Theunused Shelf Queen's vs the used knife as an heirloom.

J

jackknife

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Oct 2, 2004
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We all have seen or heard of the hand-me-down knife that belonged to a uncle or grandfather or family friend. Some were so used that they resembled sharp toothpicks and relics, and we wonder what stores they could tell. Others were new or almost new and lived their life in the sock drawer. I noticed the difference in thier reception by family members when I did a huge downsize many years ago.

I had laid out all my knives on a table that I wasn't using anymore, and invited the family over for some hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill, and a knife giveaway. Over dinner I explained to them that I was lightening my load, and as I was looking at old fart status in the very near future, I just didn't need all that much stuff. Some of the family was shocked and asked me in a panicked voice if I was all right. Others instantly understood and thanked me for the opportunity.

Kids, grandkids, nephews, Nieces, cousins and second cousins all chicken eyed and coon fingered the knives that were on the table. I noticed a very distinct difference in how the knife was viewed and handled depending on if it looked well used or not. One of my knives, my old Buck 301 that I had carried in the last few years of my army service and almost 20 years after was beat up and worn looking but still very serviceable. My grandson Ryan and nephew Mark almost came to blows over that knife, while an almost new 303 cadet was glanced at but passed over in the initial run on the table. My nephew was more than pleased when I gave him my old Eye-Brand small sodbuster with a blade that was a dark blue and iridescent purple with patina and dinged up wood handles with a linseed oil finish. An old alox SAK that has the red anodizing almost mostly worn off was coveted more than and almost new Victorinox cadet that I thought the handle too thin and had not used much.

By the time it was all over, most all the knives had found new homes with family members with only a few that nobody showed much interest in. Those knives were a few that people had gifted me over the years, (non family members who didn't know me as well as they thought) and had the idea of "Hey, ol Carl like knives, lets give him a knife!" And it was some Franklin mint thing or some gaudy commemorative thing celebrating John Deer tractors or such nonsense. I ended up just giving them to the local church bazar for a good cause. They maybe got a few bucks for the charity. They meant nothing to me and so they meant nothing to my family.

But the memory stayed with me that the stuff the family seems to value theist was, the new that looked like I had dragged them through the war. In a few cases I had done jus that, but all of the giveaways were well used for the most part, give or take a few degrees. The wear on them seemed to increase the desirability of them. The few safe queens I had got almost no attention.

Are we fooling ourselves by buying a brand new knife and stashing it for a future gift to some family member who may or may not appreciate it because there are no memories attached to it? A sterile brand new whatever with no use on it at all? I wonder if half the gift is the memories that have attached to it because you took out camping/hunting/fishing/ and pocket carried it everyday of your life that you're had it. It's built up a charisma, and aura of all your own memories of it and it's become part of your character.

Just food for thought.
 
I'm right with you, Carl. I cherish the knives I've gotten from old friends, that have history. I've also gotten those "Franklin Mint" commemorative knives, and never used them, and they don't have the same appeal to me. A worn patina'd user has the person's DNA and history infused, so it's like I have a little bit of them in my pocket.
 
I have to agree with you, Carl. ... Sorry about that.

From what I've seen in my own experiences, the used knife (and fishing rod 'n reel, guns, etc) with memories of who had it were more desired than any new knife (or other item) that person may have had.

Of course not that many knives were passed down in my family. While all the men had at least one or two knives they carried all the time (as did the women), it seems we had (or have) a tradition (at least on the paternal side of the family) of putting their favorite knife in their pocket while the box they are in is still open.
I know my paternal grandfather had a 2 blade Schrade(?) switchblade pen knife in his pocket when he was buried, for instance.
I'm not sure, but I think that was his only knife. I don't remember him having another one, anyway.

I've told my family and made a list of what knives I want to "take with me" when it comes time for me to be pushing up weeds.
They can distribute the rest of them as they see fit. Since I've used all of them, there should still be a memory or three associated with them.
And some, like the Buck 110, Barlows, Canoes, Stockman, and Scout knives, I have more than one, so I won't be taking the only one with me. :)
 
An old knife with history , mememories, and character is great, but it won't have as much appeal to me if it's too worn out to use.
I'll cherish it for sure but would even more so if I could put it in my pocket and use it, I just most love the things that I can add miles and memories to.

