History of Knives Before You Owned Them

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Feb 17, 2010
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When you acquire a new (to you) knife, do you ever ask about the history of the knife up to that point?

I do every once in a while - usually prompted by the comfortable connection I've formed with the seller thru conversations or eMails. Sometimes just by the obvious look of the knife or age or whatever.

I won an auction for a knife today - It's a Craftsman 3-1/8" lockback with a drop point? blade and staglon sides. I think made by Camillus. Not especially old but I like the style. I had numerous eMails back and forth with the seller trying to get an auction changed to a Buy It Now. The seller was new at auctions and didn't know how and I've never sold and was no help. A real blind-leading-the blind situation!

So I asked the question about how she came to own the knife. I wasn't prepared for the the answer I got.

Julia (the seller) told me that the knife and a bunch of other sporting equipment had been left in the house by the prior owner.

Seems the prior owner's husband was a State Game Warden and had passed away in a truck crash. Story went like this:

Howie:
As this has been a special transaction, I'm wondering ..... Is there any story that goes with how you came to own this knife and where it came from prior to that?

Julia responded:
We bought a house from a lady that her husband had got killed when his
truck ran into a tree. He had been a LA State Game Warden. She left
so much of his things behind. There were some 50 odd rod and reels,
his badge, some rings, and some knives. You can believe this if you
want - he lives with us in that house! He's a very nice guy!

Howie:
Are you kiddin me?! Your house is haunted? or shall we say has an otherworldly presence?

Julia:
Lol! Yeah! He's like a blur in the side of your eyesight. My
husband has more dealings with him than me - they both like or liked
the same things - hunting and fishing! Things get moved and he finds
things for me sometimes. It's weird but not scarey!

Got any good stories you've heard about knives you've collected??

Howie
 
......so did she give him the money she got for 'his' knife?....good story....be a bit spooky in the Master Bedroom would it not?..hardly an afternoon delight?...LOL.....Hoo Roo
P.S. I've got a Schrade knife once owned by the Late Alabama Governor George Wallace....and a gold Schrade Cut Co owned by an American General on Saipan in WW11....I'll dig out some special ones with provenance...
 
A bit of a spooky story here, albeit interesting. :thumbup:
P.S. I've got a Schrade knife once owned by the Late Alabama Governor George Wallace....and a gold Schrade Cut Co owned by an American General on Saipan in WW11....I'll dig out some special ones with provenance...
I wouldn't mind seeing these. :cool:
-Bruce
 
I used the SAME Klein Electricians knife for almost 30 years, while working as a mechanic for the RR.
That knife belonged to my late Grandfather, who used it as an Electrician, since BEFORE WWII.

It is now, sitting in my tool box, as I type this...........................

Steve
 
Interestingly enough Howie, Larry asked the same question a couple years ago. Here is a rerun of my favorite story that came with a couple of knives I won on Ebay back in 2007. Asking the provenance of the first knife led to the purchase of a second knife:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6392771&postcount=17

I have asked a lot of sellers where they obtained the knife.
I loved the story in there, and replied to that thread as well.
It would be great to bring it back to life. ;)
-Bruce
 
Cool stories - all of them, especially about the Marine, Mr. Howes. Smoking and playing poker with FDR!! WOW!! After reading the story, a Well Deserved Honor, indeed.

Hal - The 123OT is amazing - Is there any indication of the customizer inside the liner?
I won an MIB 892UH at auction this year and I did ask about provenance. Nothing exciting - just the 'came from an estate sale' response. Not that the lack of an exciting provenance will make it any less cared for!!

Larry & Ikedoc - In the older thread - Those Bowies are Spectacular! That set must be sight, all together. The cases are works of art themselves.

Krankkall - What better history to have for a knife than family history. That's a quality knife to have served you and your Gradfather for all that time. :thumbup:

Howie
 
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