First knife I chose for myself, maybe 1983, 10 years old

[Hickory n steel]

Lol! You picked a winner! Kudos to you for keeping it in such good shape.

A friend had a knife similar to yours he liked to put hotdogs in the finger holes and close the blade.

The first knife I chose for myself and bought was a Camillus 72. I think I was 10. It was exactly like the one my Dad carried everyday. Here is what it looked like new. Not my picture or knife. View attachment 1361125

Right after I bought mine he lost his and replaced it with a Buck. I’ve been expecting that knife to turn up for 40 years but it must be really gone.

Do you still have yours, and how often to post in the traditionals section ?
If you don't have it you might consider entering the traditional Box-o-knives GAW.
I just put one in the box on Monday before shipping it off to the current winner m

 

[K.O.D.]

I had a giant oak tree in my backyard, needless to say there was this place called Treasure Island in Brooklyn, NY that sold all sorts of Ninja cutlery. We're talking 1980's so Sho Kosugi/American Ninja/White Ninja era so obviously I was in my mode. Needless to say their throwing knives which I had to have of course along with ninja claws just really sucked. I remember throwing one at the oak tree and it literally bounced back and I ending up stabbing myself in the chest. Lol.

Well, it was an oak...

 

[eveled]

Do you still have yours, and how often to post in the traditionals section ?
If you don't have it you might consider entering the traditional Box-o-knives GAW.
I just put one in the box on Monday before shipping it off to the current winner m

I still have mine. It’s worn but still useable. I’ve only just started checking out the traditionals section. I didn’t realize I had anything to contribute here. Now that I’ve found it I’m enjoying it. I’ve mostly stayed in the Buck and Randall forums. But I’m branching out. I never entered the GAW, because I’ve already got enough knives I don’t use. Lol

 

[eveled]

Hickory n steel My first knife is the SAK in the first row, the boy-scout Camillus 72 is to the left of it.

 

[willard0341]

I’ve had these jewels hidden away

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

Not my pic, but the top one was my first knife purchase. I think I was 8 years old and it was $9 at a gun show... so I paid double what it was worth. I liked the stainless handles and that the blade was loose enough for me to wrist flick it open.

My first quality knife purchase was a couple years later and was an FRN Gerber LST, back when they were still good.

 

[cchu518]

Not my pic, but the top one was my first knife purchase. I think I was 8 years old and it was $9 at a gun show... so I paid double what it was worth. I liked the stainless handles and that the blade was loose enough for me to wrist flick it open.

My first quality knife purchase was a couple years later and was an FRN Gerber LST, back when they were still good.

I just found this Gerber US1 at Walmart on clearance for $3.50. USA made, 420HC steel. And only 1 ounce in weight it's my new summer time lightweight carry!

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

I just found this Gerber US1 at Walmart on clearance for $3.50. USA made, 420HC steel. And only 1 ounce in weight it's my new summer time lightweight carry!

Hard to argue with that price tag. I paid $24.99 for my LST back in the mid 90s.

 

[cchu518]

I'm pretty happy with it. I had lost my Gerber Knight a while back and this one feels a lot like it.

 

[GIRLYmann]

I’ve had these jewels hidden away View attachment 1361649

but...

yeah i know a significant piece of
knife history

 

[JAB]

Not my first knife but the first one I saved up for.

Purchased sometime in the early eighties (along with countless shuriken, nunchucks, sais, etc.)

I soooo wanted a Pacific Cutlery one but they were hella expensive even then...

 

[DangerZone98]

that's awesome fury!
i m holding out for a cold steel version...

The closest thing we have right now is the Chaos series. If the inner mall ninja in me prevails, I might pick up a Chaos Bowie.

 

[K.O.D.]

In junior high and high school I always wanted one of those Gil Hibben fantasy knives from the catalogs. Fortunately, we were too poor to waste money on something frivolous like that. $25 for a pair of football cleats made my dad go ballistic. In 1989. The random crap I picked out at that North Pier shop was paid for by a family friend visiting.

Thankfully, I never really cared about what other people had until high school. Had my first job at 15, no one could tell me what I could buy.

Though I did eventually buy a fantasy knife when I was 24...

I was visiting a friend in Florida and picked this cringe inducer at a flea market for $40 back in 2003.

 

[Boombats]

I had a couple of jackknives as a preteen, but the first knife I remember buying myself was a Gil Hibben bowie in 1993. Big shiny hunk of nonsense

 

[metsfan]

I had a giant oak tree in my backyard, needless to say there was this place called Treasure Island in Brooklyn, NY that sold all sorts of Ninja cutlery. We're talking 1980's so Sho Kosugi/American Ninja/White Ninja era so obviously I was in my mode. Needless to say their throwing knives which I had to have of course along with ninja claws just really sucked. I remember throwing one at the oak tree and it literally bounced back and I ending up stabbing myself in the chest. Lol.

Treasure Island in Gun$et and Tip Top in Park Slope were the pluuuuug!

 

[Hickory n steel]

This is an example of the actual first knife I chose for myself.


It was not as " cool " or memorable as that red lockback I posted previously, but it was a knife and it was only $1 so into my pocket it went.
I don't know how long it was until I discovered the flea market knife booth and got that red thing.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I just found this Gerber US1 at Walmart on clearance for $3.50. USA made, 420HC steel. And only 1 ounce in weight it's my new summer time lightweight carry!

I messed mine up last year in a failed attempt to make a traditional knife out of it with brass liners and walnut scales , but it was a good knife even for the $14 I payed a couple years ago.
I still think the little ultralight LST is an excellent little lockback, I'm not sure about the larger models but the little one is still an excellent choice if you ask me.

 

[sliceofaloha]

sliceofaloha that is awesome! We are about the same age and I bought so many knives in Helen and at the flea market there. Grew up camping at Unicoi Springs for at least a decade. I will have to dig out my Lion lock back . Many victorinox, Parker , and frost knives were purchased with lawn mowing money, still have them all!

My brother!

 

[Prester John]

My first knife was a camp/scout knife (spear, can opener, bottle opener/screwdriver, punch), but I can't remember if I chose it or my father just gave it to me. (I was about 10.) The first knife I know I chose myself was a small stiletto advertised in comic books. I ordered it myself when I was about 13. I think it was made in Japan. Lot of fun to carry and play with. Don't have it anymore, but planning to get a large Italian stiletto.

 

[sliceofaloha]

Loving all the great memories everyone is sharing! I was somewhat of a 'chucks twirler in my day. All the ones I got were sh@t though. I've often thought of teaching myself to use (and buy) a lathe and get some great hardwoods and especially tough chains and attachments and make a small venture out of it.

Picked up some Cold Steel stars recently but have not busted them out yet. Want to show the kids how we used to have fun.