I'll never get rid of it, but I had to swap the scales of my grandfather's worn out Vic classic onto another one.
He would have replaced it soon anyways, so I swapped the scales to a pink one he bought for my grandmother who barely used it if at all.
Now I'm even happier as I ended up with a sentimental knife that's also still something I use quite often.
 
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The choices made by your family are a reflection of the values they were taught growing up and their feelings towards you. Sounds like someone did a great job along the way of teaching the importance of family. Too many times it can go the opposite way especially after a death. When my best friend died his brother was executor of the will. He had zero regard for the wishes of his brother and hired a lawyer to contest the will. Long story short he was only concerned with the monetary value of everything. You're lucky to have a family who cares about you.
 
I have some knives that are just old knives that monetarily have very little to no value but because of where or more importantly who they came from are some of my most prized possessions. For me the memories and emotional value far out weigh monetary value any day of the week.

fishiker said:
The choices made by your family are a reflection of the values they were taught growing up and their feelings towards you. Sounds like someone did a great job along the way of teaching the importance of family. Too many times it can go the opposite way especially after a death. When my best friend died his brother was executor of the will. He had zero regard for the wishes of his brother and hired a lawyer to contest the will. Long story short he was only concerned with the monetary value of everything. You're lucky to have a family who cares about you.
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F fishiker that was beautifully stated and I could not agree with you more.
 
I will favor the used knife over the unused in this context. But a group of "like new" knives that a loved one cherished will be knives cherished by me as well. While we know all too often what one person cherishes, their heir may care nothing for, how wonderful it is when those cherished items are handed down to one who shares the same passion and appreciation. I hope he doesn't mind me mentioning him here, but my wife and I have often discussed D Duckdog . While the knives he shares with all of us are often (if not always) extraordinary pieces, the fact that many of them were passed down to him by a loved one is never lost on me. I think about it every time. And Stuart will every so often reiterate that fact. So... you never know for sure what may come to pass....:)
 
All this talk of monetary value and death.
:(
Sentimental value and personal history.
:)
Safe queens stored in basements for 20 years - kind of like buried treasure or merely a low return investment?...

I have very recently signed my 800K home of 18 years over to a woman who has lied to me and betrayed me... for the princely sum of 162K.
Her lawyers made much of my $5K penknife collection in her affidavit....Thinking about that... its 5k over the 12 years Ive been collecting....bugger all really.The 30k in lawyers fees for the charade of justice we call the legal system in this country I feel could have been better spent...particularly as now I hear from a mutual friend that she is claiming to be struggling.Tough.She held a financial gun at my head...sign here or double down and lose big-time...if you ask for an explanation you will go to prison.!!!
My #1priority was my 2 teenage sons with whom for reasons that have not been explained I am allowed no contact with until jan19 ...Will have their home as they move through high school. It is likely I will have nothing to leave them other than a tenancy agreement and my knives.....and hopefully a sense of honour as men and the good sense to form opinions of their own. I certainly hope they remember the fun and laughter and stupid games and songs we made up, the scout hikes and nights I organised activities there. I believe there is more than the broken spirited fireman ,the anger and snarling fear that ptsd brought home.
Not that I ever laid a finger on anyone of them and I'm sure the great Cutler in the sky has a use for me yet.
In short when we attach monetary value to sentiment and history we somehow devalue or cheapen it.
Well...I'm glad that's off my chest .
 
To me, the purpose of the safe queens is just to sell them down the road to a collector who wants a mint knife for a showcase. A knife from a relative that is used is the one that holds more sentimental value to me, and the mint knife is the one that holds more monetary value.
 
