A great act of generosity in a small package

[Hickory n steel]

Oh those tiny USA knives are awesome! I'm pretty sure that Imperial and Colonial made the same ones, and Ideal made similar with a chisel grind.

Well I pleasantly learned that this one was made by Imperial, and that's awesome because I'm a fan of their ultra thin easy to maintain carbon steel blades.

This may only be because I just got it, but I've already used it more than I expected because it's perfectly adequate for opening packs of crackers and small stuff like that.

 

[5K Qs]

Hickory n steel said he'd send me something because I gifted him a knife, and I thought he was familiar with the tradition of exchanging a coin for a gift knife. But he went way off the deep end!!

A couple of days ago I received a padded mailer from H&S with a thoughtful note and all of this!!

Let me give you a run-down of the contents.

I happen to carry a couple of those souvenirs formed by turning a machine crank to flatten and stamp a penny . I've occasionally put them in knife photos, although I'm not sure if H&S ever noticed that. But he sent me FOUR of them related to attractions around Sacramento CA! Coincidence??

He also sent me a key ring attached to a little clear plastic case containing a little card with a semi-clever story that's too "risqué" to post here in it's entirety, but it's peeking out at the top of the first photo.

He included not one, but FIVE, coins in exchange for the knives I sent him. Not only that, the coins were rare to me: 1941-1945 pennies, including a famous 1943 steel penny. They were in a little tin case from the E. W. Reynolds Co., which I still need to research!

For probably almost 45 years, I've been closing my correspondence with the line "Peace and Long Life", which some people recognize as part of a Vulcan greeting from the 1960s Star Trek TV series. H&S claims he wasn't aware of this, but he sent me a refrigerator magnet from his favorite store in Old Sacramento, and on a banner below the picture on that magnet are Latin words that translate to the OTHER part of that fictional Vulcan greeting, "Live Long and Prosper." Another of the amazing coincidences in my "knife life".

Last but not least, and what H&S hinted he'd send me, were a couple of items he made himself. One is a silver zipper pull made our of an old spoon handle, with a cool basket-weave design on one side. (The other side is a double-hairline outline of the shape of the spoon - pretty standard spoon engraving.) I've already installed that on the zipper for the main compartment of the backpack that goes everywhere with me.

The other item really shows off his talent! It's a suspension clip H&S made from a 10-penny nail using some kind of blowtorch-and-soupcan forge! Very nicely shaped, with incredible twists in the steel! Not sure what pocket I'll use that for, but I'll figure out a way to use it (possibly even as a tie bar with a Vic Classic dangling ).

So, thanks a million for the very generous and thoughtful tokens of your appreciation!

- GT

 

[Hickory n steel]

I'm really glad you love the items I sent you.
BTW the little tin is actually for a replacement watch part.
I have a few of these different tins that my dad was given as a kid from a retired watch repairman neighbor.
To me and to my dad they're just a useful little tin so I had no problem sending you one.

I really can't believe the coincidence with that fridge magnet, but I'm glad I had two of this version and decided to send you one.

 

[gonebad395]

Hickory n steel said he'd send me something because I gifted him a knife, and I thought he was familiar with the tradition of exchanging a coin for a gift knife. But he went way off the deep end!!

A couple of days ago I received a padded mailer from H&S with a thoughtful note and all of this!!

Let me give you a run-down of the contents.

I happen to carry a couple of those souvenirs formed by turning a machine crank to flatten and stamp a penny . I've occasionally put them in knife photos, although I'm not sure if H&S ever noticed that. But he sent me FOUR of them related to attractions around Sacramento CA! Coincidence??

He also sent me a key ring attached to a little clear plastic case containing a little card with a semi-clever story that's too "risqué" to post here in it's entirety, but it's peeking out at the top of the first photo.

He included not one, but FIVE, coins in exchange for the knives I sent him. Not only that, the coins were rare to me: 1941-1945 pennies, including a famous 1943 steel penny. They were in a little tin case from the E. W. Reynolds Co., which I still need to research!

For probably almost 45 years, I've been closing my correspondence with the line "Peace and Long Life", which some people recognize as part of a Vulcan greeting from the 1960s Star Trek TV series. H&S claims he wasn't aware of this, but he sent me a refrigerator magnet from his favorite store in Old Sacramento, and on a banner below the picture on that magnet are Latin words that translate to the OTHER part of that fictional Vulcan greeting, "Live Long and Prosper." Another of the amazing coincidences in my "knife life".

Last but not least, and what H&S hinted he'd send me, were a couple of items he made himself. One is a silver zipper pull made our of an old spoon handle, with a cool basket-weave design on one side. (The other side is a double-hairline outline of the shape of the spoon - pretty standard spoon engraving.) I've already installed that on the zipper for the main compartment of the backpack that goes everywhere with me.

The other item really shows off his talent! It's a suspension clip H&S made from a 10-penny nail using some kind of blowtorch-and-soupcan forge! Very nicely shaped, with incredible twists in the steel! Not sure what pocket I'll use that for, but I'll figure out a way to use it (possibly even as a tie bar with a Vic Classic dangling ).

So, thanks a million for the very generous and thoughtful tokens of your appreciation!

- GT

5K Qs this dosent surprise me one bit I don't post a lot on the porch anymore but still stop in to read a lot. I seem to have all the traditionals I want. And since Glenn did my grandfathers knife to pure perfection I seem to be liking my modern folders at this point but with that said. You my friend along with a handful on the porch are truly class acts. Some of the warmest people on a forum I've ever met. We have talked a lot and you are a very kind hearted person and it shows so at no point am I surprised another member sees it also. Stay the same man you wear it well and sincerely. Awesome gifts enjoy my friend.

And hickory awesome of you man very cool very cool.

 

[Wurrwulf]

That's a special package, Gary! Way to go, H&S! That suspension clip made from a nail is most excellent!

 

[Hickory n steel]

It feels good to repay the generosity, and I'm glad he seems to like his gifts as much as I love the knives he sent me.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Well, GT strikes again
He asked me if I had really wanted to give him my only steel penny which I found as a kid, and I did because I am enjoying the little imperial knife way more than I enjoyed that penny.
Well it turns out he has a few of them, and asked me how I'd like another one.
Well of course I'd love a new one, and it being a gift would be way more special than one I just found in change one day.
Well today an envelope from Gary arrived in the mail and not only was there a steel penny in there, but a wheat penny from 1918 which is 1 year older than my previous oldest one.

Something he pointed out in his note which hadn't dawned on me was the fact that in a few months it would be 100 years old, and that's actually pretty cool.


Now while on the subject of pennies, I want to point out that for the first time in history pennies are actually being produced with a Philadelphia mint mark.
2017 is the 225th anniversary of the Philadelphia mint so they decided to commemorate it in a special way. If you find any new shiny 2017P pennies you might want to save them as they'll be worth money some day.