nostalgia

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rhettfcr

Joined
Oct 8, 2002
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Had my knives out, cleaning and sorting. One caught my eye and it was my old boy scout knife. I picked it up, handled it, opened the blades and reminissed a bit. Wow, 50 years old that knife is. Then another caught my eye. Gramps gave it to me many years ago. I believe it is a 2 blade muskrat with yellow compositon scales. Worn for sure but still a beauty. That got me thinking about the old days. Now, I do own several benchmades and spydercos and high end customs from a fine gentlemen in wyoming but there was still something about those old knives. I looked on the net and saw some fine replicas of the old ones and ordered seven just for nostalgia's sake. They will help me to remember when. I also have gramps sharpening stone which is a very fine grade. Worn for sure but still works.

rhett
 
I can relate.

I've spent a TON of money on Spyderco/BM/CRK/customs/etc., and just in the last couple of weeks, I've been bitten by the Schrade bug. I got to thinking about some of the Old Timer knives I used to see in displays at sporting goods stores when I was a teenager in the '70s, and it made me yearn for the good ol' days. I was too afraid to spend the money on 'em then (as if I actually had any money).

So today, it just so happens, I received in the mail my latest acquisitions: a Schrade Old Timer 8OT stockman and 25OT Folding Hunter (both '70s vintage, USA made).

I like 'em... :)
 
rhettfcr said:
Had my knives out, cleaning and sorting. One caught my eye and it was my old boy scout knife. I picked it up, handled it, opened the blades and reminissed a bit. Wow, 50 years old that knife is. Then another caught my eye. Gramps gave it to me many years ago. I believe it is a 2 blade muskrat with yellow compositon scales. Worn for sure but still a beauty. That got me thinking about the old days. Now, I do own several benchmades and spydercos and high end customs from a fine gentlemen in wyoming but there was still something about those old knives. I looked on the net and saw some fine replicas of the old ones and ordered seven just for nostalgia's sake. They will help me to remember when. I also have gramps sharpening stone which is a very fine grade. Worn for sure but still works.

rhett
Click to expand...

Yes, there WAS something about those old knives; they not only worked great as cutting tools, but they had class and soul as well. They had a beauty that got better with age. They had personality. Stag and bone gets a mellow patina with the years, as does plain carbon steel. The blades turned a nice medium grey, held a good edge, and were easy to sharpen. Only a modcom of care was needed to keep a knife in good shape.

They were the products of an age where people had pride of workmanship, and skilled cutlers hand set pins in Rogers jigged bone, Ivory, stag, and exotic tropical hardwoods like cocobolo, rosewood and ebony. Now you have screwed together black plasitic and bead blasted blades with zero charater. Much like todays society.

The old knives were reflective of a way of life that has vanished in America.
 
Just think 50 years from now our kids or grandkids will be holding our knives and reminisce. I think character can be put into any knife. I have a very worn and used spyderco Endura with an steel handle. Scratches all over it, been sharpened over and over, thumb hole shows some light yellow from opening over and over. My Queen mountain man in D2 looks similar but the blade is lightly patina'd.

I think my kids will cherish my well used knives just like I cherish my father and grandfathers. The history will shine through my things just as there's did.

And they will post on them at the forums of there choosing:p
 
jackknife said:
Yes, there WAS something about those old knives; they not only worked great as cutting tools, but they had class and soul as well. They had a beauty that got better with age. They had personality. Stag and bone gets a mellow patina with the years, as does plain carbon steel. The blades turned a nice medium grey, held a good edge, and were easy to sharpen. Only a modcom of care was needed to keep a knife in good shape.

They were the products of an age where people had pride of workmanship, and skilled cutlers hand set pins in Rogers jigged bone, Ivory, stag, and exotic tropical hardwoods like cocobolo, rosewood and ebony. Now you have screwed together black plasitic and bead blasted blades with zero charater. Much like todays society.

The old knives were reflective of a way of life that has vanished in America.
Click to expand...


Is it odd to love so many different styles of knives ? I really only turn my nose up at certain ethnic knives that just don't 'do it' for me.
I love G10 and titanium as much as I love jigged bone and nickle silver , same goes for carbon and modern stainless , love 'em both equally.

I do agree though that it is hard to match the character and personality of a well loved slipjoint.


rhettfcr - I too was fortunate enough to inherit my grandfathers knives and stones.


Tostig
 
i grew up with my dad and grandpa liking buck knives. stockmans and folding hunters.

i grew up owning sak's.

as i got older i started to buy flick open knives. but i still buy all 3 style of knives.

i enjoy all 3 knives.

i am 32 by the way. i think i grew up in a generation that was right in the middle of the oldtimer style knives and the newer tactical styled knives.
 
I have all types of knives in my collection, but for the most part carry these "nostalgic" knives. They actually cut better than the wider ones. :D. They are not as tough, do not take abuse well, but they do cut a heck of a lot better.
 
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