Very true words. Im guilty of never carrying the knives i like the best in fear of damaging them. Thinking about it my family may cherish all of my edc/used knives and chuck/sale the knives I love most because they show no signs of use. Lol
 
Fodderwing said:
I will favor the used knife over the unused in this context. But a group of "like new" knives that a loved one cherished will be knives cherished by me as well. While we know all too often what one person cherishes, their heir may care nothing for, how wonderful it is when those cherished items are handed down to one who shares the same passion and appreciation. I hope he doesn't mind me mentioning him here, but my wife and I have often discussed D Duckdog . While the knives he shares with all of us are often (if not always) extraordinary pieces, the fact that many of them were passed down to him by a loved one is never lost on me. I think about it every time. And Stuart will every so often reiterate that fact. So... you never know for sure what may come to pass....:)
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Dwight is correct: each family, family member, and knife (butter dish, pocket watch, etc.) is different and special. I have a few traditionals that I bought for my use, as well as some newer knives. I like them and I use them all. My stepfather collected, among other things, pocket knives and a few custom fixed blades, He showed them to me and had me clean some of them up for him. but I knew little of his hobby. He collected in the pre-internet period, which amazes me. When he died in 2012, I was the only one in the family interested in his fairly large collection. I picked the boxes/rolls/display cases of knives up from my sister a year ago and have been slowly identifying and cataloging them since. Some are very well used, some rusted hulks; some are pristine, and others are very well cared for with little if any hard use. All are special to me because he chose them for reasons I can imagine, but do not really know. Bunches of Queens and Cases, then the occasional Aerial, Clauss, Crucible, or Miller Brothers.

I use and will use many of his knives. I will keep those and several more for their history and his memory. And I'll probably sell/trade/gift the others over time. I can't see having a knife that I'd never use, but I won't use a knife unless I need to do so (BTW, I don't use my folders in the kitchen - ever). A knife may be priceless, but it is worthless to me without having meaning. And honest use is true meaning. As is sharing them on this forum.

This barlow by Michael Manrow is a current EDC:

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And this Mick Langley hunter is in my deer gear bag:

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- Stuart
 
I have two small penknives from my Grandfather.
Along with my paternal grandfather s ww2 medals .
Neither in my possession at the moment.
But surely among my most treasured belongings.
I have pics of them on bf....but it was a while ago.
Cheers.
 
Carl: Thanks for another thoughtful write up. I’m fortunate to have grandfather’s 8OT, old Christy knife, and small Henkels Stockman. They mean more to me than any other knives that I own, and I own lots of knives worth more in monetary terms than those 3 heirlooms from grandpa. Were I forced to part with my knives, those would be the last three knives I would part with. Memories of grandpa, not the fact of having an expensive knife, are what matter to me. Other knives are mere objects to me, but grandpa’s knives remind me of time together with him.

I seem to remember that you had your grandfather’s Hen & Rooster stockman. I’m curious, did you give it to a grandson?
 
This got me thinking, thanks for that Carl!

Having gone through the loss of both my father and father-in-law in the last few years, I got to deal with the dispersion of personal stuff from both men. It is clear that my father-in-law, who was a machinist, saw knives as tools, to be used (and sometimes mildly abused) to get the job done, he did not baby them. My dad on the other hand, was appreciative of a well made knife, watch, fishing reel, etc., and used them, but took good care of them. He must have learned that from his father.

When my dad's father passed some years ago, I got a few of my grandfather's knives. In particular, I received a new in the sheath fixed blade Case knife, just dead mint beautiful. I also received has Case hunter, which I have shared here before. A clearly used knife, it's still a very nice knife. As with most here, the hunter, having been carried and used, is far more loved and valuable to me than the dead mint fixed blade knife.

I have far more knives than I could ever use or carry, I like them all, but only a handful are special to me. When I eventually go, our son will be left to deal with my collection, which while it has some decent pieces in it, is not a nest-egg by any means. My son likes knives, but does not see them the way I do. I hope that when he has to deal with them, he will take the time and discover them the way I did. It's not important that he view them the way I did, that's up to him. He can decide what, if any of them, is valuable to him, and in what way. Of course, I hope he likes best the ones that I love to carry and use, but that's just the sentimental side of me.

Glenn
 
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