Lifetime knife, will pass down...

B

bradytx

Joined
Jul 9, 2013
Messages
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I think I'm ready to buy THE knife, for me. I want something I'll use daily for years on end and pass down to my 2 year old son one day. I'm debating between two, but open for suggestions.

Case Tony Bose Wilfred Lockback Hunter
Or
Hinderer XM-18 3.5 spearpoint or spanto

I know these two knives are abit at the opposite ends of the spectrum, but I really like both, and they are similar in terms of being lockable, and blade length.

One issue I've ran into, I'm a bit of a perfectionist, and it seems like finding a nice Case Wilfred Lockback hunter that doesn't have some dings or issues after setting on the shelf for a year is a bit like finding a needle in a haystack. I'm returning one due to sloppy bolster work, bolsters are completely uneven and shaped worse than a Case standard production knife.

In my eyes, you give me a perfect Case Wilfred Lockback Hunter vs a standard XM-18 and I'll take the Case, but finding a perfect old school, yet high end slipjoint/lockback not close to $1,000 is going to be rough. Most XM-18's seem to be uniform, and pretty good quality control.

Any thoughts, suggestions, etc?
 
bradytx said:
I think I'm ready to buy THE knife, for me. I want something I'll use daily for years on end and pass down to my 2 year old son one day. I'm debating between two, but open for suggestions.

Case Tony Bose Wilfred Lockback Hunter
Or
Hinderer XM-18 3.5 spearpoint or spanto

I know these two knives are abit at the opposite ends of the spectrum, but I really like both, and they are similar in terms of being lockable, and blade length.

One issue I've ran into, I'm a bit of a perfectionist, and it seems like finding a nice Case Wilfred Lockback hunter that doesn't have some dings or issues after setting on the shelf for a year is a bit like finding a needle in a haystack. I'm returning one due to sloppy bolster work, bolsters are completely uneven and shaped worse than a Case standard production knife.

In my eyes, you give me a perfect Case Wilfred Lockback Hunter vs a standard XM-18 and I'll take the Case, but finding a perfect old school, yet high end slipjoint/lockback not close to $1,000 is going to be rough. Most XM-18's seem to be uniform, and pretty good quality control.

Any thoughts, suggestions, etc?
Click to expand...

Check out the GEC #42, it looks very similar to the Case Wilfred.
 
bradytx said:
They are very nice, but was looking for new, and would prefer steel liners.
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Forgot it'll be hard to find a new one.
You could check the exchange but since you want steel liners I guess you need the case.

If you can inspect the knife for defects, then I wouldn't worry much about handling marks as it'll be full of them after a lifetime anyways.
 
Thought you ought to know that
Unless your son truly loves the designs,
It might have to boil down to
strong sentimental reasons
That he Might develop any possible interest
In your prepared heirlooms.
I imagine one might have to build up
A life time of fond knife usage memories
Somewhere within the context of a father and son relationship
It's really important to highlight the knife's actual usage
Through memories to really make that bond....
 
Really enjoy the replies everyone, I think I would carry either knife, and would be able to build those memories, both are designs that I love.

At this point, with the Case being discontinued I feel like I'll be sifting through a lot of returns, and taking a lot of trips to the local FedEx/USPS sending those returns back. The best I can hope for is finding an online retailer with a knife nut willing to inspect them for me, and check off my check list haha.
 
danbot said:
The most important thing is that it's a knife you will carry and use for years. Your child will have memories of you always having it and that is what creates the nostalgia and fond association towards you and the knife when it is handed down.
Click to expand...

Totally agree, it can be a super simple knife, as long there is a connection to it, that's what counts. YOU should like the knife first that creates the "My dad loved that knife" memory.
 
b00n said:
Totally agree, it can be a super simple knife, as long there is a connection to it, that's what counts. YOU should like the knife first that creates the "My dad loved that knife" memory.
Click to expand...

For sure, this will probably be the most expensive knife I ever buy, I'm only willing to spend the money because I know I'll carry it (love the designs). If I love it, I know I'll carry it, and memories will be made.
 
b00n said:
Totally agree, it can be a super simple knife, as long there is a connection to it, that's what counts. YOU should like the knife first that creates the "My dad loved that knife" memory.
Click to expand...
Totally agree too
 
When I was leaving for Basic Training my father reached into his pocket and pulled out a beat up, no name folder telling me to take it with me, instead of my new stockman. That was over 40 years ago. I still have that knife but my stockman is long gone.

Your son probably isn't going to care what brand or model the knife is, or how much it cost. He will care that it was yours and it will remind him of the times you spent together. That's what counts.

If I may suggest, get two knives. One for you and one for him. They don't have to be the same kind. Let him grow up knowing that you have a special knife for him when he is older. Have his name engraved on it. That makes it special. It's his. Less chance of him trading it for something else if his name is on it. Let him see it from time to time. Make that his first knife.

Then later, years down the road, pass your knife on to him. Chances are, it will mean even more to him than his first knife. Because, it was yours.
 
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For what it's worth, my daughter's favorite knife is an inexpensive Kershaw folder that we picked out together. She was 12 and needed a knife for a girls camp one summer. It's not costly but reminds her of our time together and her summer camp experiences.
 
I will second the CRK line. Imagine handing a Sebenza down to your kid with all the age and snail trails you’ve collected over the years and he can physically see the “memories”. Now imagine that say 10 years from now whenever you hand him the knife he will actually have the option to STILL send the knife back to CRK (beautiful warranty perhaps best in the business) to undergo a spa treatment and he will be able to start fresh with the same knife dad used and he can see/compare his snail trails through the years with yours.

To me, this is what I’m looking forward to with my own Sebenza and child
 
Really enjoying this everyone, and the CRK suggestions are well deserved. The Umnumzaan looks amazing, but the beauty below may be calling my name, now to find a dealer who can cherry pick one...
IMG_4861.jpg
 
The Case/Bose hunter will be a few hundred at least, I'm sure you know. At those prices you're approaching customs. Of course price is always a concern, but for a "lifetime" and/or "heirloom" knife, cost really shouldn't be as much of a problem. TA Davidson (Todd) was mentioned, and a knife from him would certainly fit the bill for a very reasonable price (usually $600 unless it's something exotic). He doesn't do lockbacks though. There's makers out there that do lockbacks, but usually the price is a bit higher than a comparable slipjoint. However, there's plenty custom makers that do liner or framelocks.

In my opinion the only reason (other than you really like the knife) to stick with a knife from a company like Case or Chris Reeve is because you're not just buying a knife to last a lifetime and be passed down, but you're also investing in the warranty from the company. A custom maker can make you something unique and truly personal, but any warranty will be limited by the span of the maker's career.
 
GIRLYmann said:
Thought you ought to know that
Unless your son truly loves the designs,
It might have to boil down to
strong sentimental reasons
That he Might develop any possible interest
In your prepared heirlooms.
I imagine one might have to build up
A life time of fond knife usage memories
Somewhere within the context of a father and son relationship
It's really important to highlight the knife's actual usage
Through memories to really make that bond....
Click to expand...
We're you trying to write a poem? Idk if it's the formatting (unnecessary line breaks) or the unnecessary capital letters but I find your post extremely hard to read... My mind tries to put a cadence to it but can't.
 
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