If Old Knives Could Talk (Traditionals Only)

[JM2]

About the only thing I have like that is this old Edge Brand. The blade was found by my uncle when he was a kid. He was playing under the shack they lived in (Papaw was a moonshiner and his family lived in shacks off the grid to help avoid detection by the revenuers), anyways my uncle found it on the sill plate. It didn't have a handle or guard, and the tang was broken about half way up.

He kept it a number of years, and finally after becoming an adult, he asked his brother in law if he could rehandle it. They had it something like 10 or 15 years, but never did anything with it so my uncle finally got it back.

When I started messing with rehandling and such, my uncle asked me to give it a go, and I did. I made the guard, handle, and sheath.

My uncle passed away and I got the knife upon his death.

I'm considering working it over and making a camp type knife out of it, since it's about useless like it is. I'd make it a large drop point type, rehandle it again, this time I'd repair the tang and put a threaded pommel on it.

My only real reservation is that the spine would be bright, and I'd either have to try to patina it, or make the whole blade bright. I like the patina on it. I could do the blade work, then leave the blade outside a couple years, and then clean it up again, and it might look pretty good.

 

[JM2]

A friend of mine found this Case 6275SP red bone "moose" in an old shed and sold it to me for $10. It dates from 1940 - 1964, and it has a long pull that probably puts it in the earlier part of that era. I have no idea about the history except that the tip of the clip blade has a divot out of it, perhaps from coming in contact with something electrical. If only it could talk...

That red bone is amazing!

 

[Will Power]

JM2 Frankly, I wouldn't alter that, it's a tidy ornament and a monument to your skill and your family's endurance

Leave it to another alteration for changing, looks impressive as it is.

Thanks, Will

 

[RLB0414]

Some of these old knives the back story is unknown. I know the back story on this one.
On Christmas day 1972 an 8 year old gave this 94OT to his granddaddy. This knife was carried and used daily. It cleaned fish, squirrels, rabbits, chickens for Sunday dinner, cut stems and vines on fruit and veggies grown in the garden.
It was sharpened, well cared for and used until removed from the man's pant pocket on July 6,1993 for the last time.
Since July 8, 1993 it has been with the grandson. It gets carried on Christmas day. Occasionally it gets pulled out and a lot of memories relived. Like is taking place now.

 

[JSutter]

I may have seen the twin to this, on page one….

But this Camillus was my great grandfather’s, on Mom’s side. He passed about 1962/63, when I was about 7 or 8. Between school vacations and holiday dinners, I saw him often. He was happy, always with a sense of humor as he kept busy about the home. Born in the 1880’s, in Sweden or Norway, I forget which. Made his way to the Lodi area of CA. Met and married Great Grandma. He and another guy helped build part of State Hwy 12, by using axes & those two man saws, to cut down walnut trees. Supplied the old fireplace & kitchen stove (1/2 gas) with firewood into the mid 1970s. Great Grandpa carried this in a front pocket, and likely sharpened it on his old “sit down and pedal” sharpening wheel stone.

My favorite Grant Aunt must have given this to my mother, who eventually gave it to me. I try to be careful about sharpening it, and carry it pretty often. Good memories.

 

[echoscout]

A well loved Wards Cattle Knife

 

[Just Tom.]

My grandfather made model ships, which he apparently used to sometimes sail in the Reflecting Pool or DC tidal basin. I imagine he must have used his pocket knife to whittle small parts:

Another note about my grandfather’s knife - the pen blade is snapped off, and there is what looks like maybe white paint on one of the scales. I imagine the two things might be related, and if the knife could talk it would say “Please don’t pry open any more paint cans with me!”

(Sorry for the lousy picture…)

 

[kyhunt]

This one was a junk find by a friend. But might have some stories to tell.

Disclaimer: cross posted in Schrade/ Camillus thread. Someone other than me took a grinder to it.

 

[Hickory n steel]

We’ve all got’em. Those old weathered, worn, time tested blades that have been around for so many years, it’s hard to know how many lives they’ve actually lived. You know, the ones you wish could tell tales of how they got to be the cool objects that we just can’t seem to put down, much less part with. I haven’t ever seen a thread like this one…so, in the name of things that last, let’s see those knives that we cherish because of the wear and scars, and repetitive use.

I will start by posting my very worn, old, Primble.
View attachment 2683541

I like old knives with history and honestly wear, but I pass on knives in this state because to me there's just no life left in it.

If I had a knife like that which belonged to say my grandfather and I knew he just used the hell out of it every day for decades I'd certainly treasure it, but not knowing the history I have a hard time not looking at such a knife and thinking it was prematurely worn away through over sharpening by somebody who didn't have a hone or strop.
This particular knife is worn fairly evenly and it certainly not ugly in it's present state, it's just not good for much more than opening letters these days and my appreciation is with cutting tools I can use and carry.


This late 60's Western F48A is about as worn of a knife as I've got.
It had seen plenty of use by the time I ended up with it as a kid, and I sure carved on tons of sticks with it over the years.

The blade is significantly narrower than it was when it left the factory, and is yet narrower than it was when I got it, but it's still got years of life left in it.

 

[r8shell]

You can call this little Case "over sharpened" but I get the feeling it wasn't abused. Just used often and carefully sharpened for many years. There's not much blade left, but what's there cuts like a fresh x-acto.

 

[rddp]

I'm not sure I want to know the history behind this knife.... All i know is I got it in Atlantic City NJ

 

[Maximumbob54]

I still carry my Dad's 112 now and then but I'd love to know what all he did with this 110 over the years:

I know the 110 is old since it has the square edges and brass pin but not sure when he would have bought it new.

 

[Mitchell Knives]

I enjoy saving knives that most likely would have been thrown away and putting them back into service.

I found this one at a thrift store last week for the princely sum of $1.



It had clearly seen better days. Someone obviously took a grinder to it, but no serious flaws otherwise.

I was intrigued by the stamp because it seems to part of their carbon steel line. I'm guessing it's from the 40s or 50s?



After a few minutes on the grinder, I ended up with this:

 

[holo07]

Like to hear this one’s story.