What Got You Into Knives?

I always thought pocket knives were cool. They're small and portable, they fold up, you can take them anywhere, and they have a practical everyday use. Like grownup Legos or something. I'd go to a store and in the sporting goods section you'd see the glass display cases where all the pocket knives were displayed with their blades partially opened. The first one I wanted was a basic, little red Swiss Army Knife. I was probably 5 years old, and my dad was stupid enough to get it for me. Shortly after that, I accidentally sliced a deep cut in my wrist trying to cut an apple. Blood everywhere. I didn't carry a knife again until I was 13.

Same scenario. Went fishing one morning and saw them in the display glass while buying some bait. Knew how handy they'd be to have on you so I picked one out. Now old enough to know how to responsibly carry and handle a knife (self-taught) there were no more accidents. In the years after I tried a couple budget knives here and there, always humoring the idea of a Benchmade or something but couldn't bring myself to spend that much on a piece of sharpened metal.

Eventually I made a respectable enough amount of money that a "good knife" didn't seem like such a daunting endeavor anymore and finally bought a Spyderco Delica 4. I was hooked. My entire perception of what constitutes "too expensive for a knife" changed; compared to other things, good knives are a practical and relatively inexpensive hobby. Ever since then I'm always reading about and watching reviews on knives, thinking about what other ones I might like and what I want to try next. It makes something as mundane as opening the mail or peeling an orange bring a smile to my face every time.
 
sailfish said:
I always thought pocket knives were cool. They're small and portable, they fold up, you can take them anywhere, and they have a practical everyday use. Like grownup Legos or something. I'd go to a store and in the sporting goods section you'd see the glass display cases where all the pocket knives were displayed with their blades partially opened. The first one I wanted was a basic, little red Swiss Army Knife. I was probably 5 years old, and my dad was stupid enough to get it for me. Shortly after that, I accidentally sliced a deep cut in my wrist trying to cut an apple. Blood everywhere. I didn't carry a knife again until I was 13.

Same scenario. Went fishing one morning and saw them in the display glass while buying some bait. Knew how handy they'd be to have on you so I picked one out. Now old enough to know how to responsibly carry and handle a knife (self-taught) there were no more accidents. In the years after I tried a couple budget knives here and there, always humoring the idea of a Benchmade or something but couldn't bring myself to spend that much on a piece of sharpened metal.

Eventually I made a respectable enough amount of money that a "good knife" didn't seem like such a daunting endeavor anymore and finally bought a Spyderco Delica 4. I was hooked. My entire perception of what constitutes "too expensive for a knife" changed; compared to other things, good knives are a practical and relatively inexpensive hobby. Ever since then I'm always reading about and watching reviews on knives, thinking about what other ones I might like and what I want to try next. It makes something as mundane as opening the mail or peeling an orange bring a smile to my face every time.
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This post brings a smile to my face, I enjoy the thought and story, thanks for sharing!

PS: That's what I keep telling my wife, I could have a much worse and more expensive hobby.
 
NomenclaturalMan said:
This post brings a smile to my face, I enjoy the thought and story, thanks for sharing!

PS: That's what I keep telling my wife, I could have a much worse and more expensive hobby.
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I love riding motorcycles for example. But fuel, maintenance, and insurance sure add up. And worrying about storage SUCKS. All for something I can only really do about half the year and on certain days. Knives don't have that problem.
 
My grandpa ended up gifting me one of his Swiss Army knives when I was 10 or 11. Being a big MacGyver fan, naturally it was the coolest thing ever, lol.

I didn't really pay much attention to knives for the next several years. I carried a cheap folding utility blade at work. Then I went to a flea market and saw all the switch blades and cool looking mall ninja stuff ;) Ended up buying a cheap assisted knife, then I finally caught the knife bug after getting a bunch of cheap Kershaws online. First decent knife was a Manix 2, then PM2, then it was all down hill from there!
 
Needing to cut open nylon wraps on the bundles of papers when I was a paperboy convinced my Mom I needed one (Case Sodbuster Jr) at 11 yrs old.
I cut myself on it on the way to the car in the parking lot.
I still do that a lot.
 
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sailfish said:
I love riding motorcycles for example. But fuel, maintenance, and insurance sure add up. And worrying about storage SUCKS. All for something I can only really do about half the year and on certain days. Knives don't have that problem.
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I ditched my car for a 6 yr period for my motorcycle and it was a glorious time. All 4 seasons in Columbus, Ohio, I made it work.
Now I have a kid though... priorities.
 
