All About Pocket Knives

How about a thread dedicated to showing off your first knife & how long ago your infatuation with knives began.

This is my first folder that my parents gave me about 51 years ago. And, my first fixed blade I got about 50 years ago. BTW I am almost 56. Both bought in the Smokey Mountains.

I've posted this a few times in the past so my apologies to anyone who might understatedly be tired of seeing it.

I am not 100% sure that this was my first knife but I am certain that it was the first knife I bought and paid for myself. Bought it from an advertisement in the back of a 1971 issue of Boys Life Magazine. The ad was for 2 knives so me and a friend saved up our lunch money. Sent cash in an envelope and checked the mailbox every day. No internet or tracking numbers in 1971. We were 10 years old.

Back then, all I needed to conquer the world was a bicycle and this pocketknife.

My Dad found this knife while tearing down a horse shed back in 1963. He kept it in his tool box and when ever he had his box open I would be checking out the knife and probably everything else in the box.

A few years ago I asked him whatever happened to that knife and to my surprise, he still had it! A couple weeks later I was delighted to receive the knife in the mail. I guess one day I'll pass it along to my grandson.

Railsplitter wrote: ↑Sun Sep 15, 2024 2:18 am I've posted this a few times in the past so my apologies to anyone who might understatedly be tired of seeing it.

I am not 100% sure that this was my first knife but I am certain that it was the first knife I bought and paid for myself. Bought it from an advertisement in the back of a 1971 issue of Boys Life Magazine. The ad was for 2 knives so me and a friend saved up our lunch money. Sent cash in an envelope and checked the mailbox every day. No internet or tracking numbers in 1971. We were 10 years old.

Back then, all I needed to conquer the world was a bicycle and this pocketknife.

OH MY GOSH, YES!!! I didn't do the same but was 9 years old in 1971 and I used to sell seeds thru an ad in Boys Life Magazine.

What pushed me over the edge was the Kerhsaw Leek. And that was the fantasy knife. It was sooooooooooo cool. Still is. Still carrying one today.

The black knife was my first, USA. Still love black handles!!!!
Also my dad with the Boker he took new to Vietnam, and my youngest with his first knife, gifted to him by Ken Daniels at the old Dalton GA knife show.

Jody744 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 15, 2024 7:24 pm 8220E800-4A16-4E26-8AD2-0CE4DA184C5B.jpeg

The black knife was my first, USA. Still love black handles!!!!
Also my dad with the Boker he took new to Vietnam, and my youngest with his first knife, gifted to him by Ken Daniels at the old Dalton GA knife show.

3 generations of knives, very cool. I have my father’s, grandfather’s and great grandfather’s edc pocket knives.

ken98k wrote: ↑Sun Sep 15, 2024 4:05 am My Dad found this knife while tearing down a horse shed back in 1963. He kept it in his tool box and when ever he had his box open I would be checking out the knife and probably everything else in the box.

A few years ago I asked him whatever happened to that knife and to my surprise, he still had it! A couple weeks later I was delighted to receive the knife in the mail. I guess one day I'll pass it along to my grandson.

O Barnette cowboy knife.jpg

I think you definitely win coolest & rarest.

My first knife was a SAK from the 1950’s it is missing its bail.
Second knife was a Boy Scout Camillus whittler.
My Dad’s first knife he got from his Uncle an old Dwight Devine Scout knife.

I took the picture with the blades closed, because they all look better that way! They are all well used!

Scott, this is a great idea for a topic!
My first knives are long gone, but 3 1/2 years ago, I got back into the hobby after Mom gave me a bucket of my Stepdad's knives, after his passing.
These are a couple that got me started again. They are in my daily carry rotation pile.
1972 Case 6232 ... EO blade broken off
Imperial Barlow in great shape still

All special knives and special stories, guys! Thanks for sharing!

A cheap Barlow and a scout knife started it for me. I rode to a Pawnshop near my house, and I bought a Barlow and a fishing reel for $2.00.
My brother gave me the Scout knife. I was 9 years old at the time. I haven't been without a knife in my pocket since. I'll be 65 in January!

These aren't the actual knives, but are very close to what I had..

CarMan wrote: ↑Sun Sep 15, 2024 8:02 pm

ken98k wrote: ↑Sun Sep 15, 2024 4:05 am My Dad found this knife while tearing down a horse shed back in 1963. He kept it in his tool box and when ever he had his box open I would be checking out the knife and probably everything else in the box.

A few years ago I asked him whatever happened to that knife and to my surprise, he still had it! A couple weeks later I was delighted to receive the knife in the mail. I guess one day I'll pass it along to my grandson.

O Barnette cowboy knife.jpg

I think you definitely win coolest & rarest.

Everyone here has a knife that means just as much to them as My O Barnette means to me.

ken98k wrote: ↑Mon Sep 16, 2024 1:35 am

CarMan wrote: ↑Sun Sep 15, 2024 8:02 pm

ken98k wrote: ↑Sun Sep 15, 2024 4:05 am My Dad found this knife while tearing down a horse shed back in 1963. He kept it in his tool box and when ever he had his box open I would be checking out the knife and probably everything else in the box.

A few years ago I asked him whatever happened to that knife and to my surprise, he still had it! A couple weeks later I was delighted to receive the knife in the mail. I guess one day I'll pass it along to my grandson.

O Barnette cowboy knife.jpg

I think you definitely win coolest & rarest.

Everyone here has a knife that means just as much to them as My O Barnette means to me.

I totally agree, but that is one rare bird for a first. Most of us started out with cheapies that mean a lot to this day.

I agree ... Ken's cowboy knife is unique and very cool!
CarMan, I like your signature ... a true statement of faith.

I was 7 and was finally able to talk my mother into allowing me to get a pocket knife. She took me to K-Mart and I bought a Imperial Fishing Knife with imitation cracked pearl scales. It cost me all my birthday money! I think $2+ I don't have it, my mother caught me throwing and sticking it in the grass in the back yard and took it, she said for a month...but when the month was over she somehow couldn't find it...

I found ways to buy a replacement, a Barlow, I then went thru many pocket knives because I was hard on them and cheap knives tend to break when you use them as screw drivers, prying bars and such. Also my younger brother found a way around having to spend his money on a pocket knife, he just stole mine and then claim that he bought it. He was the youngest, so he got away with everything. When I was in 4th grade, I bought my first "quality" knife with birthday money, an Old Timer Stockman. After that, A stockman was my preferred shape and I was never without one. When I was 14 I was given a Craftsman (Schrade LB7) and it was then that I thought, "You know, I could have more than one knife..." I had learned to keep them hidden and locked up from the younger brothers and the infatuation began. There were times when I couldn't afford gas for the car, but Found a way to buy a new knife that caught my eye...

Corn Creek Cutlery wrote: ↑Mon Sep 16, 2024 9:12 am I agree ... Ken's cowboy knife is unique and very cool!
CarMan, I like your signature ... a true statement of faith.

Thank you sir. I read that somewhere and had to use it for my signature.

I’m 73 years old and I’m not sure if it was my first knife, but I still have the first knife I purchased while in high school. It was a YCC orange perloid melon tester. The first “collectible” knife I bought, in the early 70s, was a no name Japanese blue mirror lock-back with “Classic” blade etch. The picture doesn’t do the “Classic” justice. The entire handle is as bright as the top left corner. I didn’t realize it was in the shadow.

My first was a Kamp King that was replaced when my Uncle Buddy got back from nam with a Camillus Cub Scout knife..My first big boy knife I bought was a two dot Buck .112.