My $8 trip down memory lane......

[medicevans]

A few weeks ago Vanguard posted several knives for sale. One of them brought back a flood of memories so strong I had to jump on it.

When I was very young, my dad gave me my first knife, a greenish lockback of unknown (to me anyway) origin. I have no idea what happened to that knife.

One of my very next knives was an Imperial Kamp King type knife. It would have had to have been when I was 8 or 9 maybe. I don't know where I got it, maybe a birthday present from an aunt or an uncle? I know I used the living daylights out of it, and eventually it lost a scale and was relegated to sock drawer status.

It's moved with me no fewer than 6 times, always hanging around and never getting lost. I've always thought it would be neat to get another one, but I didn't even know what they were called, and it really wasn't a priority because I wasn't "in to knives" at the time.

Fast forward to Vanguard's posting. A sweet little Kamp King for $8 in pretty good shape. I thought, "hey, that kind of looks like my old camp style knife!" I ran upstairs and grabbed my old knife from my box and rubbed the junk away from the tang stamp. Sure enough, it was an old Imperial, just like Vanguard's. I ran back downstairs and popped open the tools and blade. They matched up with the one for sale! My heart pounded as I typed "I'll take it!" I had finally found one!

Fast forward a few weeks. This came in the mail. I've been playing with it ever since. I can't stop smiling. This knife brings back fond memories of hikes, forts built, skinny dipping in the creek, sticks made into match sticks, and simpler times with my little brother "back at the woods."

I can't wait to sharpen it up and use it more. It's definitely going to see some pocket time! I have more expensive knives, but is rather smile when using a knife than use one that costs more.

Now pictures!




A very poor shot of the tang stamps.


Comparison shot of the ends. The nicer one is slightly more rounded and has a different way of attaching the scales and bolsters to the liners. I'm going to guess it's slightly older than my original knife. It doesn't matter to me in the least!

[CellerDrummer]

That was my very first knife as well..I was in the cub scouts and maybe 9 or 10 yrs old..Every scout needed a knife , and I actually remember being in K-Mart and my parents buying it for me..WOW that was around 1979

[Liberando]

Medicevans, congrats...it's a good day when we connect with an important part of our past.

CellerDrummer--I was a scout too during that era, and the Kmart sporting goods section was a favorite place for me. My first sleeping bag came from there (probably weighed 10 lbs!), my first pack (a Kmart version of the Yucca), ponchos (plural because they ripped easily), and a couple Imperial knives too.

[Vanguard41xx]

Happy it got there safe and sound!

[supratentorial]

Cool story, medicevans!

[Campbellclanman]

Yeah...thats a cool thing to get for such a meagre amount - well done!

[Bigfattyt]

I would love to pick up one of these old scout knives.

[medicevans]

Bft, I hope you're able to grab one. They are quickly becoming one of my favorite patterns.

Vanguard, thanks so much for selling me this knife. I have it in my pocket today and I'm all smiles.