.

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Tue Apr 02, 2024 2:02 am When I was a youngster there was tradition among older men (the “greatest generation” and older) called “dropping knives”. When you saw a friend sometimes you’d reach into your pocket and grab your pocket knife. Then with the knife enclosed within your fist, extend your fist, fingers down, toward the friend. If he wanted to participate, he would do likewise. Both of you extend your other hand, palm up. Drop the knives into each others hand. You just made a “sight unseen” knife swap! Usually followed by a good natured round of teasing, with both parties claiming to have gotten the better end of the deal.

That custom was still going on when I was a young man in the 1970s. The last time I did it was with an older friend at church. We swapped our well-worn EDCs back and forth nearly every Sunday, until a couple years ago when he had to move to assisted living (Alzheimer’s). I think he liked giving me his knife, and getting it back sharpened.

Ken

Ken, that tradition is still going on here at AAPK, with friends dropping knives all the time. It is nice to have a place where we go back and escape the present day world for a little while, and remember some of the old ways that were the best. Your post brought back memories of my Grandpa whittling at the weekly get together at his house. After everyone ate, the men and kids went outside telling stories and us kids playing and listening to them. The women stayed in the house and talked about the men. Good times ... thanks Ken!