The Knife Giver. GA

btw thank you johnny for a wonderful giveaway. I am actually getting anxious to do my own giveaway!
 
I was given 2 chef knives made by my best friend a local Knife maker, no reason or special occasion just because we are friends. One is traditional Japanese deba and the other is European style, both made completely by his two hands from O1 bars and the handles are made by his wife . Excellent knives, which are my dearest, and are getting a lot of use. I'll post photos tomorrow when I have my camera back. Thanks for great GA and congrats foe 1K + posts.
Mike

Edit - As promised photos of the knives I got from my friend TC owner of TC Blades

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A quartet, with a story behind it.

All four were my grandfather's. The Scout Handbook was his, made it to the '57, '60 and '64 Jamborees, and he passed it to me when I started out years later. The Marble's was once in much sadder shape- looked like it was sharpened on a cement block. Sharp, but unsightly. Handle washers gone, everything loose. I had it restored simply to have it usable again. The watch, his from graduating high school in 1939.

The folder, though, is something really special. It's a Felsenheld, somewhere around 1890-1900. It was my great-great-grandfather's, then his son's, then my grandfather's. Back in '04, my dad and I went down just before Christmas, and noticed he was walking with a cane. He was diabetic, and his podiatrist had shaved down some calluses. Drew blood, no biggie. On our last night there, Grandpa handed me that knife and an envelope. The knife was with the admonition to never sell it, only to pass it on to someone deserving at the right time. The envelope paid my petitioning fees for the Masons, where he was a 62 year member.

That was the last Christmas we had him around. He took sick that February- infection in that foot made his diabetes go haywire- spent a month in their regional hospital, then 2 weeks here at the main hospital in town before he passed.

I have many knives. That folder, though, that is the one that is sacred.
 
I've been lucky to have received many knives as gifts, but the one that sticks in my mind came from my brotherinlaw.
Last September my part of PA was hit by bad floods. We were blessed and got out unscathed. Inthe time it took for my wife to get herself and the dog out I ended up stranded . Our house was basicaly on an island.The next four days were mighty lonely as Iwatched the water rise and than finaly go back down. Trying to decide which knives to take if the boats came for me was a challenge. I settled on a handfull that belonged to people I loved. As I said we were blessed and when the water went down I went to my Brother inlaws place where my wife was staying . Bob knows I'm a knifeguy and said I've got something for you. The guy was already our savior and yet he was still giving us presents . thats just the kind of guy he is. He handed me an Imperial Kamp King. I love that knife because it reminds how lucky I am.And not to take anything or anyone for granted. It can all go away like that.
 
Id like to be in on this,thank you Johnny........Ive been gifted many wonderful knives over the recent years but one in particular is very special to me..it was owned by Punchy Wallace,A now famous bushman and hunting legend who befriended me as an aspiring trophy hunter.I would spend up to 4 months of any year with him in his isolated bush camp,absorbing as much information as i could from this very special man.An ex sniper and machine gunner from WW 2,he then held the middleweight boxing title here in NZ for many years ,so it would be fair to say he was a hard man that did not suffer fools,liars or thieves at all well...I brought him home with me in his 81st year as the brutal winters were becoming to hard for him to bear.He had spent 41 years living in a tiny polythene hut in some of the harshest country here in NZ..He stayed with me for 3? years until his dementia got too hard for me to deal with and putting that frail old man into an old peoples home was harder than burying my own father.......It is the stag handled scimitar ,second from the bottom of pic...I rehandled that knife while sitting in camp during a storm.....fond memories and never forgotten....RIP my old friend............FES

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Not sure if lurking for a long time counts as being a regular, because I only recently got my first traditional. Even if I don't win a knife, even if I am not able to be in this GA, your great story and the others' stories are prize enough.

My first knife was a sak sentry with the BSA emblem on the front. I was at an off the record meeting of our group of Tiger scouts (who are first grade aged Cub Scouts) that included only the group of close friends that included me and three others. My mom and my friend's mom were the leaders of our group, and did a good job at it. My mom and the other mom bought all of us our own pocket knife. We then were given a bar of soap and told we could carve whatever we wanted. I made the profile of George Washington, and my friends made a whale, a car, and a dog. I still have that knife, and it served me for more than five years.
 
On a recent thread I remarked that I didn't have an Opinel. I got an email from Carl asking for my address, saying he wanted to remedy my problem. A few days later, a beautiful Opi No. 6 Inox was in my mailbox.

Here it is slightly modified.

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I can't begin to express what this knife, this little inexpensive piece of French cutlery means to me.

My family has been going through some rough times with my wife's ongoing illness. We have five kids and it is hard to take care of them and take care of her and still take care of me too, you know?

I was feeling pretty down. My mental state had started to affect my work, which is not a safe thing for anyone. Carl's gift came at just the right time. It was such an indescribable pick-me-up.

