The Christmas Knife

[Old Hunter]

Thought about a thread on Knives you may have received for Christmas over past years - what’s your story? When I was somewhere around 12 my brother Mike (two years younger) and I received sheath knives from our parents for Christmas. I cannot remember if this was in 1967 or 1968. We made our annual family Christmas shopping trip to Rocky Mount NC - Tarrytown Mall was the only mall east of Raleigh in those days and it attracted shoppers from all over eastern NC. We were in a big department store, it may have been Montgomery Wards, when my Dad asked me and Mike to look at the knife case with him. He asked us which ones we liked the best and we each told him our picks; on Christmas morning I received this Western Black Beauty. The original Western sheath is long gone, I carried it in a leather craft sheath I made at Scout camp in the summer of 1969 until I found this black one several years ago. Mike received a stag handled fixed blade that he had chosen, a Bird & Trout if my memory serves. Mike passed away over five years ago, so I have no idea what ever became of his knife - I hope one of his daughters has it. Whenever I look at my knife it brings back those old memories - good ones for me. Merry Christmas! OH

 

[screened porch]

This is the only one that comes to mind, from just a couple years ago.

 

[leghog]

Couple of years ago I bought a Case 640055R scout pattern from 1984 at a gun show a few weeks before Christmas. That evening my wife took it from me. Found it in my stocking on Christmas morning. As far as I know that's the only time I was ever given a knife as a Christmas gift.

 

[315]

Unfortunately I don’t have a Christmas knife story But I have something coming in the mail so perhaps I could have one of my daughters wrap the package for me when it arrives

Old Hunter I love that Old Western. I’m guessing it’s skinned a few animals and helped with a few chores in Scouts.

 

[black mamba]

Great story, B., that Black Beauty is one of my favorite patterns, ever. I get a Christmas knife from Santa in my stocking almost every year, this being the most recent. The one thing my wife likes about my knife knuttyness is that she knows what to get me for gifts!

White Christmas Evolution

 

[screened porch]

How could I forget the 1970 church knife I got for Christmas?

 

[Old Hunter]

Old Hunter I love that Old Western. I’m guessing it’s skinned a few animals and helped with a few chores in Scouts.

Thanks, it has; I had a good deer skinning picture with it from several years ago, but it’s on my defunct photo hosting website (Hunt101). I’ve learned not to trust photo hosting sites!

 

[DelOro]

At first this might seem like a sad story, but it's actually an uplifting story.

I'll keep it short...

From the summer of 1963 to the summer of 1966 I spent a bunch of time with my Grandfather (on my Dad's side).

He would pick me up once or twice a week, and for 3 or 4 hours he would tell me stories, buy milkshakes at Dairy Queen and then we would goof around in a hardware store, go to the park, and back home so my Mom could make lunch.

He would always say "Don't tell your Grandmother" because he wasn't supposed to have milkshakes or fried egg sandwiches.

Later that summer we moved across country to the land of Gila Monsters, Rattlesnakes and Dry Heat because of my Dad's job.

Christmas of 1967 my Grandparents (drove from Atlanta) and knocked on our door!

A couple day's later my Grandpa and I went to the drug store soda fountain and to the hardware store.

He said "Okay Boy, pick one out." He bought me a Case pocket knife for Christmas!

I don't come from a gift buying family. I come from a "if you can't eat it, you don't need it" or "if you want that, you find a way to earn the money and buy it yourself" kind of family.

When I turned 18, my Mom & Dad broke all the dinner plates (except for 2).

Really a Bagpipes, Kilts and Head Butting kind of people!

So naturally a simple pocket knife meant and means the world to me to this very day.

In October of 1979 my Dad and I flew to Atlanta.

My Grandfather passed 24 October 1979.

He was buried with full military honors, his pocket watch, his purple hearts, his wedding ring and that pocket knife.

This knife is the closest to that knife.

I carry it with pride and incredible memories of my Grandfather.

- Del

 

[Cvrobinson]

Thank you for the memories Old Hunter
Had not thought of this knife or the Christmas when received it for a long time.
The pic of your Western brought back fond memories of my receiving my Western Christmas morning many many years ago.

 

[tongueriver]

delete

 

[sXePhenomenal]

Back in 2009 for Christmas my grandma and dad got me a Buck 110. Ofc it being close to Christmas they were out everywhere so my dad went to a lot of places trying to find one he eventually did and they surprised me with it. Very fond memory. Skinned a deer or two with and carried it many times in to the woods.

