Another "Pass it on" Giveaway

When I was a kid, my grandfather always carried a slipjoint knife with brown jigged-bone handles. I thought the scales were ugly, like an old wrinkled piece of dried out meat. But, I became interested in knives, and the usefulness of having one on me at all times, at an early age. When I was too young to actually own a knife, I'd pilfer one of my mother's metal nail files, and pretend it was "my knife". I would practice "bushcraft" (although it wasn't great and I didn't know what to call it) with kitchen knives. I cut myself a few times, and leared to be careful. Then Grandpa gave me what was perhaps the ugliest multi-tool ever, a cheapo crescent-style wrench with a few tools, and a knife blade, built into the sides, at age nine. I LOVED it. I took it everywhere, learned to sharpen the blade, turned bolts and hammered nails with it. It started me into thin, sharp cutters.

Later, I fell under the "tactical" influence, and started buying, and carrying, only those sharp, pointy objects that looked "stabby". I thought I was safer if I could de-animate someone who invaded my personal sanctity. I was foolish. I was a teenager.

Then, remembering my old "bushcraft" days, I started researching online, and found OldJimbo's site, which led me here, which led me to Karl, AKA Jackknife, and his wonderful tales. I was transfixed, devouring his stories as sustenance for my soul. It helped me re-discover what a knife is really all about, why traditional pocket cutters cut so well, and the value of slowing down. I started acquiring traditional slip-joint knives again, and the joy of a quiet moment on the porch with a cup of coffee, making small sticks out of bigger sticks.

And I learned that grandpa's old jigged bone jack was beautiful.

Thanks for the chance. You are definitely one of the reasons this is the best corner of the web.

Ken
 
Thanks for the giveaway. My first knife was a Victorinox Spartan given to me by my Dad when I was going on my first Scout camping trip. I had seen the really cool SwissChamp XL in the mystery movie "The Double McGuffin" where kids about my age at the time used the knife to do all kinds of cool things, like pick locks. My Spartan was like a mini version of that knife and I used it to do all kinds of stuff.

I lost it somewhere along the way and picked one up again about ten years ago. I have two Spartans today and several other Victorinox knives, including a SwissChamp XXLT, like in the movie I mentioned. (It doesn't pick locks, though, at least I don't think so...)

To me, Victorinox knives are traditional. Perhaps you agree. I'll write again later concerning my old Schrade.
 
This is not an entry, though I do thank you for your generosity.

I grew up using slip joints and, while I own and carry a fair number of one-handers, I still find a slipjoint to be more useful for most everyday tasks because the blades have more useful shapes than most one-handers, even if I can't stick a stockman in a wall and use it as a piton.

That might be the longest sentence I've read in a while. Old timey edumacation. Deal with it.
 
This is not an entry...but thank you anyway. I'm sure someone will be happy with the knife you are giving away.

As for my interest in traditional knives...well I was born and raised in a land of agro-pastoral culture with a big and ancient knife culture. So, since I was a kid, I always saw adult males carrying a traditional folders, just like my aunts used one to slice sausages and cheese at home, and my father does like knives quite alot. Time passed and my life put me in contact with knives in many other ways (outdoors and so on), but I guess the very seed of my passion was put when I was a child, although it only bloomed a few years ago. Good things take time I guess...

Fausto
:cool:
 
Thanks for the chance, started a few years ago when a friend showed me some of his jogged bone case knives, although I collect more modern knives , traditional knives helps me keep a preservance of a great time and quality.
 
My last entry, just to bring this story of my grandfather introducing me to pocket knives full circle. The Christmas before I turned 10 I saved up my cash and bought my grandfather a yellow Schrade Walden 708Y. He died quite unexpectedly the next autumn, at the untimely age of 60. For Christmas that year my grandmother gave me back the Schrade. It is not much of a knife (I managed to break a piece off the tip of one blade, doing who knows what as a pre-teen boy), but it is one of my most precious possessions.
 
Gracious offer Daniel, I am not in. However, I love to tell my story. My first knife was probably 4th grade. It was an illegal purchase from a buddy, without parental approval. It was a fisherman yellow jacketed imperial. I was cutting some cardboard towards me, the knife was dull and I shoved that sucker about .5" inside my forearm. I almost passed out, but surprisingly, it only hurt a little bit. I knew if I ran crying to mom, I would have to explain the knife. My love of this knife helped me over come my fear of blood, and relatively minor injuries. I sucked it up, went to the bathroom, poured rubbing alcohol while biting a towel (Dr. Pain's method-my dad) and applied toilet paper and pressure to stop the bleeding. I then put a real tight bandaid on it. I still have a half moon scar which I look at to this day and I smile back at it. Innocent times growing up in the 70's. At least for me anyways. I was born in '65, and through elementary school, we could bring a pocket knife, nobody cared.
 