Good story OP -

My father and paternal grandfather both carried a pocket knife, dad carried a very small Case, I believe a peanut, with MOP scales. My grandpa carried a Case jackknife with black plastic scales.

I don't know where either of those knives are, and grandpa is long since passed. I bought my dad a nice Kershaw gentleman's knife that he carries with him everywhere.

My familiarity with carrying came from seeing the male figures in my family carrying. When I got into high-school, I was working with a gent that had a Buck - so I had to have one and saved up to buy a 110. Back then you could carry a knife to school and nobody though twice about it. I eventually lost that 110 (kids....) and bought a 112 as I liked the idea of the slightly smaller blade on my belt.

Buck 112's are still my favorite Buck and I have several as well as a few choice 110's.

Like you said - one knife leads to more and more.

best

mqqn
 
I got into knives from an EDC perspective. I've always just wanted to be a little more prepared, and had a job where a multitool would be handy. I started with a Victorinox, then a Leatherman. With the internet being what it is, it wasn't too long before I stumbled upon forums and online retailers.

I've got to say, it changed my perspective on things. Up until that point, I only really thought of pocket knives as traditional folders, swiss army knives, hunting knives, or those cheap and cheesy gas station folders.

And, well, there's no going back now...
 
Both of my grandfathers adhered to the philosophy that any man should be able to tell the time, start a fire, and cut things. Essentially, don't leave your house without a watch, a lighter, and a knife. On my twelfth birthday, one of those grandfathers got me a Swiss Army Knife. These days I prefer a separate knife and multitool but I've been hooked ever since.
 
I've always carried a knife...be it a Boy Scout knife in grade school..I remember being 12 YO at church when someone asked to borrow a knife thinking" I don't remember a day I didn't have a knife on me"...in college I bought a spyderco...in the military I carried benchmades...I remember once in OBC when I counted I was carrying 5 which I had included a multi tool...then got back into slipjoints...i just always appreciated a fine knife.
 
David Nowlin said:
I think i fell in love with knives the day i was born. Laying on the table minutes into my new life and watching the doctor cut my umbilical cord with his knife.
Can't be certain but i think it was a Buck 110?? :D:p
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I seriously asked if I could cut my sons cord with my AFCK. I was told in no uncertain terms "NO"
 
Not sure. I had one traditional and had it custom-ground so that I could use it for work...as in screw-driver, etc. Then I lost that one because it had no clip and it fell out of my pocket...
hadda replace it, and I did...over and over and over and.........
 
Edm1 said:
I seriously asked if I could cut my sons cord with my AFCK. I was told in no uncertain terms "NO"
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That's hilarious :D

Would have made a great gift years later "Here son, your first knife, the one that cut your umbilical cord"
 
A $3 eBay frost cutlery keychain knife that wouldn't take an edge. It got me mad and I found nutnfancy and this forum all in the same week.
 
I carried that knife in the Army. Got married with it clipped under my cummerbund. My brother and brother in law also wore it when they got married...
 
Edm1 said:
I seriously asked if I could cut my sons cord with my AFCK. I was told in no uncertain terms "NO"
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Cutting my daughter's umbilical cord is one of the high points in my life. If I could have used one of my knives, that would have been icing on the cake. :) I should have asked for the scissors.

As for the OP's question, I come from a long line of ranchers so it has been natural to have knives around the house. I can't remember a time that my father was without a pocket knife of some sort until his health failed. I guess because dad had a knife, I had to have a knife, even though I never worked on a ranch.

When I was young, I wanted a Swiss Army Knife. Not just any SAK, but the same one issued to the troops. That was in the very early '60s and it was only within the last ten years that I acquired a Pattern 61 Soldier. That desire has been in off and on in the back of my head all of these years. I guess that means I've always been a blade head.
 
My dad bought me pocket knife at the local corner store when I was about 8 or 9. Some orange acrylic multi blade off a cardboard held on by elastic. I carried and used it for years. Then I moved on to a Victorinox Soldier. Loved all the tools and used them a lot. Everyday at lunch opening my soup can or cutting open some cardboard box at work. I was the guy with the pocket knife and people would actually come looking for me to borrow it. I lost a Soldier and went looking for something different. Then I saw and bought this Languiole that I thought was just the most attractive knife I had ever seen. That really started the ball rolling. From a knife owner to a knife collector.

One Benchmade lead to another and then I found this place and wow. Now GECs, Sypdercos, Arno Bernards, Case and more come in the post.

I wish I could find that old orange acrylic somewhere.

Thanks Dad!
PS: I wonder what sort of collectors we would all be without the Internet?

,,,Mike in Canada
 
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