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

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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Get her one to use as her first knife. Something easy for her to open, like a Victorinox classic with flowers/pink/who knows what. Also, get her something really nice, like a higher end Case or a Northfield, easy to open again, to give to her when she turns 18/moves out/graduates from college/gets married etc. Something that you think she will like, something you can get engraved on the shield, etc. She may pick up your love of knives, she may not. But she'll appreciate her first knife when she is old enough, and she'll appreciate the nicer knife when she is older, especially that it's from her pop.

I don't have any kids, just a thought about what I'd do.
 
FYI, Victorinox is producing Limited Editions of the Alox Classic, Cadet, and Pioneer with the year engraved on them at the factory. They are "limited edition" meaning that they will only make that special color for that year, not that they are only making a limited number (so the price is not much higher than regular versions). They haven't released the 2016 versions yet, but if you like the 2016 color, that might be a good option with a direct tie in to the year.
 
Awesome replies guys, and thanks for the great advice.
I think Cory really summed up how I see this going. I have a couple of the GEC 85's on order and I haven't planned on buying any more knives this year after these (right?). I think I'll set one of them aside to carry for her and HOPE she takes a liking to it. This is obviously a percent of a percent of what I plan to have on my mind that day, but it's a hope that I can give her something that I think is cool and maybe she'll share the idea.

Cory:
The thought of you cleaning/sharpening your knives and having your kids gather round and ask questions brings a huge smile to my face. I never thought about it before, but I can't wait to show her how to take the wire edge off a stubborn blade!
 
Macchina said:
Cory:
The thought of you cleaning/sharpening your knives and having your kids gather round and ask questions brings a huge smile to my face. I never thought about it before, but I can't wait to show her how to take the wire edge off a stubborn blade!
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It's really what makes knives so special to me. If my kids didn't come running every time they see a flat rate box come out of the mailbox I don't think I'd still be acquiring knives. I know that I've posted this picture a couple of times, but I don't often stop to take pictures and this is one of the few that I have of these times. I prefer to enjoy the moment. My wife is the preserver. This is one of my youngest deeply contemplating the F&F of my Case Sodbuster Jr. one day while it was waiting for it's turn to be cleaned, sharpened, and oiled. I guess I should say that she's admiring the F&F of her Case Sodbuster Jr., because she took such a liking to it that it's earmarked for her.

 
I have purchased GEC made Schrade knives that each of my boys will receive. My 10 year old still can't open one.

They are both now residing with grandpa and papa. Each boy will receive two knives, from Grandpa and Papa.

In the mean while, they have each gotten Opinels they have no trouble opening.

I have knives from great grandfather's on both sides I can pass on when they are old enough, if they appreciate them.

Heaven knows they will have plenty of my knives to choose from.

Funny thing, I can't remember what knife I carried when I got married, and I sold the knife I carried on each of their births ( the knives were different, and neither that special to me).
 
I have one "ceremonial" knife that I started carrying last year to retirements, promotions, for Christmas, to weddings, anniversaries, funerals, and other ceremonies (haven't attended a birth in 27 years). It was special in how I received it - I was one of several winners in one of the best give-aways ever, held right here at the Traditional Forum. The knife was visually beautiful to me, with terrific sambar stag handles, and was made in my all time favorite pattern - the medium Stockman with Turkish clip blade. I thought the knife was special, so it became my special event knife - one day it will be passed on to someone special. Maybe an idea like that will work for you on the upcoming birth of your daughter - congratulations! OH

Case_5318_SS_Medium_Stockman_-_1992_1_.JPG
 
That's great Cory. My little one has been raised around knives her whole life as well. She's not into them as much as your daughter, to her they're just sort of there, but she does appreciate a good knife.

Thread - I'm a proud father.







She just turned 6 yesterday. She's now at an age where she has definite ideas about what she does and doesn't like. I had set aside a nice, beautifully figured birch-handled puukko for her to use during our outdoor adventures. She doesn't want it. She asked me for a magenta colored Mora Companion instead. Go figure. :confused:
 
I like the idea of setting aside one knife, maybe an especially dressy one with a more exotic cover material, as a "big occasions" knife -weddings, funerals, births, etc. By the time your kid(s) are old enough, it'll have a lot of sentimental value built up and at least one of them will insist on having it.
 
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. ...
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Frankly, this is a weird instinct, man. :rolleyes:

AND ONE I CAN TOTALLY RELATED TO! :D ;)

I carried my Victorinox Tourist in pocket during the births of all three of our kids. My feeling was that I wanted to be ready for anything. You know, in case the doc needed help!



Congratulations on impending fatherhood, btw. You'll have a ball.

-- Mark
 
This may be taboo in this forum, but Chris Reeve puts a birthdate with each of his knives. If he happens to produce a run on your daughters birthday, then, to me, its a no brainer. Get one.

Otherwise I think it would be cool to get a pair of knives. One that you use and one you put away for her. Then when she is ready, present her with the pristine one and she will immediately recognize it as the one you have carried forever
 
I forgot to say congrats. Little girls are awesome. Enjoy her. I did not have the foresight to get one when my daughter was born. But I got her a cold steel mini tuf lite when she went to college and she treasures it.
 
And before you know it you open the boxes and they pick one each but you had absolutely no idea what they would pick.:D
An old pic from a giveaway of Duncans if I remember rightly.
2013-01-14103257.jpg

Kamagong-would it be to go with outfit?:) Or is magenta the international colour for cuteness and mischief?
 
Awesome picture everyone! Keep them coming, I love hearing the stories!
 
Let's keep it traditional knives, please. Macchina, if you want recommendations for non traditional knives I can move this to General Knife Discussion for you. Just give a holler. Meanwhile I'll take the liberty to add traditional to the title.
 
meako said:
Kamagong-would it be to go with outfit?:) Or is magenta the international colour for cuteness and mischief?
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Lol...that's an old picture, taken on a hike a couple of years ago. That day she wanted a knife to carry like Daddy, so I gave her an Imperial cattleman to stick in her pocket.
 
kamagong said:
That's great Cory. My little one has been raised around knives her whole life as well. She's not into them as much as your daughter, to her they're just sort of there, but she does appreciate a good knife.
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Great pictures!! I love how you have her holding knives through the years. :thumbup: :thumbup:
 
Congratulations and hold on time will start to fly for you. I picked my first Case stag 3 blade stockman to carry for my daughters birth. (Which was 21 years ago now) and for my son it was a Case stag trapper that I carried for his birth. I have carried them each always on their birthdays, ball games, and other special occasions. Both knives now have that great feel of pocket worn. Be sure to use them also I believe that they should not be safe queens for this purpose. We all have scars from lift as should the knife that you pick for this purpose and hand down one day to your kids.
 
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