Heirloom knife for my unborn son.

[ojohnny400]

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.

That's cool, I bet your son will cherish it

 

[RP13]

I got my son a GEC 06 Pemberton shortly before he was born. It was also my first traditional knife since childhood, the thought of it took me back to my younger years carving sticks and what not. it doesn't see much pocket time but when it does it's always a pleasure remembering those days and looking forward to the day I pass it down. You can buy an expensive knife which is nice but, you can't put a price on sentimental value.

 

[10fingers]

Congratulations on the new son my wife is due in April

Mine is going to get my used and worn spyderco military among others but I also traded into one just for handing down along with the rifle he will get which was a gift from my wife the Christmas before we got married

 

[John Moran]

Pass him down your character, compassion, sense of duty and responsibility and the ability to do for himself, along with a good knife.The country is going to need another good man.

 

[Brian_T]

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?

The two oldest (12 & 10) have gotten their Whittlin' Chips and can have the knives just as soon as they express some interest in them--hasn't happened yet. The younger two (4 & 2) will wait until they're old enough to go through the learning process and then the same rules will apply. I was the Den Leader so I wrote the curriculum for the Whittlin' Chip that is in use throughout the district so I know it's enough to get them safely using edged tools.

B

 

[jeffwithaj]

I'd wait until I got to know him a little better. He may not care about knives.
It happens.

 

[tactially_prepared]

Thank you all for you kind words and knowledge, but most of all thank you for the stories behind the knives. I am now the proud father of 6lbs 5oz 19.5" baby boy. Thank y'all again.

 

[jmclfrsh]

If you can swing it I think a small Sebenza made ON his birthday straight from CRK would be pretty cool. It would be exactly the same age, to the day, as he is. Call tomorrow and snag one.

Quality that cannot be faulted, close to your price range and throughout his life he would have something nice, something he can EDC and depend on his entire life.

And remind him of you, every day, with fond memories. "My dad got me this."

That's cool.

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

Well, having a baby is always harder on the father. Don't mention that to your wife.

A recommend a small SAK, a classic or something. Maybe one with a built in flashlight. When he is 4 yrs or so, you can let him play with it and learn how to use it, under very close supervision.

 

[Stoney26]

Congradulations! And something i would look for in a knife to pass down is a knife that probably wont be outlawed in the next 50 years. I dont know what the face of legislation will look like in the future, so no crazy pocket swords, autos, balisongs. Also, id get something from a reputable company that has the best chance of standing the test of time. For example, your son may use the absolute life out of the knife, and depending on the locking system, he may need a warranty trip to fix it (unless you go the traditional route). The guys who posted above it are right, definately go with sentimental value over monetary value. One advantage of going the sentimental value route is that a standard production knife probably wont be worth a whole lot to collectors if its well worn. I hear stories of guys selling family heirlooms all the time to make ends meet or to get new parts for their vehicles. Your son will be less inclined to sell (not saying that he will or will be put into a situation where he will have to) a well-worn knife with tons of sentimental value and low monetary value than a knife that just sat in a gunsafe increasing in monetary value the first 18+ years of his life

 

[liamstrain]

Thank you all for you kind words and knowledge, but most of all thank you for the stories behind the knives. I am now the proud father of 6lbs 5oz 19.5" baby boy. Thank y'all again.

Congratulations!

One additional note - the "heirloom knife" that I'll pass on, will not be the "first knife." That will probably be an Opinel, or something similar.

 

[Sonnydaze]

Randall. One of the few names that anyone may recognize many yrs from now. There will be lots of new names. I give my kids knives as gifts, but my kids are in their forties. I would rethink your idea.

 

[Quiet]

I know that there have been a lot of great suggestions given in this thread, but my personal favorite, and the ones I agree with, are the suggestions that you hand down a knife that you've used for years. I have an old pocket knife that my Father gave me years and years ago that he used to carry on his own adventures while in the Scouts many years before I was born. I am blessed in that my father is still with me, but that knife still represents so many things for me, and is something that I will NEVER sell or part with. In fact, I keep all of my knives in a series of cigar boxes. However, that old knife I keep locked in a fireproof safe along with all of my vital documentation. Should I ever have children of my own, that knife will go to him/her.

 

[montana_longbow]

In the same boat 12 week! Boy as well!!! Congrads bud!

 

[precisionshootist]

I would strongly suggest a Randall. They have stood the test of time and withstood every environment known to man. They are the ultimate adventurer's knife. You can put down just $50 and that secures the price with wait time around 5 years. There is simply nothing like the magic of a new Randall blade. They are the Rolex of the knife world.

 

[orca8589]

tactically_prepared, congratulations! :thumbup:

Not a pricey one, but my son will get the Victorinox Classic that I had in my pocket the morning he was born. We spent three days in the hospital, so before we left I decided on what I figured would be the most useful.

My son has several knives right now, since he's in Scouts, but when he turns 18 he'll get that little Vic Classic.

~Chris

 

[onojoe]

Thank you all for you kind words and knowledge, but most of all thank you for the stories behind the knives. I am now the proud father of 6lbs 5oz 19.5" baby boy. Thank y'all again.

Congrats! Be sure to let us know what you decide!

On a side note, this has got to be the first time that someone became a father in the midst of a post!!!

 

[jc57]

An heirloom that you pass down is going to be YOUR knife, that you use all of the time, and that your child will have memories of that are associated with good times spent with you. You are not looking for a knife for HIM, unless you plan to die when he's fairly young.

So buy a knife that you would want to be your main user, day in and day out. And then spend time with your child, doing outdoorsy things, or working around the house, or whittling, or whatever it is you use a knife for. Keep the knife well maintained and use it.

So that when it finally passes to your son or daughter, when you no longer need it, when they take it out it will make them remember your hands holding it, using it. Camping trips together. Sitting around a fire. Hunting or fishing trips. The time you fought off four attackers. Whatever it is you do with your knife. A knife is just a piece of metal and some handles to hold it. It's the memories that will make it a cherished item.

With all of that said, it should be something of high quality that you'll use, and that will stand up to use. If you like traditional knives, then I'd suggest one of the Case/Bose collaborations. A bit out of your price range but you're talking about a lifetime knife.

 

[Quiet]

Tac, congratulations on your new family member!!!

 

[Boosted227]

If you decide to go with a Case, Remington Bullet knife or other limited models, or an NKCA knife I have lots!!

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