- Joined
- Nov 21, 2010
- Messages
- 1,832
I have a lot of knives, but, up until a few days ago, very few from my ancestors. I had a few my Grandpa gave me, but that's about it. When I was young (I started getting knives as gifts from my Uncle Steve and my Grandpa when I was six), I got a lot of knives. One in particular (my holy grail) was a fixed blade my Grandpa carried in the War. It was given to me when I was very young...kind of a crazy thing to give a kid. It was taken and kept by my parents. I think it is still at their house and I asked them to look for it. (Last time I saw it was ten years or so ago, and I did not know then what I know now...all I can tell you was that it was a leather wrapped handle, blood grooved, wicked looking knife. I think the sheath was made by a friend of my Grandpa's who lived on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. Very nice, flowers.) Anyway, in looking for that knife, they found all these. Some were mine. Some were not. My Dad isn't into knives. They know I am, so they sent them all to me. You all can understand the joy and appreciation I feel at holding these knives. Most are beat to shit and not worth anything monetarily...just the way I would want it. They are working knives that did a lot of work.
A little history, so this will make more sense. And so I don't have to explain what came from who with every knife. My Dad grew up in South Central Pennsylvania. My Mom grew up in Southern Illinois. The knives are from:
Grandpa: My Mom's Dad. A tough, but very sensitive man. Prone to irrational anger at times, but also very caring and loving. He had hands like iron. He served in WWII and was injured jumping out of a plane as it exploded. Lost a good bit of his hearing and taste. He never talked to me about the war, but loved to wear his silkworm tie tack. He grew up farming, but went to college on the GI bill and became a shop teacher. He was incredibly good at working with his hands. Especially woodworking. He did not baby his knives, trucks, boats, etc (or family members). He wore light blue jeans, a free 'trucker cap' (he had hundreds) and a collared shirt about every day. He wore a suit to church or if someone died. If you are familiar with Southern Illinois, you can picture him. He was super outgoing and introduced himself to everyone he saw. He was one of a kind, for sure. He liked motorcycles and taught me to ride. I knew nothing about bikes or cars (I was 11-13?) and he taught me by telling me to pin the throttle and release the clutch. After we picked the old Honda off me, he taught me for real. I spent a lot of time on the back of his Harley and probably wouldn't have my own bikes today if it wasn't for him and Route 50. We fished together. Later in life, he and my Grandma owned a trailer on lake Okeechobee. He was a decent fisherman and could have been better if he had more patience. He sure could fry up some breem. Lots of memories of the whole trailer park eating themselves stupid on fried breem and cole slaw.
Paupa - My Dad's Dad. He grew up in the coal mining culture of 'Dutch' PA. He was a very kind and generous man. He was a pilot as well, but his service was cut short when he injured his back...an injury that plagued him the rest of his life. He loved model trains and trout fishing. He and my Dad taught me most of what I know about fishing. He was very patient with me. He held lots of jobs from what I understand...selling cars is all I can recall hearing about. He did not take advantage of the GI bill...he was already a father and started working. He was very civic minded and very into history. He was self educated. He served at least a few terms as Mayor of Elizabethtown, PA (where he lived as long as I knew him and where my Dad grew up for the most part). He had a BIG wooden box full of worms in the basement, but he liked to fly fish as well. I learned how to catch trout using worms and corn. He was a very even keeled guy. I don't remember him ever being angry. He liked to play cards (for fun, not money) and he liked a good drink (one or two). I spent more time with him than with my Grandpa. He died not too long ago and I miss him very much. He lived long enough to meet my wife, but not my daughter as did my Grandpa.
Baby Grandpa - This was my Grandpa's Dad. He died when I was young, but there is a picture of him holding me. He got his nickname because he was a small man. Very gentle and kind from what I have been told. He was a farmer his whole life, but never had enough money for his own farm. He was a sharecropper for much of his life and then had a little bit of land (enough for some crops, chickens, a few cows). He farmed another man's land for pay as well. I don't remember him...just what I've been told. He led a simple life and I've never heard anyone say a bad word about him.
Grandpap - This was my Paupa's Dad. I never knew anything about him until I got these knives and started asking questions. My Dad says he was a pretty amiable guy. He worked as a lift operator at a coal mine (I'm sure he did his time underground when he was younger) and then "retired" and became the custodian at the local church. They lived with my Dad for a while when he was a kid. That's about all I know about him.
John - My Dad's brother. Killed himself before my parents were married. I know almost nothing about him. He played guitar in a band (as did my Dad...and as did I). I didn't wear a sharkskin suit and beatle boots, though...although we both played a red Gibson SG. He loved sports cars.
Uncle Steve - This is my Mom's brother. He was much younger than my Mom and was in his early 20s when I first remember him. He gave me some good knives. Probably lost a lot of them.
