Another “Old Timers” BF Thread.

I have made an effort to reduce the burden for family. This year I sold off some pieces I thought I'd never part with. Problem is it was only the tip of the iceberg. I keep making photo albums of knives to sell yet rarely make a for sale post. It's been a fun ride and I still keep active but try supporting BF makers as opposed to big names I used to chase. Less of a $$ impact and most end up being gifted to friends and family.
 
Win Heger said:
I have made an effort to reduce the burden for family. This year I sold off some pieces I thought I'd never part with. Problem is it was only the tip of the iceberg. I keep making photo albums of knives to sell yet rarely make a for sale post…
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Same here! I need to get serious and pare down. It just shows how attached we are to our knife treasures that we accumulated through all these years and had so much fun doing so it’s so hard to actually part with them. I need to get serious as at 76 years old, I don’t want to leave my wife wondering what to do with all my “stuff”.

Boy, this all started so many years ago when I stopped into a pawn shop on a trip and noticed the most unusual knife I had ever seen. It was a Spyderco Abalone Knife, (look this rare thing up!). Now I had some earlier Spyderco knives that I had purchased at knife shows, (back when Sal was promoting his innovative knife blade one hand opening hole), but this thing was so unbelievable and so quality built I had to have it. I purchased it for $50.00.

This happened over 25 years ago shortly before we bought our first computer. When I got said computer set up, I searched for anything concerning knives. Low and behold a small knife site shows up with Mike and Kevin called BladeForums.

I joined and I believe there were only around 125 members. Don’t hold me to that number but BF was in it’s infancy. I wanted to find out what this knife was. I put in a post about it and I think if memory serves, Sal himself came aboard and explained it was a Abalone Knife and how it was used.

Unbelievably a gent emailed me and offered me $250.00 for it! I was blown away and sold it to him. I was so much poorer in those days!
I wish I still had it as it would be the last knife I would ever get rid of.

I’ve stated it over and over, I will never forget the thrill of finding BF and all the friends and legendary makers we got to know over the years here and the knowledge we accumulated and the joy we had here discussing knives.

I’m sure BF still survives after all these years is because the younger generations now that come here and are as excited talking knives as we were in those early days.

I will never forget those early days and the wonderful memories I have of them. God bless all of you and good health to you all!
 
Gene said:
Same here! I need to get serious and pare down. It just shows how attached we are to our knife treasures that we accumulated through all these years and had so much fun doing so it’s so hard to actually part with them. I need to get serious as at 76 years old, I don’t want to leave my wife wondering what to do with all my “stuff”.

Boy, this all started so many years ago when I stopped into a pawn shop on a trip and noticed the most unusual knife I had ever seen. It was a Spyderco Abalone Knife, (look this rare thing up!). Now I had some earlier Spyderco knives that I had purchased at knife shows, (back when Sal was promoting his innovative knife blade one hand opening hole), but this thing was so unbelievable and so quality built I had to have it. I purchased it for $50.00.

This happened over 25 years ago shortly before we bought our first computer. When I got said computer set up, I searched for anything concerning knives. Low and behold a small knife site shows up with Mike and Kevin called BladeForums.

I joined and I believe there were only around 125 members. Don’t hold me to that number but BF was in it’s infancy. I wanted to find out what this knife was. I put in a post about it and I think if memory serves, Sal himself came aboard and explained it was a Abalone Knife and how it was used.

Unbelievably a gent emailed me and offered me $250.00 for it! I was blown away and sold it to him. I was so much poorer in those days!
I wish I still had it as it would be the last knife I would ever get rid of.

I’ve stated it over and over, I will never forget the thrill of finding BF and all the friends and legendary makers we got to know over the years here and the knowledge we accumulated and the joy we had here discussing knives.

I’m sure BF still survives after all these years is because the younger generations now that come here and are as excited talking knives as we were in those early days.

I will never forget those early days and the wonderful memories I have of them. God bless all of you and good health to you all!
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So Gene, you were never on Knifeforums? '98 is when Turber branched off from the sleaze running Knifeforums (can't remember his name... anybody help out?)
 
Yes, I was on KF way back in the day. Maybe I’m getting my knife forums mixed up. 🤪 Hell I get things mixed up and can’t remember from 5 minutes ago.

I was into knives long before the internet but I DO remember that Abalone Knife started my journey that led me to knife forums.

Yeah, if anyone with a GOOD MEMORY of those days could come aboard and straighten things out, it would be much appreciated.
 
KF…. Nowka comes to mind but he could have been later, post ‘00…. Not sure. Or I could be wandering around in left field.
 
Nowka sounds familiar.

It sure was fun to be full of vigor but lack of ignorance back in those days about knives. I wish I could go back there but things move on. I’m so glad I had fun talking knives and learning so much back then.
 
Gene said:
Same here! I need to get serious and pare down. It just shows how attached we are to our knife treasures that we accumulated through all these years and had so much fun doing so it’s so hard to actually part with them. I need to get serious as at 76 years old, I don’t want to leave my wife wondering what to do with all my “stuff”.

Boy, this all started so many years ago when I stopped into a pawn shop on a trip and noticed the most unusual knife I had ever seen. It was a Spyderco Abalone Knife, (look this rare thing up!). Now I had some earlier Spyderco knives that I had purchased at knife shows, (back when Sal was promoting his innovative knife blade one hand opening hole), but this thing was so unbelievable and so quality built I had to have it. I purchased it for $50.00.

