To Use Or Not To Use That Is The Question

TheJon

TheJon

Joined
Apr 12, 2014
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While going through my late grandfathers things, we found some old pocket knives of his and his parents. Here are a few pictures of the two most interesting.

This first one is from my great grandmother, bought in Oklahoma sometime before 1938, interesting in that she carried this little knife from then all through WW2 where she worked in a plane factory. It's interesting that she apparently used the small pen blade significantly more than the main blade. This one will be going in a display box with a few other items from that time period, such as her punch card and a few tools from the factory.

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The second one is the real struggle. A Sears Craftsman 50 year anniversary Scout Camp knife unused in it's original box, some staining and little rusting from sitting in the garage since then. We believe he was given it as either a birthday or Christmas present from my grandmother.

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What would you do? Leave it in the box for future generations, give it a good cleaning and then leave it in the box, or clean it up, oil it and carry it?
 
What do you think the intention of your grandfather was on the Scout Camp Knife? To pass it along or keep it mint?

I'd say clean it up and use it as he would probably be happy that you did.
 
RoyalHolic said:
What do you think the intention of your grandfather was on the Scout Camp Knife? To pass it along or keep it mint?

I'd say clean it up and use it as he would probably be happy that you did.
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You know I'm not sure, he didn't really carry a pocket knife to much, he had an electrician knife in his tool box if he needed it, but my grandfather was very nostalgic about things, and keep a lot of things. Not a pack rat by any means, but letters, books, pictures, anything important. So I assume it was a gift that he didn't want to waste/ruin.

Elgatodeacero said:
I would carry the pen knife to church once in a while, and use the camp knife until I wore it out camping.
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The opposite scale from the picture is missing a piece it looks like the scale must have been smashed by something in the factory. I'll have to figure out a way to repair it without removing the other half of the scale.
 
I'd carry them both unless you want to pass them down. It would be a great way to honor those who owned them.

To the best of my knowledge, the 1927 etch commemorates the year that Sears started selling Craftsman tools. The WLS etch stands for "Worlds Largest Store" and was also used as the call letters for the WLS radio station in Chicago which was founded by Sears.
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Railsplitter said:
I'd carry them both unless you want to pass them down. It would be a great way to honor those who owned them.

To the best of my knowledge, the 1927 etch commemorates the year that Sears started selling Craftsman tools. The WLS etch stands for "Worlds Largest Store" and was also used as the call letters for the WLS radio station in Chicago which was founded by Sears.
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That's actually really interesting thank you for that.

My grandfather worked as a shop teacher at a highschool, and apparently had an affinity for craftsman tools.
 
I would probably carry the scout, at least sometimes. Although, it wouldn't hurt anything to set it aside either. Actually, if I am being honest, if it were mione, I would probably plan to carry and use it, then put it in the safe like most of my other "users."
 
When asked the question, "use or store?", my pat answer is use. Today's question is a true dilemma. Your inherited Craftsman will likely not become valuable to others but I would think it is already valuable to you and seems to have been valuable enough to be set aside by the original owner.
Since you already have regularly carried cutlery you enjoy, I'd probably carry it very rarely and use it even less and then only gently, keeping it in the condition you received it for your families next generation.
But at the same time it's yours, do with it what will give you the most enjoyment.
Best wishes with your decision, -James
 
........back in those days would suggest it was about using, none of this collecting stuff we see today.

Use it, enjoy it, remember him each time
 
[QUOTE="Railsplitter, post: 20079074, member: 282972" The WLS etch stands for "Worlds Largest Store" and was also used as the call letters for the WLS radio station in Chicago which was founded by Sears.
Still are. WLS is one of the few if not the only broadcast station that hasn't changed it's original call sign from back in the 1920's, even after changes in ownership. (If memory serves WLS first went on the air in 1924.)
I listened to them as far east as Des Moines, Iowa, and as far south as maybe 30 miles south of Hannibal, MO. on a clear day in the Chicago area. When atmospheric conditions were right, I could pick them up in San Bernardino, CA.

WLS is a "Clear Channel". They are the only station in North America and Mexico, that can legally broadcast on 890AM.

TheJon TheJon
I'd carry the Craftsman.
 
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Carry it & pass it down or make a sweet shadow box w/ photos of Pop-Pop w/ some awesome led lighting to show all that visit. Either way. :thumbsup:
 
Congrats to you! Those are fantastic and thank you for sharing!

Speaking only for myself, and as someone who is generally in the "don't want stuff I can't use" category, I know I wouldn't use either of those. I get all the intended purpose and "that's what they woulda wanted" and all that sentiment but I know I wouldn't use them. I know, because my grandfather was a mechanical genius who could build anything out of a pile of scrap metal and some bent nails. He had homemade table saws, band saws, grinders, his ancient and gillion pound chainsaws, his gold panning gear, his axes, all those tools with so many years of wear...

And it's all gone. What my old man didn't hock, a then immature brother, lost.

My brother in law was really close to my grandpa and managed to get some stuff (I was away in the service when he passed) and he gave me an old, old socket set and a few hand tools that my grandpa used to use all the time, all still fully functional. And I never use them. Ever. After many years I have managed to acquire his old Remington Sportsman 20ga shotgun and as nice as it is, I don't use it either.

Those are his and they are there just to remind me of him. I don't need to use any of those things. If I needed to use them and didn't, my grandpa would tell me I'm being stupid. But since I don't need to use them, I just cherish having those items and like to let them be.

They say we're only truly remembered for two generations. My kids never knew my grandpa so that means I'll be the last one. But they know I loved him and can appreciate heirlooms. So I'm okay with his things just sitting. Maybe when I'm gone they'll hold those items of his and connect back to the past and wonder what he was like and what the world was like then. That's what my nostalgic side says. :)
 
There isn't much about death that's nice, but one nice thing about death is that we know our departed would have wished us to do exactly what we wish to do.
But seriously, if it's a knife you'd use, use it. If it isn't a knife you'd use, put it in a drawer or a display case.
Take care of yourself; your ancestors are fine where they are, and nothing you can do can hurt them.
My two cents, as we say.
 
Eli Chaps said:
Speaking only for myself, and as someone who is generally in the "don't want stuff I can't use" category, I know I wouldn't use either of those.

My brother in law was really close to my grandpa and managed to get some stuff (I was away in the service when he passed) and he gave me an old, old socket set and a few hand tools that my grandpa used to use all the time, all still fully functional. And I never use them. Ever. After many years I have managed to acquire his old Remington Sportsman 20ga shotgun and as nice as it is, I don't use it either.

Those are his and they are there just to remind me of him. I don't need to use any of those things. If I needed to use them and didn't, my grandpa would tell me I'm being stupid. But since I don't need to use them, I just cherish having those items and like to let them be.
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:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
If you have enough other users, keep as heirlooms. If not, beat the heck out of them.
 
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