I wonder how many of us look at the smooth worn jigged handle of an old jackknife, or stockman, and wonder about the man who gave it all that use. I look at vintage knives and I feel envy. I look at them, and think about the simpler times people lived in, when phones had this rotating thing you put you finger in and turned. And the phone stayed in the house. When carrying a knife was not only normal, but when a lady had a thread to cut off, or a package to open and you didn't have a knife, then you were thought less of. Not being prepared for life.
I've often felt highly annoyed that I did not live in my grandads time. A time when a man could start his own buisness with a bit of saved up money, and still mangage to buy a house. We here on the traditional forum have been called folksy by some, but I wonder if its just a case of having older values.
It must have been nice in the days when a kid could save up a little money and buy an old jallopy, and there in the driveway on Saturday morning his dad would give him a hand rebuilding the motor. By Sunday morning, the kid would know most of what he needed to know about keeping it running. I guess nowadays you need a 50,000 dollar computer to just find out whats wrong. I think this contributes to a society that picks up the cell phone at the drop of a hat instead of taking a moment to look it over and see if theres something they can do. Find a loose wire, blown fuse. Thats why most of those old timers we idolize carried thier little tobacco tins or candy tins with some paper clips, a few odd screws and nuts, some electical tape. They were fixers and doers. Like stockmans (Peter) granddad.
Maybe that why even though I love to look at the well worn little two blade pen and jack's that were so typical of the era of our grandfathers, I feel a little sad because it was a time I liked. A simple knife for simple times. Cooking up a dinner in a well seasoned cast iron pan, smoking a well broken in brier pipe without somebody giving you grief for smoking, and taking out your pocket knife in public to cut something, or just whittle, without getting weird looks from passerbys. Too bad buisnesses don't have a front porch anymore where one can pull up a chair or box and whittle while you swap fishing or hunting tales with the other men in the liers circle.
I wonder how many here collect those old trappers or peanuts, or whittlers, because they make you think of a simpler time when life was a little slower, a little more basic, and alot more enjoyable. I know thats one thing I like about the slip joints; it makes one slow down a little bit and think about what you are doing. You have to deliberatly put a nail in the nail nick and pull open the blade, and think about carefull cutting as there is no lock on the blade. You have to slow down and pay attention.
I keep thinking of that scene in the Tom Selleck western with old Wilford Brimley. A young guy is working away at rasping a horse's hoof prior to shoeing. Old Wilford comes along and shows him how to take a swipe that way, then this way, in an easy mannor, and tells the kid "Slow down, you'll have a more harmonious outcome."
I guess its tempting to have a knife that with a flick of the thumb or blink of an eye, its open and ready. But I guess I like to slow down, take a puff on a pipe, select which blade I want, and do a carefull job. Maybe thats the root of why I love traditional pocket knives; I'm after a more harmonious outcome.
What folksy thought go through your head when you look at an old-----?
I've often felt highly annoyed that I did not live in my grandads time. A time when a man could start his own buisness with a bit of saved up money, and still mangage to buy a house. We here on the traditional forum have been called folksy by some, but I wonder if its just a case of having older values.
It must have been nice in the days when a kid could save up a little money and buy an old jallopy, and there in the driveway on Saturday morning his dad would give him a hand rebuilding the motor. By Sunday morning, the kid would know most of what he needed to know about keeping it running. I guess nowadays you need a 50,000 dollar computer to just find out whats wrong. I think this contributes to a society that picks up the cell phone at the drop of a hat instead of taking a moment to look it over and see if theres something they can do. Find a loose wire, blown fuse. Thats why most of those old timers we idolize carried thier little tobacco tins or candy tins with some paper clips, a few odd screws and nuts, some electical tape. They were fixers and doers. Like stockmans (Peter) granddad.
Maybe that why even though I love to look at the well worn little two blade pen and jack's that were so typical of the era of our grandfathers, I feel a little sad because it was a time I liked. A simple knife for simple times. Cooking up a dinner in a well seasoned cast iron pan, smoking a well broken in brier pipe without somebody giving you grief for smoking, and taking out your pocket knife in public to cut something, or just whittle, without getting weird looks from passerbys. Too bad buisnesses don't have a front porch anymore where one can pull up a chair or box and whittle while you swap fishing or hunting tales with the other men in the liers circle.
I wonder how many here collect those old trappers or peanuts, or whittlers, because they make you think of a simpler time when life was a little slower, a little more basic, and alot more enjoyable. I know thats one thing I like about the slip joints; it makes one slow down a little bit and think about what you are doing. You have to deliberatly put a nail in the nail nick and pull open the blade, and think about carefull cutting as there is no lock on the blade. You have to slow down and pay attention.
I keep thinking of that scene in the Tom Selleck western with old Wilford Brimley. A young guy is working away at rasping a horse's hoof prior to shoeing. Old Wilford comes along and shows him how to take a swipe that way, then this way, in an easy mannor, and tells the kid "Slow down, you'll have a more harmonious outcome."
I guess its tempting to have a knife that with a flick of the thumb or blink of an eye, its open and ready. But I guess I like to slow down, take a puff on a pipe, select which blade I want, and do a carefull job. Maybe thats the root of why I love traditional pocket knives; I'm after a more harmonious outcome.
What folksy thought go through your head when you look at an old-----?
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) and I definitely yearn for a simply, more 'earthy' existence. Heck, I've never even had the chance to meet most of your guys and shake your hands. For all I know, you could be computer programs taught to talk about knives, etc....
$80 for a new Case Peanut!! $15 to $40 for broken tipped, over sharpened, wore out, Old Timer stockmen. I expect people to make a profit on me when I buy, but at those prices I should get a kiss too!!!! One dealer had a couple of Opinels that were properly priced. Should have bought the No.4 and 6 he had. But I'm not going to drive 50 miles back there for them.