Heirloom knife for my unborn son.

Just buying and owning things means nothing to me. I am giving my kids items that I have used, loved, cared for, and feel are important to me.
 
I'm also of the mind that something YOU used and cared for will have more sentimental value than something that sat in a safe for 50-70 years. If you are looking at an investment, then William Henry, or high end Benchmade, Spyderco, Kershaw, or ZT, especially limited productions, would be a safe bet.

If you are hoping to pass down memories and stories, then get something, anything, that appeals to you, and has a good quality construction, or LOTS of things. :D

I look at my EDC rotation and all the knives I've accumulated over the last 20 years, and each and every one of them has a story. I often take them out and share those stories with my sons, or even let them borrow them and create stories of their own. To me, this is the meaning of heirloom. Something worthy of being passed down. Something that will last, and inspire.

Of course, whether or not they will be able to carry them in public is a worthwhile question. So, with that in mind, I buy as MANY KNIVES as I can, and ensure there is enough variety that, whatever the future holds, there will be something that each of my sons will be able to carry and use proudly.

Congrats on the new-born child. Prayers that all goes well for you and yours, and remember to cherish each moment.
 
I have three grandson all are little I have been buying case peanuts rite now They won't need a pocket knife for a while :-) Think I will get them a rmd and have a sheath made
 
Mannlicher said:
Just buying and owning things means nothing to me. I am giving my kids items that I have used, loved, cared for, and feel are important to me.
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Sound logic Mannlicher. Many knife makers that hand forge their knives do not consider them complete and finished until the end user has placed scratches on them from both use and sharpening. Once this is done, the knife can then be considered complete. Continually evolving with each use and sharpening, but complete.

So for me, the heirloom knife first and foremost should be hand forged by a craftsman who applies great care in the forging, annealing and tempering process to get the most out of the steel. Second, I think it should be a knife that I have used and sharpened, perhaps many times, so that I can share the stories of its use, and perhaps some of the nuances regarding use and sharpening techniques, as well as some of the failures, to make it a better tool for the given application(s). This could be a kitchen knife, a fixed blade outdoor knife, a pocket folding knife or whatever will best represent you to the receiving family member.

Admittedly, the challenge will be to get a hand forged knife of any type within the budget that you have communicated. So the next best thing would be to gift to the family member (child) the production knife that you have used, sharpened and have cherished most, above all others. The one that come hell or high water, you would find a way to replace it if it ever got lost or stolen. The gift is not really about the knife, the gift is about you. After you are gone, your children then can say "remember when dad was stripping insulation from that wiring and the knife slipped cutting him badly requiring 8 stitches?" Then one of your children producing that very knife out of their pocket or belt sheath to show to the others. This is what will have meaning to them about the knife that you give them. Not the knife itself.
 
There are a few qualities I'd look for in a knife I intended to become an heirloom (I actually look for most of these in every knife I purchase):

1. It must be something I would use regularly in day-to-day life. I've got to want and be able to use it to build up sentimental value. An expensive collectors piece would make for a good inheritance but to be an heirloom it must have a part of my spirit and for that it must be something I used and relied upon.

2. It must be made to high standards. Any degradation should be from my use of it and not from lack of robustness in construction or materials.

3. There should be some connection with either my ancestors or the time period in which I live. For this reason (along with the others) I'd say CRK is a great brand for an heirloom piece as it is indicative of the "modern" style knife according to my generation. Likewise GEC is the contemporary brand for slipjoints so I'd be more likely to buy a GEC as an heirloom piece than a Case. Had my father owned a Case knife then things would be different as there would be a connection to my ancestor.
Something in Ivory would also be nice as it seems like future generations might not have this option.

My official suggestion would be whichever of GEC's upcoming offerings in Ivory appeals most to you like the Viper, American Jack, Norfolk Whittler, Esquire.
 
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Brian_T said:
I did something similar and reached out to Heather at Chris Reeve:

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That is awesome! Great idea!


tactially_prepared said:
Sorry. I can't think right now. My son is coming into the world today and I'm nervous.
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Congrats!

mctrinket said:
You do not sound very tactically prepared.
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Lol!

On topic:

I think a CRK (small seb?) born on his actual birthday (day and year) would be an awesome heirloom piece, more so if you actually carry and use it before handing it down to him.

As for a first knife a delica in his choice of color (when he's old enough) seems like a winning choice!
 
Congrats:) You're in a for a real treat. An exhausting, stressful, beautiful, frustrating, wonderful treat:)

I too wouldn't worry about getting a knife to pass down. Instead of worrying about the end game of what kind of nice thing you're going to leave him when you kick the bucket, just make sure to include him on your daily adventures. Take him hiking or fishing or camping. Teach him about the world. Show him how to love it. Let him share in your hobby and use his daddy's knife (when he's old enough) for simple cutting chores.

My dad will probably leave me a Buck 110 purchased at Sears 30 years ago that is worn down to a nub after a lifetime of hard use on the job. That'll be my heirloom. A symbol of the head work he went through to provide for me, and I'll never part with it.
 
