I haven't really given much thought to this, but I notice a lot of time people will post a pic of a traditional knife along with a silver coin or coins. That got me to thinking about when I was a kid, older men would often (at least where I live)carry a coin along with their knife? Seems like a silver dollar. I haven't really seen this in years. It seems like we've replaced the coin with flashlights and such. Anyway, I was wondering the significance of this(I'm guessing a good luck charm)? And feel free to post some more pics of old pocketworn edc knives along with more coins.
I can NOT believe someone else has not posted the real reason in this tradition?
OK let me tell you a story about it. In 1959 a guy named Doug started a carpet cleaning company in Wichita Kansas. I went to work for him in 1980 when I was 19 years old. We did not go to a job that a salesman had not already been to the day or two before. This guy had a reputation there like no other I've ever seen. Most of the first jobs in the morning where folks that would just want to be there to let us in. It was like here is the check, here is the frig, the pool is out back if you want to go for a swim. Please lock the door when you leave and have a great day, buy. Well when you are cleaning professionally like that, you go clear into these peoples homes. Clear into the bathrooms, bedrooms, under the furniture and all. After a few years, you can walk in a house and read people just on their house.
One day we are doing a job at these old peoples house (we always worked in two as a crew) Well this old guy, he was about 90 -95 years old is there and he is following us around just chatting away. These old guys are tired of talking to the wife (she probably stopped listing to him years ago anyway) and all his friends are dead or almost there. So they just want someone to talk to. I'm in this guys back bedroom and on this dresser is this large coin. And this thing is so worn down, that I can not believe it. I say to the guy "It looks like someone carried that for a while." And he says that's my worry stone. I say worry stone? He says yes, my wife gave me that before I left for WWII. And I would rub it all the time to help keep my mind off of where I was at, and to remind me of her, and all that I was blessed with.
He said a lot guys from that time carried things like that, said some would even carry a plain rock in their pocket to rub. They are kind of a good luck charm and of course carrying a coin you never are broke. He said to this day that coin goes in my pocket when I leave the house, I don't go any were with out it. And you all know where it is today - it's buried with guy in his grave I bet.
But after that it got me thinking, when I was a kid and hung around with my Grandpa.( We were born on the same day - Jan. 21st.) He would always hum to him self every were he went and I never did ask him why. But now I wonder if he did that to keep his mine off of worrying about stuff, because like I said he kind of did it out of habit. Those guys grew up in some hard times and went threw some tuff days in their lives. Now days people run into tuff times, but there is all kinds of help, to help you out. Charities, church's and what not.
I've posted this before - but here is a photo of my Grandpa (Cecil Dodge) and a prize bull named Crusty.
My Grandpa and Dad were the largest cattle breeders in Kansas at one time.
Photo of my Dad with a prize bull named Tredwell.
They said a kid could walk around with a bucket of feed and the bull would follow him around like a dog.
My Grandpa's old knife that I have - I don't carry and rub it - I have nothing to worry about.....
Times sure have changed.....
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