Carrying Customs/Semi-Customs & Old Case XX 11031SH

tidefan

tidefan

Joined
Nov 23, 2004
Messages
1,081
My mom died last month and she had chipped in with my wife and two of my daughters to get me a knife. It's a Case/ Bose slimline trapper and it means so very much to me. I want to carry it but I'm not sure if I should. There's the thought of losing it or damaging it while using it. Do any of you carry and use your custom/semi-customs or your keepsake knives?
 
I'm real sorry to hear about your mom. I lost mine this past April and it's been a struggle to get back to normal.

If I were you I'd put that knife in my pocket and use it. Not that you have to throw it in there with keys and change and use it to excess. Most of the joy I get out of the custom knives I have is carrying and using them.

The slimline trapper is one beautiful slip joint. Good luck to you
 
tidefan, I'm sorry for your loss.

As you already know there's no "right" answer. Many of us carry our custom and semi-custom knives. Some use 'em hard, some don't.

You can look at it in several ways, imho. You can first think about what your mother would have liked to have seen you do. Would it make her happy to know that you were using and enjoying the knife? Will you have good memories of her, your wife and daughters every time you take the knife out of your pocket to use it? If so, I think you know the right answer.

On the other hand, if the knife brings you more pleasure on the shelf where it will always remain "pristine", well, then you have your answer in that case.

How about a middle ground? Try carrying it in your pocket for a while. Get used to it and maybe use it lightly for a small task or two. You don't have to worry about hurting it and since you're not going to sell such a special knife you don't have to worry about its ever losing value.

If carrying and using it feels right after a while then you'll have the right answer based upon what "feels" right.
 
I carry all my customs. Life is too short. What better tribute than to have in your pocket a memory that will last forever!
 
I carry more of my custom knives & have displayed more productions than customs,if that makes any sense
In this case tidefan,IMO , I would only carry this one,on certain occassions for more light duty action,keeping it from getting lost or worn down (even though these can take it),you may want to hand it down some day,after all ,it is of great sentiment
So,as long as you have a few knives,I'd keep that one in a "special" category,and that means not to completely exclude it from carry,but limited

I'm sorry for your loss tidefan,
-Vince
 
I'm sorry for your loss, tidefan.

I think you should drop that knife in your pocket in the morning and use it, gently. What better way to remember your mom, than to take out a beautifull knife a couple times a day, and use it for what it was made for, a cutting tool. There's no reason to damage it if you don't abuse it. Look how many of our fathers and grandfathers used a highly valued knife for most of thier life, and passed it on. They may often have had just that one knife.

I believe an object should be used for its intended purpose. If that knife was a gift from a loved one, then its extra special, and definatly be carried. Just think, its there in your pocket, and anytime you want you can reach in and touch something that was a gift from your family. Thats very special.
 
Sorry for your loss.
If it were me , I would carry it , it would get used but certainly not abused.

My Erickson has been in my pocket every day since the day it arrived. For me , the beauty of it is in it's use.
 
I am very sorry for your loss.

That slimline trapper knife is more special the one I have and I would use it.

My edc's that I currently seem to be hooked on are:
This one by Ken Erickson:
picture.php



This one by KnifeHead (Kerry Hampton):
picture.php



and an ever present slim jigged bone lockback by Kit Carson.
 
I am deeply sorry for the loss of your Mom.

I get the most pleasure out of carrying and using my custom knives. I won't have a custom knife that I won't use. But, YOU have to do what feels right to YOU!

I am carrying/using my Mike Alsdorf Interframe Jack.
Alsdorfopen3.jpg
 
Thank you all for your responses, I really appreciate the thoughts. My mom lived with us for the last year so we were able to get very close. I held her hand as she took her last breath and I'll tell you, I don't think I'll ever get over it. She was able to finally understand why I collect and use knives. I am a fanatical knife nut and she always fussed at me for it, but she actually started buying knives for me for special occasions. This knife was supposed to be a Christmas gift, but my wife wanted to give it to me now so I could enjoy it. All the other knives are fixed blades so carrying them is not possible every day so she wanted me to have a , as she called it, "carry around knife" from her. I miss her so very much and I find myself holding the knife all the time. Sorry to ramble...and thanks again for the help, Jim
 
Tidefan - I'm very sorry to hear of your loss.

