Papaw's 86th Birthday & his knife

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bennyG19

Joined
Sep 22, 2007
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Today was my papaw's 86th birthday. I managed to get his knife away from him for a quick photo op and to get some of the crud out of it. He has always had a small slipjoint knife similar to this one. He had the same one everyday for about 20 years but lost it a few years back and went to this one. Happy Birthday to one of my favorite people ever, and about as old school as it gets.

He told me when I was about 12 to never trust any man that doesn't have a pocketknife!!

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May he have another 86 ahead of him. Today is my late mother in law's birthday.

She was old school too (in her own way). Mountain girl from Italy.

Thanks for sharing the image of the knife and the man. :thumbup:
 
I may not have met him in my adventures in Tenn. but it sounds like I met a half dozen like him....Best...

300Bucks
 
That's a well used knife. Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life. Congrats on making to 86, not a easy thing to do. BennyG, maybe you could replace your paw's knife with the gift of a new one. That knife is exactly a Case Medium Jack. There are some pretty nice handle materials for it.

God Bless
 
I thought about giving him a new knife but he wouldn't use it. He grew up in the depression and won't use another knife until that one breaks or he loses it. If we buy him clothes he hangs them in the closet with the tags and never wears them. The gift of choice for the past 10 years has always been Beech-Nut and/or scratch off lotto tix.

I might offer him a Case Pen or an Old Timer and see if he'll take it. That old Imperial he has is about the same size as them, smaller than my Case Small Texas Jack.
 
kidwholaughs said:
Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.
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Oh, I do love the way you think. :)

Love the knife and the story, and especially the statement about not trusting anyone who doesn't carry a knife.

Thanks for sharing.
 
Congrats to your papaw on his 86th birthday and thanks for the picture of the great knife/:)
 
Many happy returns to the gent.
 
bennyG19 said:
I might offer him a Case Pen or an Old Timer and see if he'll take it. That old Imperial he has is about the same size as them, smaller than my Case Small Texas Jack.
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That Texas jack is a fine user. It would be my first choice. The knife that resembles your dad's the most is this baby here.
God Bless

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Big congrats on you papaws 86th birthday.

Benny, I'd go easy on pushing another knife on him. He's walked this earth for 86 years, and has developed some very definate ideas of what works for him. Like the clothes hanging in his closet with the tags still on them; they probably are not what he has worn for the past couple of decades. I knew one old timer that would only wear Big Smith overalls. Don't even try to get him to wear Oshcosh or Carhart. Something, maybe the pocket layout or fit, made him not want any other brand.

Kind of like knives. It looks like the main blade of that little imperial has seen a lot of use. Maybe the Imperial brand has some meaning to him that you don't know about. Or that particular knife means something, and he won't replace it till he absolutly has to. Or maybe even it's a soft opening knife without great walk and talk that he can open easy. Of late I've become very aware of that issue.

Old timers have some very distinct notions.

Maybe look over E-bay and find another Imperial like that one. Better still, talk to him about it, and ask him what he wants, and give him a choice.

Maybe he does not want anymore material possesions. I know for the last several years, I've told family NOT to buy me anything for bithdays or Christmas's exept for consumables, like Even Williams whiskey, pipe tobacco, or ammo. Material things mean less the older we get.

Talk to him about the issue, and ask him if he had a choice, what does HE think are important qualities in a knife to carry. :thumbup:
 
Great thread. Reminds me of my Grampa. He passed away 5 years ago, the day before his 93rd B-day....

When he died, my Grama asked me if I wanted his pocket knives ?
She gave me a bag that had a few vintage Schrades-Waldens and one Old Timer.
In a box was a brand new Old Timer that I gave him for X-mas when I was about 12 years old.
I guess he was the same way. The others still worked fine, so no need to use the new one.

He was the same way with his clothes. I had to laugh one time. He had a pair of new shoes he had bought 18 years prior, and he still had the receipt and decided he would take them back and get a reund :D

The store actually did it
 
kidwholaughs said:
Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.
Click to expand...

Prov. 16:31 - very appropriate. :thumbup:

We can all hope to reach that age. Makes me wonder what I'll have in my pocket when (if) I get there. Probably a traditional slipjoint, definitely carbon steel. ;)

Great thread, pics, and knife, too. Those old foil handled Imperials have a certain appeal to them - when the old plastic foil is gone, they're pretty much indestructible. I find them occasionally here at garage sales and thrift stores, looking not too different from your grandfathers'. I've bought my share of them.

thx - cpr
 
Nice telling about your grandfather.
I hope he can have the long and helthy life my grandfather have. Hes now 97 years old and hasnt changet wery much last ten years. When he was 85 he couldnt live alone on his farm anymore and moved to an appartment in a small village. Up till 85 he always carried a Mora sheatknife but as he moved he asked me about a slipjoint pocketknife as he knew I had that interest and was able to find one for him. (no folders in the stores around where he lives) I gave him 2, a EKA swede 311 and a EKA Swede 38 wood. He still uses the 2 of them but likes the 38 better as he is stiff in his fingers and that one can be pinched open. Its not about strength as he is still very strong in his hands. When you shake hand with him its good to be prepared as he has a very firm grip. But he dont want to struggle with the nailnick. He sometimes show them to my sons and I recon we all know that the knifes some day will be theirs. He wants me to sharpen them for him, I know he sharpens as good as me but this is one of the things we do this way as it feels good for us bouth.
I dont think it would be possible to give him a new knife that he would actually use.

Bosse
 
Like me you have a good'un there:thumbup:! Don't take him for granted and injoy every second with him!
 
NirreBosse said:
Nice telling about your grandfather.
I hope he can have the long and helthy life my grandfather have. Hes now 97 years old and hasnt changet wery much last ten years. When he was 85 he couldnt live alone on his farm anymore and moved to an appartment in a small village. Up till 85 he always carried a Mora sheatknife but as he moved he asked me about a slipjoint pocketknife as he knew I had that interest and was able to find one for him. (no folders in the stores around where he lives)
Bosse
Click to expand...

Bosse,

GEC makes some EZ open jacks. It may be good for your grand father. Be the way, ask him for me, what is the secret to living that long?:thumbup: I am very impressed.

God Bless
 
I already know what he answers. Dont stress, sleep enough, work outside, dont drink alkohol or use tobacco, Dont eat to much, He always has been smal in his eating, just eating for hunger and never for the good taste.
Me also belive that he has some good genes, His own father got 97 and non of his 5 brothers died younger than 85 and some of them werent as helthy as my grandfather with their liferules. His 2 sisters and mother died within 2 weeks from the great pandemi that we here call the spannish flu. He was 7 years old when it happened and that have given great impakt on who he become, but not in the sence of desperation but more as a great thankfulness of the life one dont can take for granted. He also survived canser in his throat in 1959, with was a small wonder at the time.
I dont think I bother with a new knife for him, he was thankful about the two first ones I gave him but a new GEC would must sertainly go into the sockdrawer.

Bosse
 
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