This happened over 25 years ago shortly before we bought our first computer. When I got said computer set up, I searched for anything concerning knives. Low and behold a small knife site shows up with Mike and Kevin called BladeForums.

I joined and I believe there were only around 125 members. Don’t hold me to that number but BF was in it’s infancy. I wanted to find out what this knife was. I put in a post about it and I think if memory serves, Sal himself came aboard and explained it was a Abalone Knife and how it was used.

Unbelievably a gent emailed me and offered me $250.00 for it! I was blown away and sold it to him. I was so much poorer in those days!
I wish I still had it as it would be the last knife I would ever get rid of.

I’ve stated it over and over, I will never forget the thrill of finding BF and all the friends and legendary makers we got to know over the years here and the knowledge we accumulated and the joy we had here discussing knives.

I’m sure BF still survives after all these years is because the younger generations now that come here and are as excited talking knives as we were in those early days.

I will never forget those early days and the wonderful memories I have of them. God bless all of you and good health to you all!
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Actually picked up one of those just recently!
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Gene said:
Nowka sounds familiar.

It sure was fun to be full of vigor but lack of ignorance back in those days about knives. I wish I could go back there but things move on. I’m so glad I had fun talking knives and learning so much back then.
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The group learning dynamic was a great thing.
Nowadays everyone seems to be a qualified eggspurt.
 
My corrupt memory is coming back some. If I’m remembering correctly, these were called “Diver’s Probes” not abalone knives and I apologize.

Again, if I remember correctly, Sal came aboard when I first posted about my find and that he originally designed these as an all-in-one knife for prying abalone off of rocks and then cleaning them. Hence my moniker of “Abalone Knife”.

I also think WV, there’s an even larger version than yours without the lanyard attachment. My example had no lanyard attachment and would have been the larger example.

Great discussions on a rare Spyderco! Almost harkens back to the “old days” of polite discussions and information.
 
Man, reading through this thread brings back memories!! I joined when I was in college (also was on knifeforums, kitchen knife forums, custom knife network or directory or something, etc) and was on the MIRC chat a lot even through college, until I was a dumbass kid and got booted for being rude to one of the mods one night. VG, NightFog (Tim Herman), Tom Mayo, Jerry Hossom, (the Tom and Jerry Show!) Rob S, DDR, Kit Carson, L6Steel, MD2020 I think, too? Slapping people with trout? Hiking a cheek? Anyone remember those days? It was a hilarious time with those guys! So many names I can't remember!

I remember debating between the EDI Genesis 2 and the ReKat stuff as my first "high end knife". I remember PalTalk with Ron Clairborne, Ed Caffrey, doing a knife in the hat a long time ago and got one of Ron's knives! I remember when Tom Anderson hosted the Folder In in PA and I ended up winning the Folder In knife. So many memories from the early days, I feel old!!
 
I'm just barely sticking my toes in the water, but I remember a bit. Andy Roy of Fiddleback Forge and I were hanging out in the H.I Cantina taking knifemaking lessons from a guy with the moniker of "Sarge". I never went beyond the level of smalltown hobbyist myself. Andy's reputation speaks for itself...lol

I remember the passing of Rusty, Uncle Bill, Danny in Japan, Ysva...all good men whom I admired.

I remember the various tactical knife blow ups. Don Rearic. Gollnick. Phil Elmore. South Narc was still just getting popular for his Clinch Pick style.

Kit Carson was a powerful presence. Greg Lightfoot was still popular. I met them both at the last knife show in Alaska, as I recall. About 25 years ago?

I had an old push feed Winchester 30-06 I was supposed to trade to Rob Simonich for a custom knife. We both got busy and the deal just kinda got lost along the way. Too darn bad for me. On the upswing, that rifle put alot of meat on the table since then.

Someone made an...unkind remark about my goofy picture the other day. It got me to reflecting. That was me in my early twenties. Brand new Father. Worked as an EMT and as security in the Winters, road construction in the Summers. My wife and I were so darn young, trying to figure out how to adult.

We've been together for thirty years now. I'm not so sure we ever figured out how to be grown ups. I suppose we learned love, so that ain't bad. I reflect on all this as a broken down fifty year old man. Busted up shoulders, knees, spine, spirit...Perhaps a bit jaded from my career in the public sector, which started right after a boom and a bust in the oilfields.

I remember on 9/11 being right here in the Community Center, all of us trying to digest the horror of it all.

Clearly, I've maintained a very low presence here, but I can only imagine there are plenty of others like myself still lurking about?
 
Not sure if I qualify as an “OG” but this is my 24th year here.

Things have changed so much. The community seems very different to me.
In some ways good, in some ways, not so much.

I have such fond memories of bantering back and forth with Tom Mayo, having pizza with Ernie Emerson at the Huntington Beach show. Giving Chris Reeves super deals on motorcycle gear and trading guns with Jerry Busse. All the makers we so accessible and happy to engage with the BF members.

I remember KF and USN and so many people that seem to be gone from the community now. Glad I saw what I saw so many years ago.

BF was the first forum I ever joined and the only one I think I will contribute to until the lights go out for the last time. Hopefully I will get to 50 years on e day.
 
Wow - I remember that Tom Anderson knife and drooling over it. Way ahead of it's time. Good to see you guys still around and posting. - Ed
 
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I stopped by back in 99. Always hiding in the background but soaking in the knowledge. I owe this place my entire knife education. Spent time "on the porch " and lots of time in autos back in the day. Way too much time in Whine and Cheese. I swing by often to browse the for sale area looking for knives I've loved and lost.

I appreciate the legacy that is represented here and will always consider it home.
 
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