A traditional knife to carry for the birth of my daughter?

Macchina

Macchina

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My first will be born in a few months and I can't wait! Add my wife is "nesting" and encouraging projects to get the house ready I can't help but think of more necessary preparations: the knife!

I would like to get a knife and carry it on the day of her birth as well significant days for her growing up. When a good time comes for her to receive a knife (that may or may not sit in a drawer) I would like to give it to her.

I'm looking for suggestions on this knife. My first thought was a 2016 first production GEC (maybe a Coyote or Beagle) or Case but then I thought a red Victorinox Cadet or something functional. It's hard picking out a knife for a girl I hardly know yet :)

So, any suggestions? Also, has anyone done anything similar?
 
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Macchina,
Congratulations to You and Your Wife.
The Coyote or Beagle would be a perfect choice for many reasons.
The quality will be excellent, it is pocketable, and it is a new and neat design.
 
Congrats on your upcoming child! What I did when my son was born last year, was buy a GEC that was released on his birth day. I had to wait a few days afterwards to get it of course. I ended up carrying one of my usual knives the day he was born. Things were so hectic the last thing I was thinking of was what knife to grab. I'm actually surprised I managed to grab one at all.
 
Congrats, Macchina! I've been thinking about the same sort of thing lately, as my wife is expecting our first in July. I'd go for a GEC over the Victorinox, as I think that sort of knife just seems more "special." If you're worried about it being an appropriate knife for her first knife, maybe get her something more practical for a first knife and continue carrying this "special" knife until you gift it to her at an later occasion, like graduation… or her wedding! :eek:

I like philllll's idea, of buying the knife released/featured on GEC's home page on the day of her birth, although obviously you couldn't carry it that day (and there's always the possibility that it'll be something you just plain don't like). Heck, do both… pick out a special one that really speaks to you beforehand so you can carry it that day, and buy that day's new release as well.

I'm curious to see what (if anything) others here have done for this same occasion.

Ps: Bonus points if you can talk them into letting you use the knife to cut the umbilical cord! :D
 
Macchina said:
My first will be born in a few months and I can't wait! Add my wife is "nesting" and encouraging projects to get the house ready I can't help but think of more necessary preparations: the knife!

I would like to get a knife and carry it on the day of her birth as well significant days for her growing up. When a good time comes for her to receive a knife (that may or may not sit in a drawer) I would like to give it to her.

I'm looking for suggestions on this knife. My first thought was a 2016 first production GEC (maybe a Coyote or Beagle) or Case but then I thought a red Victorinox Cadet or something functional. It's hard picking out a knife for a girl I hardly know yet :)

So, any suggestions? Also, has anyone done anything similar?
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If it were me I would not go with the SAK. In my opinion you have to be a bit of a knife nut to really appreciate SAK's. Since you're having a girl she may (or may not - who knows) like something that's easy to open... maybe something with an EO like the upcoming GEC 85 in bloodwood? The new production schedule for GEC should be out in a few weeks so you could hold off to see if something else catches your eye.
 
I think a Victorinox would be ideal. Easy to put her initials on, easy to carry anywhere,
and infinitely useful. For a small one check out the Classic, Rambler or my personal
carry, an Executive. A little bigger and busier look at a Climber or Tinker.
My daughter is 35 now and has a variety of edc blades. On her graduation from her
Masters program I gave her my engraved Gary Blanchard button lock. Her son is 2 and I
hope he'll inherit that fine piece.
 
Hang on a sec.
Are you wanting a knife to "carry for the birth of my daughter"?
Or a knife to give to her when shes old enough in about 10 years time :D
??
Just to make sure- you know they aren't gunna let you cut the cord with your own knife.
Unless its one of those hippie bush hospitals.
Everyone seems to think the first option but that's not how I'm reading your question.
Anyhow Congrats and good luck to you and the Mrs .
Having had experience with this life changing event I would counsel forgetting about the knife for now and concentrating on setting up a little
bed for yourself in the garage or shed-where you will be going if you want to get some sleep.
My vote otherwise goes to a 2016 model of knife released as close to the date as possible.:)

sorry I had to re reread -yes a knife that achieves both desired tasks-still as above.
 
