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- Nov 20, 2005
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I bought my first knife in the 2nd grade with my allowance. Probably got my second Imperial in the 3rd grade as I needed something bigger to fit my hands. Dad always carried a slip joint (Case, Buck, or Schrade). So, basically I started with $1.00 slip joints. Moved to a Case Barlow a few years later, guessing around 10 years old. Bought that one myself too with my allowance. I continued to carry that knife until around college time when I replaced Case Barlow with jack knife. The Barlow was worn out with the main blade worn to a thin nub. That one lasted me for about 10 years when I my future brother in law turned me on to Randalls. I thought they were outrageously expensive, but typified my vision of what a fixed blade should be.
Never owned a fixed blade before that. No matter what anyone says, you really don't need a fixed blade for hunting chores, but is more useful than a folder for skinning.
The fixed blade thing hit about the Rambo movie period and I needed a survival knife to be like Rambo. Never bought one of the actual Rambo models although they always appealed to me. I would see them at nearly every table that sold knives at gun shows. So, with gun and knife show exposure to knives, I picked up Randalls, an EK bowie, and my first handmade knife. That has continued until today although I don't attend many gun shows any more. I used to attend at least once a month for about a 10 year period.
There have been dagger purchases mostly at shows and switch blades. But I could never see myself ever fighting with a knife and I saw little purpose with them other than for that. They were also illegal to carry in most states at that time.
The first handmade knife came to me as a trade for a Mossberg Chuckster (22 mag) rifle. Only shot that rifle once (a couple magazines) and decided a 22 mag made little sense for me at that time. I had always yearned for one seeing them in the Mossberg catalog; so I fulfilled that dream. Had little use for a varmint gun after college and moving away from the home place when I hunted woodchucks all summer long relentlessly. But the memory was still fresh in my mind, so I got the rifle at a show. Back then, a firearm had to make practical sense for me to keep it and the buying and selling at gun shows certainly affected my thinking about guns. The Remington 541-S (22LR) was another dream that I fulfilled via gun shows. Always thought they were too expensive for me when I was younger.
Another milestone in my life was buying my first Victorinox SAK (Tinker) before starting a job out of the country. Wanted something more versatile than a regular folding knife. I was right and depended heavily on that knife daily. That started my carrying of a SAK which has continued for 30 years. Always thought they were "toy knives" for kids prior to that.
Added: I like both modern and traditional knives. I tend to lust after traditional knives more than moderns. I just think they are really cool and practical. Most moderns are "just knives" to me. Starting to dial down my fixed blade purchases as I simply seldom use one.... for me, I was basically correct in my thinking even as a kid.
Never owned a fixed blade before that. No matter what anyone says, you really don't need a fixed blade for hunting chores, but is more useful than a folder for skinning.
The fixed blade thing hit about the Rambo movie period and I needed a survival knife to be like Rambo. Never bought one of the actual Rambo models although they always appealed to me. I would see them at nearly every table that sold knives at gun shows. So, with gun and knife show exposure to knives, I picked up Randalls, an EK bowie, and my first handmade knife. That has continued until today although I don't attend many gun shows any more. I used to attend at least once a month for about a 10 year period.
There have been dagger purchases mostly at shows and switch blades. But I could never see myself ever fighting with a knife and I saw little purpose with them other than for that. They were also illegal to carry in most states at that time.
The first handmade knife came to me as a trade for a Mossberg Chuckster (22 mag) rifle. Only shot that rifle once (a couple magazines) and decided a 22 mag made little sense for me at that time. I had always yearned for one seeing them in the Mossberg catalog; so I fulfilled that dream. Had little use for a varmint gun after college and moving away from the home place when I hunted woodchucks all summer long relentlessly. But the memory was still fresh in my mind, so I got the rifle at a show. Back then, a firearm had to make practical sense for me to keep it and the buying and selling at gun shows certainly affected my thinking about guns. The Remington 541-S (22LR) was another dream that I fulfilled via gun shows. Always thought they were too expensive for me when I was younger.
Another milestone in my life was buying my first Victorinox SAK (Tinker) before starting a job out of the country. Wanted something more versatile than a regular folding knife. I was right and depended heavily on that knife daily. That started my carrying of a SAK which has continued for 30 years. Always thought they were "toy knives" for kids prior to that.
Added: I like both modern and traditional knives. I tend to lust after traditional knives more than moderns. I just think they are really cool and practical. Most moderns are "just knives" to me. Starting to dial down my fixed blade purchases as I simply seldom use one.... for me, I was basically correct in my thinking even as a kid.
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And, to be honest? I have NO idea why I love them, I just do.
it made a great pry tool as well! Then one day our company was taken over by an armored - car company. While walking through the compound, one of the 'higher ups' didn't like the look of the 6 inch fixed blade on my duty belt. From then on, all fixed blades were banned and they started to give us uniforms. From there the hunt was on for a new folder. I ended up getting into Smith & Wesson folding knives, but wasn't happy with how they would lose their edge so fast. I ended up leaving that company and started working as an operator for another security company. During this time I went through numerous S&W's, but for $20 I didn't care. I suffered with them for about 7 years until I came home and started working armored car again (but in an office). Took a little hiatus from finding a new knife as my $20 S&W was fine for the office. Then one of my buddies invited me out for a camping trip. I had everything packed and it hit me, I need a new knife for this trip! I started researching a better fixed blade. Ended up finding the Ka Bar BK2 and this website! I didn't end up buying it right away, but my parents surprised me with one for Christmas. 
Sorry. How I missed the nail nick I don't know.
In fact, I never worried about the knives I carried anywhere the Navy sent me. I'd look up the state-in-question's GUN laws, but just carried my Texas legal knives all the time. Totally clueless.....