OK, so those are the players, here are the knives. I am posting before and after pics this time. These knives have been sitting in drawers and tackle boxes for a long time and it shows. The older knives were used very hard...that shows, too. Some of them I will clean as well as I can. Some will get a very light cleaning. I will post the 'after' pics sometime this week. I know a lot of you enjoy old knives and their history (as do I), so I trust you will forgive my long winded intro.
The knives (I don't remember many of these knives except the ones that belonged to me. My Dad gave me his best guesses about where they came from):
This knife belonged to John. My Dad recalls it as a Christmas gift when they were both very young. The 'scale' on the other side is torn, but it is in decent shape.
This Ward's Barlow belonged to my Paupa or Grandpap. As you can see, it had a nasty run-in with some electrons (I'm guessing). I don't know for sure.
This case belonged to Grandpa or Baby Grandpa. Grandpa would be my guess and I would assume it was a Sunday knife. There is something like tar on the blades. I don't know how clean I can get it, but the scales are gorgeous. A truly pretty knife.
This Hammer Brand belonged to John. I remember it vividly as it was my Paupa's fishing knife and later my Dad's. It was always tied with string to a green mesh fishing vest. It has a LOT of blade wobble, the lock does not work. It does flick open, but not real fast.
This Cattaraugus belonged to my Paupa or Grandpap. It has very little snap in the main blade and is dry and rusty as all get out. Scales are cracked and chipped. It was a beauty in its day.
This Buck belonged to my Grandpa I think. As you can see, it was well used.
These two SAKs were given to me by my Uncle Steve when I was less than ten. I remember carrying the red one (I can't figure out what the pattern is called). I liked the slim profile...still do. The soldier was deemed too sharp by my Mom, so it is like new. I have a newer soldier I carry a lot.
My Dad and I found this on the floor of a hotel hallway when I was a kid and he let me keep it (I actually think this is not the knife...I think we found a small black Gerber that I still have).
This belonged to Grandpa or Baby Grandpa. Kabar. This one will clean up nice.
This Camillus is a mystery. Zero snap in the main blade.
This Ulster belonged to Baby Grandpa or Grandpa. As you can see, it was used by a man who believed you should get every ounce of use out of a knife. I respect that and it makes me feel silly for having so many old knives with full blades.
This CAMCO is also a mystery. It is in pretty nice shape. Will clean up nice. I have this knife already, but this one obviously means a lot more.
This no-name USA was purchased by my Dad when he was in third grade on a class field trip. Times sure have changed.
For whatever reason, this Hammer Brand speaks to me the most. It was owned by Grandpap. The 'scales' are damaged pretty badly, but the knife is in decent shape.
This little 2.5-3" monster was the first knife I ever bought for myself. I believe I ordered it from the back of Boys' Life for a few bucks. I'm sure that due to the ambiguous wording of the ad, I was hoping it was a real switch.
So, that's it. I hope y'all enjoyed looking at the knives and learning a little about them. I sure am glad to have them. As always, I am pretty new to traditional knife collecting and would appreciate any insights, observations, etc. I would also be happy to answer any Q's I can.
A little history, so this will make more sense. And so I don't have to explain what came from who with every knife. My Dad grew up in South Central Pennsylvania. My Mom grew up in Southern Illinois. The knives are from:
Grandpa: My Mom's Dad. A tough, but very sensitive man. Prone to irrational anger at times, but also very caring and loving. He had hands like iron. He served in WWII and was injured jumping out of a plane as it exploded. Lost a good bit of his hearing and taste. He never talked to me about the war, but loved to wear his silkworm tie tack. He grew up farming, but went to college on the GI bill and became a shop teacher. He was incredibly good at working with his hands. Especially woodworking. He did not baby his knives, trucks, boats, etc (or family members). He wore light blue jeans, a free 'trucker cap' (he had hundreds) and a collared shirt about every day. He wore a suit to church or if someone died. If you are familiar with Southern Illinois, you can picture him. He was super outgoing and introduced himself to everyone he saw. He was one of a kind, for sure. He liked motorcycles and taught me to ride. I knew nothing about bikes or cars (I was 11-13?) and he taught me by telling me to pin the throttle and release the clutch. After we picked the old Honda off me, he taught me for real. I spent a lot of time on the back of his Harley and probably wouldn't have my own bikes today if it wasn't for him and Route 50. We fished together. Later in life, he and my Grandma owned a trailer on lake Okeechobee. He was a decent fisherman and could have been better if he had more patience. He sure could fry up some breem. Lots of memories of the whole trailer park eating themselves stupid on fried breem and cole slaw.
