My Father's 70th Birthday

Which for my father's 70th birthday?

  • Spyderco Sage 2

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Benchmade Mini Grip 555-1

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
I like the look of the sage better, but remember that for your dad the benchmade axis lock might be easier to engage. My dad's hands shake and he doesn't like frame locks or slipjoints.
 
The Benchmade looks more like a knife.
While the leaf shaped blade of the sage is nice, the mini grip is more utility.
The opening hole alone is "modern".
hope this helps
 
abbazaba said:
My father turns 70 this month and I have been happily auditioning every knife I didn't already own between $50-$350. He is a very practical DIY engineer type that carrys a SAK Classic at all times, but never anything substantial. He certainly doesn't want any more bulk, but I'd really like to get him something that will be useful working on a project (he's currently replacing all the windows in his house), out in the woods dropping trees, or just out and about. Because of this, I was looking for something built for a lot of comfortable use, but also something classy enough to pull out at dinner, and discrete enough for him to actually carry (deep carry, light in pocket). Currently, his only option other than his SAK is a CRKT KISS that I gave him when I was a teen, or his fixed blade from Vietnam.

So its down to these two knives that both seem like "him" (I've been through them all, trust me):

Benchmade 555-1
Spyderco Sage 2
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abbazaba, I hat to be a wet blanket, but neither of these knives will really be appreciated by your dad.

At age 70 and carrying a SAK classic, he's got a lifetime of experience behind him and he's made his choice. Being an engineer, it sounds like he's a "right tool for the job" kind of guy, and he's not going to have much use for a knife in replacing windows. He'll have real tools on hand, and a folding knife is not much use in that. Either of the two knives you list will probably be put in the sock drawer and forgotten.

If you really want to buy him a knife, get him a Victorinox executive, as it's a upgrade from the classic he likes. Or a nice little Victorinox cadet with his initials engraved on the back panel. Keep it small and light, and keep it in line with what you've seen him carrying and using. Don't make the mistake of putting our obsession with knives on him, he probably won't appreciate it like a knife nut would. But it sounds like he's made a choice. As a senior citizen of your fathers generation, I probably am more like him that not. Your dad probably likes having the small scissors and screw driver tip on the nail file for small phillips screws.
 
I am sticking with a nice looking but utilitarian based custom fixed blade.

Take a look in Here, find someone's work that cates your eye and see if you could have a piece commissioned for him.
Or take a look in the exchange, Here for knives already completed and ready to ship.
 
I vote sage way classier, clip carries nicer, and the thinner scales feel wayyy better in the pocket while not being uncomfortable in the hand.
 
I think jackknife is onto something. At your father's age he knows what he wants and by carrying a Vic Classic has chosen small and practical. That should give you a clue. If he wanted to be carrying the knives you are considering he'd already be doing so (assuming he can afford them and I'm assuming he can.)

I made a similar mistake in choosing a knife for my dad. He always carried a very small two-blade pen knife. When he lost it I got him a knife to replace it. It was a very nice wood-scaled knife somewhat larger than his lost pen knife but not large by any means. He never carried it because it was larger and heavier than he wanted. The mistake I made was substituting my taste in knives for his. He passed twenty years ago and to this day I regret my failure to get him what he wanted.

Good luck with your decision. :)
 
That is a very good observation: old dogs and new tricks sort of thing...

If he's a SAK classic kind of guy, idk, Maybe upgrade him to a classier looking Sterling or Ingot SAK classic?
Or an evowood 81?

Or maybe something a bit more versatile like an evowood 18 or s557? Something a bit bigger then a classic, with a few extra bells and whistles an engineer is sure to find use of.

Maybe a matching pair; evowood 81 to replace his classic, and a full sized locking blade, rangerwood 51 to compliment it?
 
My dad was also much like yours carrying cheap very small folder and I bought him a stainless steel dragonfly which he loves. He raves about how well the steel takes an edge and how slices. Still doesn't use a pocket clip but sometimes he uses it as a money clip
 
Wardo46 said:
I think jackknife is onto something. At your father's age he knows what he wants and by carrying a Vic Classic has chosen small and practical. That should give you a clue. If he wanted to be carrying the knives you are considering he'd already be doing so (assuming he can afford them and I'm assuming he can.)

