A Trip to Bob's Hardware, picture intensive

Planterz said:
I grew up in a small-town suburb of Chicago (Geneva-which is no longer a small town), so I know what it's like to be in stores that have been around for decades. The area is known now more as a shopping mecca, but to me it will always be a place where my grandpa farmed and raised sheep (he could have been drafted in WWII, but the wool he produced was deemed more important to the war effort). The story is that when my Grandpa was hiring a new farmhand, he would ask to see his pocketknife. If he didn't have one, my Grandpa wouldn't hire him. If he had one, my Grandpa would try to cut his thumbnail with the hand's pocketknife, and it if wasn't sharp enough, he still wouldn't hire him. It's a point of pride with me that, in his last years, when he asked to see my knife (which, then, was a modern one like a Kershaw Leek), he was always impressed with the edge I kept on it.
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I had read a similar story about a machine shop owner who did the same thing. After reading the story, it made me want to always keep a much better edge on my knife. I don't let it get dull any more.
 
Planterz said:
I grew up in a small-town suburb of Chicago (Geneva-which is no longer a small town), so I know what it's like to be in stores that have been around for decades. The area is known now more as a shopping mecca, but to me it will always be a place where my grandpa farmed and raised sheep (he could have been drafted in WWII, but the wool he produced was deemed more important to the war effort). The story is that when my Grandpa was hiring a new farmhand, he would ask to see his pocketknife. If he didn't have one, my Grandpa wouldn't hire him. If he had one, my Grandpa would try to cut his thumbnail with the hand's pocketknife, and it if wasn't sharp enough, he still wouldn't hire him. It's a point of pride with me that, in his last years, when he asked to see my knife (which, then, was a modern one like a Kershaw Leek), he was always impressed with the edge I kept on it.
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This was actually more common in some places than you think. My own grandfather did this. The object behind it was, if the man had a dull pocket knife, he was lazy. You don't want a lazy person as an employee. If the blade was chipped or had the tip snapped off, then he was careless with tools. Again, someone you don't want working for you. If he had no pocket knife at all, then he was a no account bum. Definitely not someone you would hire to work with your stuff or on your boat.

The man who had a nice sharp, well maintained pocket knife was, in theory, a careful and thoughtful man to have working for you.

There just may be some valid thought there!:D

Carl.
 
Looks about like the town I live in now except I am out about 4 miles from town and on a small Mtn. where everybody helps everybody and all look out for each other.!** Those days are just about gone and now a days just about everybody is out to see what they can take from you and treat you like dirt in the process ~~ I hate big towns and now that I am retired I moved to the peace & quiet of Country living and people with Country manners.! God Bless Country Folk.!*****
 
navin74 said:
Nice story Brian. Thank you. Are you still making knives?
Nathan
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Yes, but I've had to take a but of a sabbatical due to some shoulder issues and family duties. But, the grinder is still out there and steel doesn't spoil, so I'm hoping come spring I'll be back at it hard. I'm looking forward to grinding some steel!
 
Great post I remember a time when every hardware store had a case like that first place I would head too when I went to the store with my dad . Even the mom and pop store across the street from my house carried a few drove my mother crazy until she bought me one still have it . The only reason I still have it is because for some reason I can't recall it was taken away from me got it back just a few years ago.
 
Great post! Thank for sharing the stories. My Father grew up farming till the 80's but much of my family lives in the Texas Panhandle still and some continue to farm. Always love going to visit, get out of the hustle and bustle of the city, and listen to the old stories about the good ol' days.
 
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