When my wife was pregnant with my daughter, I found my first knife model (Kamp King) given to me by my father to have ready for the day she is ready for her own knife. And it's close (she is 5) and she knows I am holding on to it for her until I think she is ready. I was carrying the knife I always carry at the time (RAT1) and a SAK (my trad changes depending on what may come. A SAK seemed a good idea for the unknown situation of having a baby lol).
My baby boy is now 8 months, and his name is Colt! So looking for one of those that is perfect (wish they made a camper).
So, yeah, long story short, your first knife or one like it for your kid would be way special, I think.
 
Please tell me you're going to hack that cord with it.. If your wife's doc is cool enough I'm sure he/she will let you use it so long as you follow their sterilizing protocol before it goes down. Sharpen er up, those things a tougher than you think.
 
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When a good time comes for her to receive a knife (that may or may not sit in a drawer) I would like to give it to her.
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Hmm, other than what the previous replies have already said, may I suggest something with mother of pearl covers? Or covers matching the color of her birthstone. (just thinking like my wife would)
 
I honestly don't think it matters what knife you pick. It's not the pattern or date it was manufactured that makes it special. It's the fact that you carried it. If you want my advice, buy a knife that you think you'll like a lot and carry it with you the day she's born. Carry it every day until she's ready for her own knife. Give it to her. She'll love it and have a lot of memories of that knife. It'll be special to her. Kids don't make nearly as many memories at "special occasions" as they do in normal day to day life. I don't believe you can artificially force sentimentalism into a knife that you've chosen for her. The specialness comes from the countless memories of you using the knife and passing your essence into it.

These are my opinions based on how I see my kids react to different knives and how I react to things that my dad has passed down to me. The knives that my kids have memories of have a special significance to them. I can't predict when these memories are going to be made, but they're almost universally not on what we'd consider special occasions. The memories that pop into their heads happen when I'm not even paying attention. It's the knife I pick up when I'm working at my desk and they come in wanting an apple sliced up and I just grab one without even looking at what it is. It's the knife that I happened to have in my pocket when we made a spur-of-the-moment stop at the fishing pond and ended up spending the afternoon there. It's the knife that I used when we ran into a kid in the park with a huge knot in his kite string. These memories hold a special power for the kids, and the knives I've used on those occasions are the ones that they want. Not the ones I have set aside for them. When these moments pop up I can't pause them and run for their "special" knife, and if I tried it wouldn't be special anyways. That effort would betray the moment and render it meaningless.

Likewise, when my parents talk about who they want to get their various possessions I have very little interest in the things that they've set aside for me. I want the things that are out in their house and get used on a daily basis. Those are the things I have memories of. I don't want my dad's special occasions watch that he uses once or twice a year. I couldn't even tell you what that watch looks like without seeing it. I want the watch that he wears every day. The one he had on when we were working on my truck when I was in high school. The one that he wore when he was playing catch with me in the yard. The one that he was wearing when he sat next to my dying grandfather in the hospital and held his hand for the last time. He could have gone out and bought a $10,000 watch that was made the very second that I was born and it wouldn't hold a candle to the one that I know as his.

It's not the object that holds the special power. It's the parent. You want advice? Don't worry about the materials. Worry about the child. The heirlooms will come. It's a natural process. It doesn't take any planning. In fact, planning it out ruins the process. It's like an arranged marriage. You can't choose for her which memory is going to be special, just like you couldn't choose for her which man should be her husband. The beautiful part is that you don't even have to try. Focus your energy on loving her and when the time comes she'll make a better choice than you ever could have, even with a thousand years to contemplate your choice.
 
Before I got married I commissioned a KHnutbuster to carry for the big day. It has the date of the wedding stamped on the inside of the liner. I had it in my tux that day, as well as the birth of my daughter, and all other significant days since. It's a special knife with sentimental value. I had planned on giving it to one of my kids some day, but my wife claimed it. This is the only knife she has ever shown any interest in, so it's hers.