My Grandad was a Battle Of Britain veteran - many years later in in the mid 1970s Australia I used to ride my treddly to their place and clear the bush from the perimeter of the their block.
He handed me a machete.I was around 10.
That was 37 odd years ago.
I used that machete on many occasions throughout for serious chopping.
Only recently after a couple of years of collecting knives did I think to give it a clean.After all its a garden tool.
Turns out to be a 1942 True Temper U.S machete.
I started collecting because I was researching a couple of his old pen knives that came into my possession.
Thats how got onto BF and thats how I got into Schrades and knives in general.
 
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Thanks for the opportunity! To be frank, I'm excited for the chance to gift-replace the yeller trapper I bought for my little brother last year, which he later lost on a fishing trip (he still has the custom sheath I gave him with it, so this would be fortuitous!)

My interest in traditional knives comes from the influence of mentors and family members who used and appreciated them in the course of their lives, and passed them on to me. From a more practical standpoint, I can always appreciate the thin-ground blades and carbon steel for cutting ability, and the pocket- and office-friendly patterns and sizes.
 
Thank you so much for the giveaway!

I received my first knife as a gift from my stepdad when I was around 8 years old. It was an old timer stockman that I carried with me everywhere, Until I was playing football with some friends (with my knife in my pocket) and it must have come out at one point. By the time I noticed it was missing it was dark and I spent the next 2 days searching every inch of that field but never found it... Jump ahead a few decades and here I am, reading forums about knives, researching everything I can, and wondering what I am going to do next with this "hobby".

I have always been a sucker for well built, quality things. I am getting married in September (kinda late in life due to career coming first for so long). To partially pay for this wedding, I had to sell my Omega Planet Ocean that I had on my wrist every day for the last 5 years. I was planning on making this an heirloom but I also want to give my future bride a wedding she deserves. I have a couple old, tired knives that were my grampa's in a box and I started thinking how nice it would be to start building a collection of knives again that I can someday pass on to my kid/grandkids, etc. So as I am relatively new to acknowledging the fact that I am a knife collector, I guess I have been my whole life. The case would be a nice addition to a modest collection.
 
Thanx for the opportunity!

For me it is as simple as, my Grandfather was a great man and always had a tool for the job at hand, but never needed a big knife. I still have his little desk top scrimshawed bone handle lockback and carry it sometimes when I am dressed up wearing his cufflinks and hankerchief.

But what maintains my interest in these knives is that no matter who you talk to, if they are over 40 they won't give a second thought to any "traditional" knife you take out to clean your nails, cut that loose thread, or open a piece of mail. That is the mark of a good utilitarian tool, it is just a bonus that they look good!

Also it seems that no matter how bad, people just can't throw them away. How often do you find broken, over sharpened, rusted, abused little knives for sale because someone thinks its still worth something! And I think they are worth something, so I buy them and try to restore them when I can.


-Xander
 
Thank you for the opportunity!

My first knife at around age 8 was an Imperial Barlow that I begged off my dad. Yep, I still have it! Flash forward many years, I started buying SAK's because of my involvement with Boy Scouts and I needed a good, affordable pocket knife. I collected a few Case over the years because of their association with Zippo, but after finding Blade Forums and the Traditionals subforum I realized I found a place to hang out and learn.

I love yellow handles, easy to find if you lose one in the woods!
 
My father always had and used pocketknives. my grandparents (on his side) lived out in Montana, and we never saw much of them over the years. However, every year they would send something to us kids for Christmas. For many years in a row, I got a different Queen pocket knife from them. When my grandfather passed away, I received a Schrade Walden stockman that he had owned. It was and is one of my most prized possessions. Many years later, my father gave me this knife, which had also belonged to my grandfather.

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I had always loved knives as a kid, and I collected all kinds of knives. Cheap ones and even some import knives (hey I was a kid, I didn't know any better). Schrade has been my favorite brand to collect, but pretty much anything I can afford is what interests me. My father and his father are the main reason I am the knife hoarder that I am today!

Thanks for the chance on this giveaway!

Glenn
 
Can I copy most of Zippo's post?

GrandPa gave me an old timer when I was about 8. That knife was carried and unused for many years. Moved on to SAK's in scouts, then to a Buck 110 in the Army. I'm now back to just plain ole useful pocket knives. The stockman in my favorite pattern and I do not YET own a case knife in cv.

Mark
 
It all started because of the knife case at the Ben Franklin store in Hawai'i Kai.

I think the first one was a peanut, or it may have been a stockman. It was a long time ago....

Thanks for your generosity.
 
Nice give away
Ive always been in love with knives, traditional or not
As most people, at least i think most, i started with a traditional that was passed down, mine came from an uncle
Thanks for the chance

mike
 
My first knives were a small SAK and buck which started my addiction to sharp things. Having recently rediscovered them, I find they are easier to carry than most locking folders and don't draw as much attention. They also just feel solid and do bring back memories. Thanks for the giveaway.
 
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