I relayed the above to Carl and he told me a story. Here is the quote, I hope he doesn't mind:

Life is like a road trip, sometimes nice and smooth, but sometimes there's a detour on rough roads. But even a rough road comes out someplace, and you just continue on your way. I remember one bad dirt road, terrible drive, topped a hill and thre it was; a whole field of golden wild flowers. Karen and I stopped in amazement and gawked. It was like something out of the Wizzard Of Oz. To this day, over 20 years later, we still remember the detour with the field of golden flowers. There's always something to stop and enjoy, even if it's the little things in life. A sunset, a glass of your favorite drink, a new knife.

Last night I did just that. Night had fallen, the crickets were chirping loudly, and the air had given up the heat of the day. My kids were asleep, my wife was headed to bed. I sat on the front porch rocker in the dark, with my dog next to me, and my new knife on my leg. I stared off into the night, my right hand resting lightly on my dog's neck and my left holding my new Opinel. I heard the front door open softly behind me. My wife wrapped her arm around my neck and whispered in my ear, "I love you." I said, "I'll be up in a few minutes." She looked at me with her beautiful eyes and smiled as she slowly walked back through the front door.

The night smelled clean and sweet, and as the dog and I sat there and listened to the crickets, a calm came over me. I knew that it would be ok. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, but eventually. I just had to keep walking down that dirt road.

I stood up, slid the Opinel into my hip pocket, and said, "Let's go to bed, girl." The dog leaned knowingly against my leg and we headed inside.

When stuff gets tough, I just pull out that Opi and remind myself that at the end of the dirt road there's bound to be a field of flowers.

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This is more of a story about a knife I will eventually give away, rather than receive.

My beautiful daughter Kinsey was born Feb 3. I had been wanting a nice traditional knife to commemorate her birth, and hadn't made up my mind which one. I knew it had to be American made and had to be traditional. It pretty much left Case as the only brand we could afford.

I still hadn't decided up until the point when the doctor held her up and exclaimed, "Oh, what a little Peanut!" Bam! It hit me, that's what I'm going to get, a Case peanut.

I decided on a Case peanut in yellow, because her baby blanket (hand crocheted by my grandma) is yellow and I wanted to remember her every time I used it.

I posted in the G/B/U forum about possible Case dealers to get in contact with. You see, I wanted a knife with a born on date of Feb 3. I knew it would be hard, but didn't know how hard. One by one, all the retailers fell, big or small. Finally, Lee at Shepherd Hills came through and got me a Case peanut in yellow with SS blades and a made on date of Feb 3.

I will cherish this blade, and use it, until the day my daughter gets married. Then, I will make a speech, and give her the knife I've carried for 20+ years. That I've decided.

When she gets old enough, she'll get a pink or hopefully a stag peanut herself. Until then, I'll do all her cutting for her.

My Two Peanuts; one yellow, and one looking adorable in purple.
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Johnny congrats on your new job! I do hope the new job will still allow you enough time on the forums.

I myself got a new job that will start in October. I am super excited and am planning my first giveaway soon to celebrate my new job.
I'm actually a little more excited about the giveaway than the new job...weird.

As for a knife that I have been gifted. I received a peanut, toothpick, and a med stockman from a fellow forum member popedandy. I will forever be grateful for the gift. I carry at least one of the three DAILY. I hardly ever carry my modern folders anymore (although on occasion I pair it up with my traditional).
I can't believe that I used to think that traditionals were old and outdated. Now I love the looks and how it functions!

Medicevans, what a nice daughter you have!;) I'm sure she will appreciate that knife. Perfect little knife for a precious little girl.
I am a new dad myself and I can't wait to pick a knife up for her when she is old enough.
I know there's a lot going through your life right now but I'm glad that you have a great wife, a great little baby girl, a great dog, and a great opinel in your life!!

KG
 
All of these are splendid and touching stories, and thanks to all who have shared on this thread. Please count me in on the giveaway and my story is a little different. I never was given a knife by any of my grandfathers or uncles. In fact the only knife I ever remember getting was a Boy Scout camp knife from my father when I was in Scouts a long, long time ago. My story is different because I gifted my father a knife a few months ago. He finally confessed to needing a new knife after so many years with a SAK. I brought over my whole small collection containing traditionals, fixed blades, and some newer tactical styled knives. I laid them all out and pointed out the pro's & cons of each one, then told him to pick whatever he wanted. He ended up picking a 4" stockman with a locking master blade, smooth bone handles. Right in his pocket it went. Makes me smile each time I see him pull it out and use it. I pray that he has many years to use it up(he's 82 now!). Thanks for listening.
Paul
 
Well guys, I started my new job a lot earlier than I expected and I kinda for got about the whole thing. I apologize for that, it's being rude and I'm sorry.
Thankfully it was brought back to my attention, I will draw names now and will contact the winners as follows.
 
Caleb,

I can't thank you enough my friend. I am honored to carry this gift. It will be treasured and always kept in my EDC rotation. Thats a promise.

Thank you so much.

Kevin
 
WooHoo! My first GA win. You the man Caleb.

Thanks again!

Glenn
 
Two down and one left.
Who ever is chosen will receive the Mini Trapper.

It's a fun little knife that has lifted the pelts off a few tree rats.
 
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