Things don't always go according to plan. You might want to give your daughter one thing, but she could have her eye on something else. That's what happened to me. My wife took the KHnutbuster, but my daughter chose another knife anyways, a serpentine pattern with nacre covers. It's probably best to have a selection, and let your girl choose. It might be your special knife, it might be one you carry every day, or it might even be the knife you use when you go camping. She'll pick the one she has the fondest memories of.
 
Pink and/or a "HELLO KITTY" SAK Classic, for a go to meet'n knife.
For EDC, a SAK Pioneer or Farmer, with ALOX covers, in the color of your choice.

EDIT: You might want to consider getting one of each for your wife and yourself, as well. That way your daughter will see both her parents using a knife as a tool, and that they look like her's will be an added bonus to her.
 
I have to agree with Cory Hess, the knife she chooses will be the knife she associates with you.
Whether she chooses to carry it or keep it as a treasure, she will make the choice for you.
 
I think Cory's advice is exceptionally sound! :thumbup:
(How can he be so much younger than me AND so much wiser than me?? :confused: Life can be so unfair! :rolleyes:)

- GT
 
5K Qs said:
I think Cory's advice is exceptionally sound! :thumbup:
(How can he be so much younger than me AND so much wiser than me?? :confused: Life can be so unfair! :rolleyes:)

- GT
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To be fair, I read all of that in a Hallmark card. :p
 
I'm expecting my fourth at the end of the month or so, so I get what you are going through. Each of my children has at least one GEC set aside them... maybe more, especially for my son. With the next one, I'm sure I'll pick up something special... something that works for me and will be bought with the intention of it being passed down.

That said, Cory make a lot of sense; carry on, do your best, and get ready for the sleep deprivation, the diapers, the love, the anxiety, etc... and permit the heirlooms and memories to occur naturally. It will all work out, and the best aspects will happen without plan.

That said, buying yourself a new knife to mark the occasion is a fine idea.

Congrats to you and your family.
 
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Aias said:
That said, buying yourself a new knife to make the occasion is a fine idea.
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I agree. I wanted to clarify quick that I'm not putting down the idea of buying a special knife for your daughter. Each of my kids have knives that I've set aside for them. I just know that when I have my knives out for cleaning and sharpening my kids will pass over the ones I've specially selected for them and ooh and aah over the ones that I carry around and beat the snot out of. It doesn't make me stop trying to pick out knives that I think they'll like. I have this sickness, you see. It involves buying a lot more knives than I'll ever need, and rationalizing it by giving the knives special meanings in my head. My therapist calls it knutiness. :p

I really do love that you're already planning on instilling the love of sharp pointy objects into your not-yet-born daughter. I've said before that a large part of my hobby involves how my kids have been accepted by the knife community. Most places you walk into where people have treasures out for sale they have cute little signs that let you know that kids are not very welcome. When I've taken my kids to knife shows the people behind the tables treat them like celebrities. They engage my kids, they take an interest in the knives that my kids are carrying, and they dig around to find similar knives from their own collections. I've had vendors give my kids free knives, and have spent long stretches of time watching while somebody takes time to explain the origins and uses of different patterns and materials to my children. I've had some dealings with you, Macchina, and I know that you are of the highest character. I have no doubt that you will bring your daughter up with similar values. You'll find that the knife community will embrace her and reinforce those traits that you desire to see in her. Pick out your special knife, and when she's old enough take the time to introduce her to the larger knife community. Before you know it you'll realize that you have more knives set aside for her than for yourself. Despite this fact, she'll still pick out your favorite user and decide that that's the one that she wants to keep as her own. Why would knives be different than any other aspect of life? :p
 
philllll said:
Congrats on your upcoming child! What I did when my son was born last year, was buy a GEC that was released on his birth day. I had to wait a few days afterwards to get it of course. I ended up carrying one of my usual knives the day he was born. Things were so hectic the last thing I was thinking of was what knife to grab. I'm actually surprised I managed to grab one at all.
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This is my suggestion as well, I have done this for one birth and my wedding and wish I had done for other important life events:)
 
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