Several years ago, while going through some old suitcases that once belonged to my grandfather, I came across a well used pocket knife.
He's been gone for over 20 years now, but I was in the process of moving, and wanted to get rid of unnecessary stuff. When I found this knife, I laughed, and wondered what on earth possessed him to buy such an outlandish knife in the first place.
I just put it away, and went on with my move. About a month ago, I came across it again while moving boxes around in the basement. I took it out, and decided to try and clean it up a little.
My grandfather was a short man from Germany. His nickname was "Shorty". He didn't seem to mind. He actually preferred to be called that. He had been in the German army during WW-1. Afterwards he moved to the U.S. and when WW-2 happened, he joined the American army, and fought against the Germans. He didn't care for Hitler.
He was a woodworker by trade. A cabinet maker. His knife must have seen a lot of work go past it's blade.
The more I looked at his knife, the more it grew on me. I never thought I would carry something as colorful as a candy striped knife, but I recently found one that I liked, and bought it.
His was a Schrade. Mine is a Boker. It has since become my everyday carry knife.
I'm aware of the problems of celluloid, and hope mine doesn't start to rust, but I now see what he must have seen when he looked at his knife. It's really beautiful once you get past it's outlandishness. Here's to you Grandpaw.
He's been gone for over 20 years now, but I was in the process of moving, and wanted to get rid of unnecessary stuff. When I found this knife, I laughed, and wondered what on earth possessed him to buy such an outlandish knife in the first place.
I just put it away, and went on with my move. About a month ago, I came across it again while moving boxes around in the basement. I took it out, and decided to try and clean it up a little.
My grandfather was a short man from Germany. His nickname was "Shorty". He didn't seem to mind. He actually preferred to be called that. He had been in the German army during WW-1. Afterwards he moved to the U.S. and when WW-2 happened, he joined the American army, and fought against the Germans. He didn't care for Hitler.
He was a woodworker by trade. A cabinet maker. His knife must have seen a lot of work go past it's blade.
The more I looked at his knife, the more it grew on me. I never thought I would carry something as colorful as a candy striped knife, but I recently found one that I liked, and bought it.
His was a Schrade. Mine is a Boker. It has since become my everyday carry knife.
I'm aware of the problems of celluloid, and hope mine doesn't start to rust, but I now see what he must have seen when he looked at his knife. It's really beautiful once you get past it's outlandishness. Here's to you Grandpaw.