Enjoy the knife as I'm sure your mom would have wanted you to!

Take it easy.
 
tidefan, as the others have said, I too am sorry for your loss.

You do what you want to with your knife, but I promise you this, if you put it in your pocket at least on special occassions, you'll feel like your at least 8" taller and about 6" off the ground. If it were mine I would slip it in my pocket.
 
I'm sorry for your loss.

This summer I discovered my grandpa's EDC. He had it from at least the 50s until a blade broke in the 80s or 90s. He retired the knife (Henckles stag stockman) when two blades broke. Even with the broken blades, that knife means more to me because it had all the marks and dings of him using the knife--actually using it daily as an integral part of his life--than if he had kept it pristine in the original packaging.

If you have a son/daughter you plan to pass the knife along to when you're done with it, I'm sure it would mean much more to them with the marks of your daily life over it, than as a pristine object you never actually used. Make it yours by using it, and you'll leave behind a much treasured artifact from your life that will connect someone you love to you each time they use it.
 
RobbW said:
I'm sorry for your loss.

This summer I discovered my grandpa's EDC. He had it from at least the 50s until a blade broke in the 80s or 90s. He retired the knife (Henckles stag stockman) when two blades broke. Even with the broken blades, that knife means more to me because it had all the marks and dings of him using the knife--actually using it daily as an integral part of his life--than if he had kept it pristine in the original packaging.

If you have a son/daughter you plan to pass the knife along to when you're done with it, I'm sure it would mean much more to them with the marks of your daily life over it, than as a pristine object you never actually used. Make it yours by using it, and you'll leave behind a much treasured artifact from your life that will connect someone you love to you each time they use it.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry for your loss. I was gonna write something pretty much like this, but Robb beat me to it. My granddad would be upset if I didn't carry and use his old trapper at least every once in a while. Knives become more beautiful with use, as long as they're properly used and well cared for. Carry that thing and use it.
 
Jim, it sounds to me that whether you keep that fine Case/Bose trapper in your pocket or in the "safe", it will always be carried in your heart. Even if you lost it, it's not the object that matters, it's the heart memory that can't be lost once you have it.

Just my humble 2 cents worth friend.
 
fewpop said:
Jim, it sounds to me that whether you keep that fine Case/Bose trapper in your pocket or in the "safe", it will always be carried in your heart. Even if you lost it, it's not the object that matters, it's the heart memory that can't be lost once you have it.

Just my humble 2 cents worth friend.
Click to expand...

About as well as can be put.

Sorry for your loss and my sincerest condolences.
 
My dad passed away a little over two years ago, and it made me think about a lot of things differently - knives are one of those things. I inherited my dad's guns and his collection of knives, which I've added to since then.

Now, I don't carry any particular knife because it was Dad's or anything, but at least one day out of every week I carry a very nice stag trapper because that was my dad's favorite pattern and handle. I actually prefer a knife with at least one short blade because they are just handier for me. But every time I spot my stag handle trapper I think of my dad and stick it in my pocket. Certain guns I feel the same about too.
 
What a cool mom! She bought knives! You know that when you carry that one, you will recall the times with your mom. My sincere sympathies to you and your family. It is good you cared for her in the end. This should give you peace.
 
I don't have any traditional customs (yet), but I do have a few custom fixed blades and a heap of high-end Busse knives. I have carried and used them all, and my experience leads me to believe that customs and other high-end knives tend to outperform factory offerings significantly. Using a high-end/ rare knife is a good feeling. Knives are tools, and need to be used to be fully appreciated. I don't think there has ever been a knifemaker who wanted to see his products simply languish in the safes of collectors. Knives should have a life of their own, be carried and used, and accumulate the type of character that only use can impart.

Besides, life is too short for safe queens! Who wants to look back at the end of their life and think, "Gee, I wonder how that custom would have felt in my pocket every day. I'm glad I didn't hurt the resale value. My grandkids will be able to get top-dollar for it when they sell it off with the rest of my knives in my estate sale."
 
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