I made a similar mistake in choosing a knife for my dad. He always carried a very small two-blade pen knife. When he lost it I got him a knife to replace it. It was a very nice wood-scaled knife somewhat larger than his lost pen knife but not large by any means. He never carried it because it was larger and heavier than he wanted. The mistake I made was substituting my taste in knives for his. He passed twenty years ago and to this day I regret my failure to get him what he wanted.

Good luck with your decision. :)
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TRhank you, Wardo, you put it much better than I did. I only now this from my experience that was much like your. I too gave my father a knife that that I thought was a better knife, but when dad passed away many years later, the knife I gave him was still sitting in his drawer unused. I too had substituted my taste in knives for his, and got him something he never used. He liked his pocket knife, and that was his choice. I was young enough and dumb knife nut enough I didn't understand that dad was an older adult that had made his choices in life as to what he liked.
 
jackknife said:
TRhank you, Wardo, you put it much better than I did. I only now this from my experience that was much like your. I too gave my father a knife that that I thought was a better knife, but when dad passed away many years later, the knife I gave him was still sitting in his drawer unused. I too had substituted my taste in knives for his, and got him something he never used. He liked his pocket knife, and that was his choice. I was young enough and dumb knife nut enough I didn't understand that dad was an older adult that had made his choices in life as to what he liked.
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You put it very well, jackknife. :thumbup:

I should also point out that I didn't consciously think, "I know better than my dad what's best for him." My intentions were good but I just didn't stop to think that he has a lifetime of experience behind him and knows what he likes and wants so who am I to choose something else for him. As I said, even though he's been gone for twenty years when I think about it I still wish I had gotten him a knife that made him happy.

There is one other point that might be worth considering. We're all knife knuts and can't imagine someone not wanting another knife. But if your dad isn't a knife knut, his Vic Classic may be all the knife he needs or cares about having. Perhaps it would be worth having a conversation with him to find out exactly what he'd like for his birthday (it might not even be a knife :eek:). It may spoil the surprise but at least he'll be getting something he really wants. Having foolishly expressed this heresy, I'll just shut up now and wait to be banned from the forum. :D
 
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Benchmade. This from a guy who owns quite a few more Spydercos than BMs....
 
Well I never thought it would end up in a tie! (As of right now each have exactly 28 votes a piece.) Based on the comments, I think the Mini Grip is going to be perfect for him. Also, I recently saw his fellow engineer friend that gifted me my first "real" knife two decades ago, and he was carrying a standard Mini Grip. As much as I love the Sage, I think the grip will see more use. Thank you everyone for your comments!
 
I would prefer the spyderco my self but with a Taiwan stamp sent to a vet he would prob burn it ;).
 
I would go with the mini grip, also have you considered the North fork folder. It reminds me of my mini grip, but has S30V and wood handles. I know my dad (who is 73) is a sucker for wood.
 
There's something else that might or might not be an important consideration in choosing a knife for your dad.

Does your dad have arthritis in his hands? I'm 69 also and have a fair amount of osteoarthritis in my hands which makes it difficult to open some one-hand opener knives, particularly smaller knives. It's also uncomfortable to hold onto smaller knives because I have to close my hand more. Osteoarthritis (the kind you get just from age and use) is common in us older folk. Hopefully your dad doesn't have it but it's something else to think about.

Getting old sucks and ain't for sissies. :grumpy:
 
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I voted for Sage. I just imagined what would have liked my father. MiniGrip is are great knife, but Sage is so much more simple, and every engineer knows that "the simpler the better".
 
I'm a seasoned citizen also .Two of mine I could recommend are a custom wharncliffe neck knife and a 3.5" Survive!Knife
 
jaypowell0185 said:
I would go with the mini grip, also have you considered the North fork folder. It reminds me of my mini grip, but has S30V and wood handles. I know my dad (who is 73) is a sucker for wood.
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North Fork is a great suggestion. The recurve turned me off, but he probably wouldnt care.
 
Can't just leave this thread hanging now can we? :p

So abbazaba, what did you decide on and how did your dad like it? Has he been converted to a knife nut? ;)
 
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