As others have said the value is in the memories. I have a rotation in my daily carry but when I need a no nonsense folder I can rely on in any situation I prefer my CS Recon 1 Tanto. That's always my pick when I'm on holiday for instance. I have some cool memories using that blade fishing, carving a staff or a fishing rod for my son, cutting food etc.. I can imagine it will hold value for him for that reason.
 
Stuff which can be bought is nice but since everybody can buy it it is hardly special. So either it needs to show some personal character by being used for a while or have some nice story attached to it.
What would be the coolest if you can make a knife yourself. Even if it takes some time and doesn't look as polished as a benchmade it will be way more special. You have plenty of time and maybe your kid will be able to help you finishing it in 4 or 5 years. Shared memories with the knife sound best to me :)
My daughter, almost 5, is helping me with most of my projects and often pushes me to do more. Her latest thing on her agenda is finishing a chess board for mommy.
 
I'm going to give my to be born son my ZT 801. I got it in the mail the day I found out my wife was pregnant. It's been to all the OB appointments and I have carried it most of my wife's pregnancy. It has only been kicked out of my pocket by the buck vantage my kids got me for Christmas.
 
First of all congrats. Sounds like you on your way to being a good father. In my opinion there are 2 ways to go. You can through money at it and get an expensive knife or you can get one that will have sentimental value.

I would personally go with the sentimental value. My dad gave me a Victorinox Alox pioneer when I was young. Not an expensive knife, but it was quality. My dad recently passed away and that knife means the world to me. We used the knife together, camping, fishing etc and the memories is what makes a knife an heirloom. I would much rather have that than an expensive knife that sat in a drawer and never used.
 
onojoe said:
First of all congrats. Sounds like you on your way to being a good father. In my opinion there are 2 ways to go. You can through money at it and get an expensive knife or you can get one that will have sentimental value.

I would personally go with the sentimental value. My dad gave me a Victorinox Alox pioneer when I was young. Not an expensive knife, but it was quality. My dad recently passed away and that knife means the world to me. We used the knife together, camping, fishing etc and the memories is what makes a knife an heirloom. I would much rather have that than an expensive knife that sat in a drawer and never used.
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I am sorry for your loss onojoe. I too lost my father in 2005, and it has indelibly change my life in ways that I never could have imagined.

Of all of his things that I had the privilege to sort through, sell to raise money for my mother (who passed in 2011) and generally take care of after his passing, I came across his big game hunting knife and my first big game hunting knife that he had given to me as an 11 y.o. for Christmas sitting in the same drawer. His knife is a Western, of Boulder CO, 7-7.5" fixed blade knife that he got in WWII while in the Navy. It is a cross between a utility knife and a fighting knife with a blood groove. I will always remembering him sharpening this knife prior to deer season (the only time he carried it), and was completely impressed with the hair popping edge he would put on it with his Arkansas stones. I was intrigued by how such a large piece of steel (keep in mind I was really small) could be hand sharpened to a razor's edge. Later in life I had become fairly proficient in freehand sharpening techniques. At least enough to get a usable edge for my purposes. But now over the past 2 years I have gotten back into knives in what my wife calls a very sick way. Recently when I learned of Japanese water stones, this was my go to knife to practice using them (ironic isn't it, he got this knife while fighting the Japanese). I only sharpen this knife now, I never use it. But about once a month I bring it out and take it through the 1,000, 6,000 and 10,000 stones to see how sharp I can get it. I too will pass this one on to my son (married with a baby boy), and I think I will give it to him to learn how to sharpen with water stones as well.
 
Brian_T said:
I did something similar and reached out to Heather at Chris Reeve:

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The knives were manufactured as near the actual birthdays as possible and each graphic is unique with colors inspired by the kid (3 girls; 1 boy) and engraved with their birth dates and initials.

The project was expensive but they'll have these knives to hand down to their children.

B
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Wow that's nice but I gotta ask, at what age do you plan to give them to them, not as in "here look some day you'll get these" but actually hand them over?
 
have you considered getting something custom made instead? something you might help design. if you want a folder, there are a lot of custom makers that can make whatever you can come up with (within reason of course)
 
I think you have PLENTY of time before your son will be able to use a knife or even receive a knife.

Stop worrying and take your time with it. Enjoy the hunt.
 
Congratulations! I wish you all the best, on what will be (or has been for me) a wonderful journey.

I went the traditional route. Before my son was born - I ordered one of the new GEC #15 Boys knives in jigged bone. They are beautifully made, and will last forever if you take care of them. This is one of my daily users, and when he shows he is old enough to understand knife safety (and not immediately lose it), I'll hand it down to him. The watch too.

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Getting a custom is a great idea too, but not within the budget you suggested.
 
Congrats brother! I'd say grab a nice traditional knife. Great in my grandfathers day, great in my fathers day, great in my day and will be great in your sons day also. There is a reason they are called "traditional", because they are classic forever.
 
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