If You Love Something...

[Cory Hess]

Last summer my dad dug out his old Schrade 8OT that had been neglected for decades. I cleaned it up for him and he carried it for a little while.

Long story short, he decided that he didn't like the patina'd look his knife needed to keep from rusting during his daily carry. I had won a Queen utility knife with zebrawood handles from Parke1 in a giveaway here on the forums. (Thank you very much, Dan.) I loved the knife but it didn't get much use and since my dad really just needed one sharp blade I offered it to him. He has carried that knife every day for the last six months or so.

A couple of weeks ago he was over and I was showing him a new knife I had received and he pulled out that #11 utility knife. I was floored with how nice that knife had become with a little bit of carry on it. The zebrawood had lost it's shiny, plastic like, sealed finish and has broken in beautifully.

The D2 is just starting to show some signs of patina. It's held an edge well enough that he hasn't yet asked me to sharpen it. Granted, as a retiree that's living in an apartment he doesn't have too much need for cutting on a daily basis, but still six months is pretty impressive.

As I held the knife I realized that I really wanted one just like it. I'm happy that he's got it and is enjoying carrying it. I know that I'll get it back some day, and it will be all the more special because of it's time with him. I'm not saying that I regret giving it to him. I'm just saying that I'm a little jealous of his knife. I figured that it was just me until last week Half/Stop posted about a knife that he had given to his father and had always missed. Now I'm thinking that maybe this isn't such an isolated incident.

Does anybody else have a story about a knife that they gifted or sold that they came to realize that they missed? Again, not regretting gifting it, but maybe just coming to a better appreciation for the knife once it left your possession.


Here's a picture of my dad's Queen #11 that I took this last week while we spent the afternoon together:

 

[KBA]

I miss all of them

All kidding aside
Like you I don't regret selling/giving them, but I missed both of my 81s that I sold. Im thankful that I was given one of those back. Thanks again Josh

There's a couple SFOs that come to mind, but Im at peace. Really, I am.... Or, maybe I am still in stage two (denial) in my mourning process.

 

[Half/Stop]

Cory, I always missed that Case that I gave my Dad! Now, I have it back and I miss my Dad more and more as time passes. Visit that Queen and your Dad every chance you get my friend

 

[black mamba]

It seems a little odd, but when I've sold knives without needing to, for financial reasons, I've never regretted it. But just within the last year or so both my wife and I were out of work for quite a spell, and I had to sell some knives to raise money to live on. Some of those I regret. I mean, I really had to sell some, no choice really, but those I regret. We're both working now, crisis over, but some of the ones I let go are gonna be very hard if not impossible to replace. Oh well, they're just knives . . . .

 

[pertinux]

Interesting reflections, Cory.

Of the knives I've given away, I've been fortunate to appreciate them even more through the vicarious enjoyment of those who have received them, rather than hankering after another one for myself.

Although I confess to requesting to occasionally coon eye and chicken finger those that have remained relatively local.

[The only knife I regret is one I sold that was discombobulated and repurposed after I sold it; I would rather have kept the knife, or given it to someone who actually wanted it. But who knew?]

That said, every knife is an education, an opportunity to learn about cutlery and oneself.

It sounds like your education has taken an unexpected but welcome turn.

~ P.

 

[Rockon75]

Cory, I wouldn't say that I've experienced "giver's-remorse".

I did have a situation identical to the one you describe though. Every year the Rockwell's meet around the 4th of July on a lake in western Maryland (Deep Creek Lake). A cousin offers up his cottage as the destination. Two summers ago, I decided that annually I would have a lottery for all attendees for a knife for two. The first year, I gave away a Queen pen knife as the second prize and an Amber Cut Stag Bone Queen Gunstock as the main prize. This year I gave away a Winchester coffin jack and a Winchester reverse dogleg jack. I try to provide a little history on the pattern or brand before the drawings and everyone seems to be appreciative.

It was the first year's gunstock that drew me into the situation that you cited. I had obtained the NOS knife for a price in the mid $30's and upon getting home, I started looking into this pattern. I'm now a sucker for it. I've tried to collect as many variants as possible. Some I do carry and others I just admire. I've picked up Northwoods varieties, Tuna Valley, a GEC # 76, Canal Street, Rigid & of course Queen/S&Ms. I realize that some are SFO's of the QCC and CSC factories. I've never taken a group shot, and I'll try to do so and edit it back in.

So, a giveaway at a family gathering ended up peaking my interest and is currently my most sought after pattern. It doesn't hurt that these knives can be had at a great value.

The giveaway knife was an ACBS Queen Gunstock, I now collect Gunstocks, and for some reason the exact knife that originally peaked my interest is not in my set. Ironic I'd say!!!!

 

[Will Power]

Nice reflections Cory, the Queen Utility is certainly a great pattern, very nice examples in Amber Bone too, maybe you should try and get one of them?

Jeff, it was painful to hear you had to sell off some of your cherished knives due to hard-times. Wish I could've bought them and sold them back to you, losing parts of a long established collection is harsh as many knives are none too easy to find.

I've given a few knives away here on GAWS (really disappointing that it appears that GAWs here may become a thing of the past due to Forum regulations concentrating them all in one place and limiting applicants) and sent some to members too, none regretted just hope they're still liked and find use.:thumbup:

Thanks, Will

 

[Cory Hess]

Like you I don't regret selling/giving them, but I missed both of my 81s that I sold. Im thankful that I was given one of those back. Thanks again Josh

I'm still blown away by that gesture. It will probably stick with me for some time as an example of the spirit of this forum.

