Discussion at work

[Rupestris]

i window shopped at Bomberger's hardware in Manheim, Pa, where I grew up til 16. Also, at the Root's flee market that took place each Tuesday outside town. Lots of knives bought there I tell ya! (much to my mom's dismay.)

Brett

Brett,

I've done quite a bit of work at Manheim Auto Auction. The Root's flea market is still going strong.

As for my window shopping, it was at Levitt Hardware in Detroit. A small, squeaky floored neighborhood hardware that seemed to cater to the neighborhood kids as much as the homeowners. He had a section of model airplanes and cars, a Matchbox diecast display at the end of that shelf. He also carried bike parts and a selection of BB guns. The knives were the usual Old Timers, Uncle Henry's, Buck, etc.

Never did buy a knife there. He had too much other stuff for a kid to spend his lawn mowin'/ snow shovelin' money on.

Sad part is, our house was a 80 year-old two family that looked like the houses in A Christmas Story. I could leave my bike outside on the main street in front of that hardware as long as I wanted. Today, I wouldn't leave my car on that street. Its become a ghetto.

When I got my car and was able to get to the mall, Hoffritz got all my knife money.

Chris

 

[Foilist]

I grew up in rural Michigan not too far from Lansing. I recall two places where I'd ogle the knives.

One was a military surplus store on Logan street in Lansing. I bought my first knife there in 1983 when I was 12, a SAK Huntsman which I still have. A few years later I got a USAF Pilot's knife there. I still have that too, but I don't use it for much.

The other was a country general store near my home - the authentic kind in an old building where you could buy anything. We used ride our bikes there for sodas and snacks as kids. There was a counter in back that sold guns, ammo, and knives. The knives were mostly junk, except for some Bucks that I remember. They sold nice guns though; there was the full lineup of Ruger SA revolvers and a slew of leverguns and shotguns. I got a Ruger 10/22 from there as a birthday gift once. The place is still there, but is more like an ordinary convenience store now.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

Western Auto and Aubuchon Hardware, both in downtown Maynard, MA.

-- Sam

 

[freezergeezer]

I don't remember window shopping for knives as a real youngster.

My 1st. brother & I both had chinese SAKS, but I can't recall who gave them to us.

I do recall that same brother, my Dad & I in a country store in the Eastern Transvaal, & my Dad asking the storekeeper if he had a good pocketknife for my bro. (he'd saved up for it) The storekeeper sold him an Okapi on the grounds that it had a really strong spring & so was safer for a kid to use. I wonder what happened to it?

I bought a cheap sheath knife in the Kruger Park when I was on a school trip. That was stolen during a house move.

 

[knifeaholic]

Western Auto and Aubuchon Hardware, both in downtown Maynard, MA.

-- Sam

Interesting!!! I live in Hudson, Mass and Maynard is one of my favorite towns.

What brands of knives did Aubuchon carry and when was that? There are many Aubuchon Hardwares around, but their knife selection is nonexistent. I have been living here since the ealry 80's and have never seen knife displays in an Aubuchon store.

The Outdoor Store in Maynard carries SAK's but that's about it in Maynard these days.

 

[thawk]

Longs Hardware, Mulvane, KS in the 60's.

Gibsons in Hays KS, Naegle Leach in Lucas, KS in the 70's. Old Timers and Imperials.

The Ace Hardware in Lander WY, late 70's and 80's. Old Timers and Uncle Henry's. I remember choosing Old Timers because they were a little less in price.

Some of the stores for knives I remember were the Sporting Goods Stores in Wyoming in the 70's and 80's.

Welty's General Store in Dubois, WY had a phenomenal knife display case in the early 80's, but I don't know what kind they were. They had awesome stag handled hunting knives. This place was an absolute treat to visit. The place was like a hardware and sporting goods museum. I included a now and then photo.

We'd all like to have a knife from the same old place pictured above, circa 1920's.

Dubois is just over the Great Divide, south and east from Jackson Hole and Yellowstone.