His Buck.

Joined
Feb 3, 2011
Messages
1,941
I can remember when I was little, I really didn't want anything to do with my Grandfather, he was old and gruff, and he swore at Grandma a lot. I was afraid to be alone with him, I thought he didn't like anyone. But, he would take me to flea markets and Gun shows, which I always liked, but there was always a distance between us. That was until I asked him some questions, then we started talking, mostly about hunting, and fishing, then as time went on we started talking a lot. I would go "Gun Running" with him, which mean't we'd stop at every sportsman's shop and see what was new. He did a lot of dealing, I never wanted to bother him so I was usually checking out the knives while he dealt. Everyone knew he was a "Gun Nut", but it wasn't until a few years ago that I realized he's a Knife Nut too, but I'll get to that later. We would pass an ol' butcher's place on the way to one of the Gun shops, he'd stop and have me run in and get a package of ring bologna. We'd sit in the parking lot and and eat it, I remember he'd reach into his pocket and pull out his one blade knife, then he'd ask me how big a piece I wanted, he slice through the bologna like it was warm butter. I always thought it was cool that he carried a knife. As time went on our relationship got closer, he would teach me things about hunting and such and we spent a lot of time just watching the field. When I got older, I fell in love with knives, I learned all about the different brands and such, I already knew about Buck because of my Dad, but it wasn't until a few years after I first saw Pappy's one blade knife, did I realize it was a Buck.

My Mom had got my grandfather that knife for his birthday, years before I was around. He has a love for single blade folders, I guess he just never liked a stockman or trapper knife. He broke the blade in it and sent it back to Buck, they wanted to charge him for the blade, which they had the right to, because he voided the warranty when he broke it, and he knew better too. He told them he wasn't paying and to ship the knife back and, that he didn't understand how a lifetime warranty didn't cover the repair. Well, a few weeks later he got his knife back, with a brand new blade. He tells me that the old blade was better, and that he could never get this blade as sharp as the old one could get. It's pretty sharp now, but when I'm done with it, it'll be razor sharp.

He has an old Buck display case that he bought from a sporting goods store, they got a new one in, so he offered them a couple bucks for the old one, which they accepted. The plate that was on there fell off and I couldn't find, but he said he knew where it was and that he would put it back on so I could take pictures. Then he offered me the display, but I couldn't take it from him.... he has a nice collection in there, and it wouldn't be right to remove them. I asked to borrow his Buck pocket knife so I could get some pictures, he said, "take every Buck knife home, you can have them" My mom was in the room, so she asked if he was getting rid of his ol' knife. He realized that she had given him that knife so he told me I could borrow it for a week or two. I took him up and that offer and have had the knife ever since. I'm carrying it in my pocket and it feels amazing, I love having it, but having it for good wouldn't feel right, I see that knife and think of him.
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It's not all that old, but it's seen some good years of use, and I've seen him dump that knife out of his pocket with a few pennies, and a empty 22 hornet shell, more than a few time. I imagine it's cleaned more than a couple squirrel, and rabbit too.

Thanks for letting me share, I'd love to see a Buck that means something to you.
P.S.
Now that I'm older, I realize why he was always swearing at Grandma. :D
 
:thumbup:

Well done, Johnny, well done.

The Granddad and Buck stories are the best kind. Good pictures, too.

That's my kind of photojournalism!!

:)
 
Good story johnny, lucky your pap was a Buck guy. My pap had Barlow barlows.
 
And Johnny......hang on tight to those traditions of your grandfather and pass them on.

They are are a quickly vanishing part of our culture at this point.

I'll buy his .22 Hornet when he's ready to sell, by the way.

:)
 
Great story Johnny, sounds like you have some great memories. The memories are worth more than the knives at times, because they create the cherished value of the knives. By the way that is a great looking knife. HL
 
Good luck BG, I'm first in line.
It's a Ruger heavy barrel, and it groups like no tomorrow.

And thank you guys for the replies, I enjoy Buck knives and with this group I'll always enjoy Buck.
 
Johnny,
Reading your story, I already had a lump in my throat thinking your were going to say your gramps wasn't around any more. Glad to see that isnt the case. You have alot of tradition in your family. Keep those traditions alive. Collecting knives is the way I want to pass on my legacy as well. I have a "12 horse hair boot brush and a set of pipes my grandpa left me, and I tell you what it isn't much but every time I shine my boots, I think of him... I smoke his pipes as well, when I' fishing, it keeps the skiders a way...
 
Matt, Thank you for the words of wisdom, I do try to keep my loved ones legacies alive.
I can't help but remember my Dad when I use one of his Buck knives, it's a thing of honor for me.

This knife has a story to tell, even though it can't talk it has many tales of a man I know, and when that man can't tell the tales, I'll remember the knife.
 
Johnny, Thanks for the family history. You could write stories like that for our collectors newsletter. DM
 
David, the opportunity to share my love of Buck knives, and the stories my family have with them would be an honor.
I've loved knives for a long time, and I admit there are times when you'll see me without a Buck on my body, but I get this feeling, this emotion inside me when I hear someone talk about a Buck knife.
When I was little, Buck was it, my Dad and his Buck knife were my heros. They'd leave for the woods and always bring back a deer and a story. Thats were I get that emotion, thats why I love this forum, it's Buck all the time.
So thanks again for the compliments my friend.
 
John, Your welcome. I collect the models of the 700 series you show in your photo (704). I've not used mine like he did but that was a up grade model that Buck brought out. So, I can tell your granddad had good taste in knives. Stick with us here. DM
 
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