Cory, I always missed that Case that I gave my Dad! Now, I have it back and I miss my Dad more and more as time passes. Visit that Queen and your Dad every chance you get my friend

Point taken. Knives are a very small part of a very large picture. I pray that I'm envious of that knife for years to come. We actually moved back to my home town about eight years ago to be closer to my parents. We now live about 2 or 3 miles from them. It was about 6 months after our oldest was born, and we decided that our kids growing up close to family was more important than anything else we had going on. I feel very blessed to see my parents so often. I'm sorry for your loss.

I had to sell some knives to raise money to live on.

We've definitely been in our share of tough spots. If anything it's awesome that you had those knives to cushion those hard times. Glad to hear that things are back on track for your family.

Of the knives I've given away, I've been fortunate to appreciate them even more through the vicarious enjoyment of those who have received them, rather than hankering after another one for myself.

It sounds like your education has taken an unexpected but welcome turn.

You probably came closer to the truth in this matter than I have. You have a gift for words that escapes me. I don't know that I'd use a new one any more than the original if I did get one. I'd probably end up giving it away again. I do really enjoy the fact that my dad is carrying that knife and imbuing it with history that will be passed down to my kids some day. More so than any enjoyment I could possibly get out of using it myself.

So, a giveaway at a family gathering ended up peaking my interest and is currently my most sought after pattern. I now collect Gunstocks, and for some reason the exact knife that originally peaked my interest is not in my set. Ironic I'd say!!!!

Thanks for sharing, Rockon. Sounds like you have the same exact feelings I do. Not regret over gifting the knife, but a newfound respect for the knife that was given.

really disappointing that it appears that GAWs here may become a thing of the past due to Forum regulations concentrating them all in one place and limiting applicants

I'm very upset about this new development myself. I am waiting to hear back from the mods before I give up hope. The generosity displayed by the members here is a big part of what makes this place what it is and it would be a shame to lose that. I know of several members, myself included, that didn't fully feel like one of the gang until we'd been gifted a knife. It's a traditionals tradition if you will, and we are a sentimental bunch by nature.

 

[Cory Hess]

I was going back and reminiscing on some of my old threads, and this one made me smile. As luck would have it, my dad just handed me this knife on Friday and asked me to clean it up and sharpen it for him. As soon as he did I thought “Man, this is a great knife.” I’m still hoping that I have many years of coveting it ahead of me. I have enjoyed watching him show it off with pride on several occasions when somebody asked about it. Here it is today, all oiled and sharpened.

 

[Un-Chained]

That’s just awesome !!

 

[Mongo]

I gifted a Camillus stockman to a friend of mine. I wish I had that one back. I have no idea if he's even using it. I also discovered a knife that I had gifted my hunting buddy with some time ago... I was turkey hunting with him this past weekend and I saw it at his cabin. It looked well loved AND used! I felt really good about that one. He said it was his favorite small game FB.

 

[davek14]

Of the knives I've given away, I've been fortunate to appreciate them even more through the vicarious enjoyment of those who have received them, rather than hankering after another one for myself.

Although I confess to requesting to occasionally coon eye and chicken finger those that have remained relatively local.


~ P.

That is me exactly. When I have given a knife to a friend locally and see them use it. I often have to pick it up and play with it for a bit.
I then have to explain to them that seeing a knife I have gifted used and appreciated is my best reward so they don't think I regret the gift.

The only knives I have regretted giving were ones I saw abused, broken, or tossed into a drawer.

 

[btb01]

I was going back and reminiscing on some of my old threads, and this one made me smile. As luck would have it, my dad just handed me this knife on Friday and asked me to clean it up and sharpen it for him. As soon as he did I thought “Man, this is a great knife.” I’m still hoping that I have many years of coveting it ahead of me. I have enjoyed watching him show it off with pride on several occasions when somebody asked about it. Here it is today, all oiled and sharpened.

That’s a handsome knife, and an even better story, Cory! I’m happy to hear your dad’s still enjoying the knife. I lost my dad close to 15 years ago, and my interest in traditional knives (which I only rediscovered maybe 6 or 7 years ago) is one of the many things I wish I could share with him.

I’ll also say that it’s always nice (if a bit bittersweet) to see an old thread pop up and get to see a few familiar “faces” we haven’t seen in a while. I hope KBA and pertinux are doing well, and I certainly miss my friend Half/Stop .

 

[glennbad]

It's no secret that I love Schrade knives. I collected many of the pre-2004 models before they got "popular" again. I always enjoyed talking knives with my dad, and one particular day, I brought out my Schrade knife roll and asked him to take whatever he wanted. He selected a couple, but he really liked this SW760. It didn't look like this at the time he took it. Sadly, over the years he owned it, it started outgassing.






I noticed this one day while I was visiting, so I took it back to recover it. I ended up doing this, which he loved (although I think he liked the cell better, so did I). I really liked how it turned out, and it was kinda tough giving it back, but it was his after all.







My dad passed back in 2018. I kept of few things of his that were important to me. This knife was one of them. I carry it on special days, and it reminds me of him. I really liked the knife, both versions of it, and it kind of sucked getting it back under the circumstances. However, as much as I miss him, he is at peace, so I am at peace.

 

[glennbad]

I was going back and reminiscing on some of my old threads, and this one made me smile. As luck would have it, my dad just handed me this knife on Friday and asked me to clean it up and sharpen it for him. As soon as he did I thought “Man, this is a great knife.” I’m still hoping that I have many years of coveting it ahead of me. I have enjoyed watching him show it off with pride on several occasions when somebody asked about it. Here it is today, all oiled and sharpened.

It's nice to see the knife has been used and well cared for. Enjoy your dad and the connection you have with him over knives.