- Joined
- Oct 27, 2010
- Messages
- 8,721
"G' Mawnin" as old man Charlie (Chaw-lee as he would introduce himself) who owns the hardware store down the street would say. Usually followed by indiscernable mutterings that are assumed to be about the weather, or his sciatica acting up again. Charlie is in his upper 80's now and recently he grabbed me by the arm as I walked by, "Boy(!), whatchoo dooin wit dat knive on your belt?" Nodding towards my Folts Minimalist tucked IWB on my right hip.
"Oh, this little thing?" As I place my hand over it. "My grandfather told me a long time ago that every man should have a good knife, a good pen, a good wife and a good dinner."
"Well, I guess your Grandaddy was a smart man." He replied.
Charlie let go of my arm and nodded me on my way to finish shopping, but I knew he was still keeping an eye on me. I have been going to this hardware store my whole life and always have carried a knife, I guess this is the first time he noticed. Well I needed twine to tie up some plants in the yard, so I pull out a measured length, grab my knife and in one clean effortless swipe, cut it. The scissors he had there were useless against it. Charlie saw this and commented on my back to the register, "That's a sharp knife you got."
"Yessir, that's the only requirement to be a good knife."
He smiled and suddenly I felt as if he had respect for me now. I was always nice to him, he is many years my senior, but I knew he only saw my tattoos and punk rock band t-shirts. It was a good day to show an old timer that young people still appreciate having a knife as a tool, and I hope he looks at every young guy a little dfferent now.
Do your part to be a knife ambassador, talented young knife makers with families to feed depend on us! I just hope Charlie doesn't freak out the first time I walk in there with a soon to be mine DFK rigging knife!
-Xander
"Oh, this little thing?" As I place my hand over it. "My grandfather told me a long time ago that every man should have a good knife, a good pen, a good wife and a good dinner."
"Well, I guess your Grandaddy was a smart man." He replied.
Charlie let go of my arm and nodded me on my way to finish shopping, but I knew he was still keeping an eye on me. I have been going to this hardware store my whole life and always have carried a knife, I guess this is the first time he noticed. Well I needed twine to tie up some plants in the yard, so I pull out a measured length, grab my knife and in one clean effortless swipe, cut it. The scissors he had there were useless against it. Charlie saw this and commented on my back to the register, "That's a sharp knife you got."
"Yessir, that's the only requirement to be a good knife."
He smiled and suddenly I felt as if he had respect for me now. I was always nice to him, he is many years my senior, but I knew he only saw my tattoos and punk rock band t-shirts. It was a good day to show an old timer that young people still appreciate having a knife as a tool, and I hope he looks at every young guy a little dfferent now.
Do your part to be a knife ambassador, talented young knife makers with families to feed depend on us! I just hope Charlie doesn't freak out the first time I walk in there with a soon to be mine DFK rigging knife!
-Xander