 

[Prester John]

At first this might seem like a sad story, but it's actually an uplifting story.

I'll keep it short...

From the summer of 1963 to the summer of 1966 I spent a bunch of time with my Grandfather (on my Dad's side).

He would pick me up once or twice a week, and for 3 or 4 hours he would tell me stories, buy milkshakes at Dairy Queen and then we would goof around in a hardware store, go to the park, and back home so my Mom could make lunch.

He would always say "Don't tell your Grandmother" because he wasn't supposed to have milkshakes or fried egg sandwiches.

Later that summer we moved across country to the land of Gila Monsters, Rattlesnakes and Dry Heat because of my Dad's job.

Christmas of 1967 my Grandparents (drove from Atlanta) and knocked on our door!

A couple day's later my Grandpa and I went to the drug store soda fountain and to the hardware store.

He said "Okay Boy, pick one out." He bought me a Case pocket knife for Christmas!

I don't come from a gift buying family. I come from a "if you can't eat it, you don't need it" or "if you want that, you find a way to earn the money and buy it yourself" kind of family.

When I turned 18, my Mom & Dad broke all the dinner plates (except for 2).

Really a Bagpipes, Kilts and Head Butting kind of people!

So naturally a simple pocket knife meant and means the world to me to this very day.

In October of 1979 my Dad and I flew to Atlanta.

My Grandfather passed 24 October 1979.

He was buried with full military honors, his pocket watch, his purple hearts, his wedding ring and that pocket knife.

This knife is the closest to that knife.

I carry it with pride and incredible memories of my Grandfather.

- Del

Great story.

 

[DelOro]

Great story.

Thanks Vince.

- Del

 

[JB in SC]

DelOro

What a nice story, thanks for sharing that one. One Christmas in the early 60's, my Dad gave me a Case Finn (the little 3" one). I used that little knife for squirrels and rabbits until the 70's when I started bowhunting and began carrying a Gerber Folding Sportsman.

He was the oldest of nine, graduated from high school in 1927. He told me years ago, (passed away in '98) that the best Christmas he remembered as a kid was the year he got a pocketknife and a couple of oranges.

 

[r redden]

I can kind of relate to DelOro not being from a gift giving family but for me the kids grand-kids and ex always seemed to fair well in the present receiving arena but I always just received the kind of presents that were bought as an after thought and didn't mean much like a pack of socks.
Last year however my oldest daughter bought me this Case Trapper.

This year she knew I was on the hunt for a 494 Boker Barlow but did not know I had found one. so last week she just couldn't stand it brought this one she had found and bought me but she did seem a bit disappointed I had already found one.

However I was not disappointed in the least as now I own two of those hard to find little boogers.

 

[Fodderwing]

He told me years ago, (passed away in '98) that the best Christmas he remembered as a kid was the year he got a pocketknife and a couple of oranges.

I really like this. Thanks for sharing it.

r redden - Randy your daughter sounds like a little angel.

 

[veitsi_poika]

Hey I get to follow up Randy's Case trapper with my Case trapper I kept telling my wife about how expensive the older Case knives were and that I did not have any in my collection. So she ended up buying me this cool Buffalo Nickel trapper... it was my very first Case knife

 

[DelOro]

I can kind of relate to DelOro not being from a gift giving family but for me the kids grand-kids and ex always seemed to fair well in the present receiving arena but I always just received the kind of presents that were bought as an after thought and didn't mean much like a pack of socks.
Last year however my oldest daughter bought me this Case Trapper.

This year she knew I was on the hunt for a 494 Boker Barlow but did not know I had found one. so last week she just couldn't stand it brought this one she had found and bought me but she did seem a bit disappointed I had already found one.

However I was not disappointed in the least as now I own two of those hard to find little boogers.

Randy,

Your daughter gave a beautiful knife & a lasting memory all in one.

You and your family have a Merry Christmas.

- Del

 

[r redden]

Randy your daughter sounds like a little angel.

That's still how I think of her Dwight even though she's 39 with a husband and 13 and 7 year old little angels of her own.

This is my knife giving daughter with one of my granddaughters (her niece).

 

[JB in SC]

r redden

She sounds like a pretty observant daughter