Paupa - My Dad's Dad. He grew up in the coal mining culture of 'Dutch' PA. He was a very kind and generous man. He was a pilot as well, but his service was cut short when he injured his back...an injury that plagued him the rest of his life. He loved model trains and trout fishing. He and my Dad taught me most of what I know about fishing. He was very patient with me. He held lots of jobs from what I understand...selling cars is all I can recall hearing about. He did not take advantage of the GI bill...he was already a father and started working. He was very civic minded and very into history. He was self educated. He served at least a few terms as Mayor of Elizabethtown, PA (where he lived as long as I knew him and where my Dad grew up for the most part). He had a BIG wooden box full of worms in the basement, but he liked to fly fish as well. I learned how to catch trout using worms and corn. He was a very even keeled guy. I don't remember him ever being angry. He liked to play cards (for fun, not money) and he liked a good drink (one or two). I spent more time with him than with my Grandpa. He died not too long ago and I miss him very much. He lived long enough to meet my wife, but not my daughter as did my Grandpa.
Baby Grandpa - This was my Grandpa's Dad. He died when I was young, but there is a picture of him holding me. He got his nickname because he was a small man. Very gentle and kind from what I have been told. He was a farmer his whole life, but never had enough money for his own farm. He was a sharecropper for much of his life and then had a little bit of land (enough for some crops, chickens, a few cows). He farmed another man's land for pay as well. I don't remember him...just what I've been told. He led a simple life and I've never heard anyone say a bad word about him.
Grandpap - This was my Paupa's Dad. I never knew anything about him until I got these knives and started asking questions. My Dad says he was a pretty amiable guy. He worked as a lift operator at a coal mine (I'm sure he did his time underground when he was younger) and then "retired" and became the custodian at the local church. They lived with my Dad for a while when he was a kid. That's about all I know about him.
John - My Dad's brother. Killed himself before my parents were married. I know almost nothing about him. He played guitar in a band (as did my Dad...and as did I). I didn't wear a sharkskin suit and beatle boots, though...although we both played a red Gibson SG. He loved sports cars.
Uncle Steve - This is my Mom's brother. He was much younger than my Mom and was in his early 20s when I first remember him. He gave me some good knives. Probably lost a lot of them.
OK, so those are the players, here are the knives. I am posting before and after pics this time. These knives have been sitting in drawers and tackle boxes for a long time and it shows. The older knives were used very hard...that shows, too. Some of them I will clean as well as I can. Some will get a very light cleaning. I will post the 'after' pics sometime this week. I know a lot of you enjoy old knives and their history (as do I), so I trust you will forgive my long winded intro.
The knives (I don't remember many of these knives except the ones that belonged to me. My Dad gave me his best guesses about where they came from):
This knife belonged to John. My Dad recalls it as a Christmas gift when they were both very young. The 'scale' on the other side is torn, but it is in decent shape.
This Ward's Barlow belonged to my Paupa or Grandpap. As you can see, it had a nasty run-in with some electrons (I'm guessing). I don't know for sure.
This case belonged to Grandpa or Baby Grandpa. Grandpa would be my guess and I would assume it was a Sunday knife. There is something like tar on the blades. I don't know how clean I can get it, but the scales are gorgeous. A truly pretty knife.
This Hammer Brand belonged to John. I remember it vividly as it was my Paupa's fishing knife and later my Dad's. It was always tied with string to a green mesh fishing vest. It has a LOT of blade wobble, the lock does not work. It does flick open, but not real fast.
This Cattaraugus belonged to my Paupa or Grandpap. It has very little snap in the main blade and is dry and rusty as all get out. Scales are cracked and chipped. It was a beauty in its day.
This Buck belonged to my Grandpa I think. As you can see, it was well used.
These two SAKs were given to me by my Uncle Steve when I was less than ten. I remember carrying the red one (I can't figure out what the pattern is called). I liked the slim profile...still do. The soldier was deemed too sharp by my Mom, so it is like new. I have a newer soldier I carry a lot.
My Dad and I found this on the floor of a hotel hallway when I was a kid and he let me keep it (I actually think this is not the knife...I think we found a small black Gerber that I still have).
This belonged to Grandpa or Baby Grandpa. Kabar. This one will clean up nice.
This Camillus is a mystery. Zero snap in the main blade.
This Ulster belonged to Baby Grandpa or Grandpa. As you can see, it was used by a man who believed you should get every ounce of use out of a knife. I respect that and it makes me feel silly for having so many old knives with full blades.
This CAMCO is also a mystery. It is in pretty nice shape. Will clean up nice. I have this knife already, but this one obviously means a lot more.
This no-name USA was purchased by my Dad when he was in third grade on a class field trip. Times sure have changed.
For whatever reason, this Hammer Brand speaks to me the most. It was owned by Grandpap. The 'scales' are damaged pretty badly, but the knife is in decent shape.
This little 2.5-3" monster was the first knife I ever bought for myself. I believe I ordered it from the back of Boys' Life for a few bucks. I'm sure that due to the ambiguous wording of the ad, I was hoping it was a real switch.
So, that's it. I hope y'all enjoyed looking at the knives and learning a little about them. I sure am glad to have them. As always, I am pretty new to traditional knife collecting and would appreciate any insights, observations, etc. I would also be happy to answer any Q's I can.
, Dan!! ( slapping your face ) 