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

[mrknife]

I am now fortunate enough to have many knives, but no knives from my grandfathers as they didn't have those sorta things in that part of the world. However I do have knives that I have received as gifts from forum members living and passed on that I treasure. Ill have to say a majority of the knives I have are practically safe queens as living in a major city taking a knife out is often frowned upon without context and even with context. However for me knives are tools and not dangerous weapons and there many days I carry a traditional knife without having to use it but its nice to have in my pocket.

 

[JohnDF]

I don't have any knives from my Grandpa and none from my Father because he never carried a knife. I do have a few that I treasure, like the #74 that I drooled over for so long and the canoe knife I won in 5K Qs GAW. I'm not sure that my kids will be fighting over them since it's a very different world that they are growing up in and the knife tradition isn't strong with them.

 

[TrapperMike]

I also have noticed the same thing with my son. Of all the knives I have had he seems to be drawn to the ones he has seen me use. All the ones he wanted were used by me. I imagine the safe queens are more desirable to collectors. Me personally I would rather have the knives my dad has used.

 

[jackknife]

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?

I did have granddads two knives for a long time, but they ar enow in possession of my grandson Ryan in California and my son Matt in Maryland. Ryan has made a shadow box with both my dad's peanut and granddads Hen and Rooster that also displays photos of both men and a short bio on a card. Ryan has an interest in all the family history that he got from our daughter Jessica, and our son Matt in Maryland has his great granddads old IXL sailors knife and Webley revolver that he carried from Ireland when he fled to America, in a display box.

Between Jess, Ryan, and Matt, the family history is being kept.

 

[willard0341]

Deleted

 

[Chui]

- aaah! How nice to have family and close friends who’d utterly appreciate being given your knives. Sadly, don’t think that rings true very much in lill old UK. Maybe farm and country folk, but otherwise if I set some of my knives on the table and invited the family to choose whatever - they’d sit me down with a cup o’ tea and check my pulse/temp..! Different culture here. I think family and friends ‘forgive’ my knife collecting/use cos I was born in Africa and am rather outdoorsy...

I’d love to be in your situation, Carl. The desire for your your knives is a direct reflection on the desire to be in your company - good on you, sir

 

[JustinR]

I have my paternal grandfather's 34ot, which was the knife he used and carried. He liked to collect pen knives and had several. I was always proud I got the EDC though. I think I was in 8th grade when he passed in 1996. Man of few words, served in WWII. Operated heavy machinery building roads and runways in the Pacific theater. Never mentioned a word of it, of course I only knew him as a child. Ended up getting his F100 several years later as a senior in high school I hope to pass both the knife and truck on to my boys one day.

My maternal grandfather enlisted in the air Force around the time of the Korean war. Ended up a crew chief for an F4 squadron and spent time at Tan Son Nhut and somewhere in Thailand during Vietnam. The day he passed in 2008, he had his Leatherman Micra in the breast pocket of his hospital gown. My uncle put it in my hand as we were waiting for the the nurses to come and get him. Hasn't left my possession since.

He had several stockman knives over the years that I remember. My cousin found one of them out in the garage and that's his memento. Later in life though, the Micra was his constant pocket companion. I grew up just a few miles away from him and I have distinct memories of him calling over to the house on Friday evenings and telling me to be ready by a certain time on Saturday as he was coming to get me and was going to put me to work. Probably was in the way more than I ever helped but I learned a lot from him.

He bought me my first knife, a Victorinox tinker (I think) and a belt sheath that we dyed black. That was the longest weekend of my life waiting for that thing to dry.

I think I got off topic but it brought forth some nice memories.

My oldest boy is most definitely interested in my knives. I just asked my wife that if go while they are young to sit aside my most used 5 or 6 and let them have them when they are old enough.

Also explained she should probably list most on eBay as opposed to seeling them for a couple bucks at a yard sale.....might be missing out on a lot of money.

 

[Duckdog]

Different culture here. I think family and friends ‘forgive’ my knife collecting/use cos I was born in Africa and am rather outdoorsy...

I love this quote as I, too, get some of the same "kind consideration" from my local city acquaintances because I was raised in the wilds of North Carolina. Paul, if you ever make it to the northern Virginia area, you can sit at my table and we'll talk about your knives all day.
- Stuart

 

[RobbW]

I did have granddads two knives for a long time, but they ar enow in possession of my grandson Ryan in California and my son Matt in Maryland. Ryan has made a shadow box with both my dad's peanut and granddads Hen and Rooster that also displays photos of both men and a short bio on a card. Ryan has an interest in all the family history that he got from our daughter Jessica, and our son Matt in Maryland has his great granddads old IXL sailors knife and Webley revolver that he carried from Ireland when he fled to America, in a display box.

Between Jess, Ryan, and Matt, the family history is being kept.

It’s good to know that your family history, traditions and values are being kept and passed down through the generations. You must be a proud dad/grandpa! And those heirlooms from Ireland must be absolute family treasures!

I remember a story you wrote about you meeting a biker in a bar/restaurant where you discussed the Hen & Rooster family heirlooms you each had. Nice to read about those connections, (and a Harley guy and a Vespa guy getting along!).

 

[kamagong]

Lol...I've given away more than a few knives. And continue to do so. Any knives I buy for myself are for myself. If somehow a couple reach heirloom status, that's just gravy, but it's not something I worry about or even give much thought to.

My daughter will in all likelihood inherit the lot. Who knows which ones she'll like? It could be the KHnutbuster that I carried on my wedding day. Could be the stag #73 she gave me for Father's Day. Might even be the Tommi I always bring on our outdoor adventures, or the Laconico gaucho we use as a kitchen knife when we go camping. I have a feeling it'll be my Sunday go-to-meetin' knife, a serpentine Christians clad in pearl. It's always been her favorite. By the time I move on I won't care, I would've gotten plenty of use out of them.

 

[deltaboy]

I told my daughter to take what they want and then call my Nephew who is student BlackSmith to have the Rest!

Some are used and some are safe queen!

 

[ddavis]

I normally don't resurrect threads over a few weeks old but I feel I have to after discovering this thread...

Five of my most prized possessions in this world are worn down, beaten up, and look like crud. Three are my grandpa's stockmen knives, and two are his zippos.

Ignore the bottom Case jack, it's related but I'll save that story for another day.

Growing up in Missouri, I would remember him slipping the little black knife out of his pocket to cut bait, sharpen a pencil in the woodshop, or open a present on Christmas afternoon. To him they were tools, and when a blade broke, he'd throw it in a drawer and get another at the hardware store.
I can't even begin to imagine the sweat, blood, and grime that are embedded in these blades. He was a carpenter, an avid hunter and fisherman, a hard worker, and an amazing grandfather. These knives remind me of his character, and remind me that his blood courses through my veins and a piece of him lives on through me and my children.
When I see these stockmen, I don't think of how nice these knives are... I think of him putting firewood in the shop stove in autumn while I was working on a piece of furniture, and I remember him cutting up my first large catfish we caught in his old jon boat. It's not about the knives, it's about the memories.
I hope one day my own son and daughters will look at these cruddy old stockmen, and maybe my own cherished and well-used knives, and think of our family history.