What knife started the addiction and do you still have it?

[chanvic]

Hi BF!

Apologies if this has already been discussed, but curious on what knife started the addiction, "coughing", I mean collection and do you still own it? A little bit of a spin from the "what's your first knife?" question.

I started collecting knives over the summer and have been addicted since. My first knife was actually a SOG lockback. Bought it for the car and rarely used it. In July, my best friend gave me a QSP Penguin as a gift and it went downhill from there. At least for my wallet. Obviously I still have it since I'm early in my journey and don't think I'll ever get rid of it. I'm now a proud owner of 26 folders and starting to look into customs.

More kudo points for pics of the knife that started it all!

 

[Roblues]

Not sure when 'addiction' started. Have always liked knives. Buy more now than younger cause I have more money. First knife I was about 7 yr old was a folder with
"Camper" on the shield, no idea of maker. Cost was $1.

 

[sonofwilfred]

The one on the left. My old mum bought it for me when I was 12. I have many more now

https://imgur.com/Vnu2udB

 

[WadeWilson]

I had random pocket knives all growing up but it wasn't until about 2011 when I got bit by the "EDC/quality pocket knife" bug. That being said, it was a Spyderco Endura 4 with a saber grind and black FRN scales that really got me paying attention to what was in my pocket. It was a great knife but sadly I lost it in Afghanistan. Weirdly I've never been able to bring myself to replace it with the exact specific model. I have had the waved version, the FFG version, and even Delicas. But never got the black with saber grind...

 

[chanvic]

I had random pocket knives all growing up but it wasn't until about 2011 when I got bit by the "EDC/quality pocket knife" bug. That being said, it was a Spyderco Endura 4 with a saber grind and black FRN scales that really got me paying attention to what was in my pocket. It was a great knife but sadly I lost it in Afghanistan. Weirdly I've never been able to bring myself to replace it with the exact specific model. I have had the waved version, the FFG version, and even Delicas. But never got the black with saber grind...

I don't think that's weird. I don't think you should replace a memory. Love the "bit by the EDC bug"!

 

[Greggy]

My Gerber Freeman Guide was my first knife. Bought it in the 1980s for turkey hunting. BUT, my collection started with my Civivi Backlash. I still have it and will never get rid of it. Outstanding action and deployment. You may notice a mirror reflection on the belly of the Gerber. I recently broke it down and created a new bevel using my Norton 220 stone. I followed this with a 1000 and a 6000, then a strop. The edge on the Gerber has never been better. I also sanded and refinished the scales. They are made from pear wood, and the stain is a light walnut. The Gerber has the best ergonomics of all my knives. The profile of the scales is perfect for my hand.

 

[shane45-1911]

I was always drawn towards knives, even as a young kid.

This is the very first knife I ever owned, given to me by my Dad when I was 7 or 8. That puts it right around 52 years ago.....I still have it (obviously), and I think of Dad every time I see it. My Dad's name was Wayne and I remember him telling me that I will always think of him when I use this knife because his name is right on the blade.

While it was my constant companion as a kid (I remember sleeping with it under my pillow, and those were also the days when no one blinked an eye at a kid with a pocket knife at school), I seldom carry it anymore. Now it is simply a treasured keepsake and provides memories of better, simpler times when I was a boy. This knife was the start of my journey down the rabbit hole.

Miss you, Dad.

 

[chanvic]

My Gerber Freeman Guide was my first knife. Bought it in the 1980s for turkey hunting. BUT, my collection started with my Civivi Backlash. I still have it and will never get rid of it. Outstanding action and deployment. You may notice a mirror reflection on the belly of the Gerber. I recently broke it down and created a new bevel using my Norton 220 stone. I followed this with a 1000 and a 6000, then a strop. The edge on the Gerber has never been better. I also sanded and refinished the scales. They are made from pear wood, and the stain is a light walnut. The Gerber has the best ergonomics of all my knives. The profile of the scales is perfect for my hand.

That’s a good looking fixed knife and awesome that you still have it. I’ve been toying with the idea of getting a fixed knife, but would have very little use for it. Thanks for sharing!

 

[scdub]

I don’t remember a time I didn’t love knives and knife like objects.

I had my mom make me knives out of fabric so I could swing them around (and occasionally throw at my sister).

My Dad had given me much of his knife collection by the time I was probably 7-9, and by age 12 I spent $50 of my own money on a Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker (which in hindsight I may have purchased directly from Sal - I just remember an older gentleman who was touting clip-it knives and the Sharpmaker at some sort of country fair…?).

Anyway - my interest in and time spent using, maintaining, thinking, reading and writing about knives has only increased with age (50 now). Although I have slowed my buying somewhat as my collection of users becomes more complete.

Here’s my first:


Did I mention I like to USE my knives?

 

[chanvic]

I was always drawn towards knives, even as a young kid.

This is the very first knife I ever owned, given to me by my Dad when I was 7 or 8. That puts it right around 52 years ago.....I still have it (obviously), and I think of Dad every time I see it. While it was my constant companion as a kid ( I remember sleeping with it under my pillow), I seldom carry it anymore. Now it is simply a treasured keepsake and provides memories of better, simpler times when I was a boy.

Priceless! My boys, who are a little older than you when you got your first knife, has been asking about my obsession. One day, I will pass it down. Until then, they’re mine! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Hammer67]

Some cheap POS I had when I was a kid, no doubt, which was still the most amazing tool I owned at the time and I coveted it like it had magical powers. I recall a stacked leather fixed blade that I think I got at a carnival somewhere and an imitation SAK, but I don't remember which was first.
I've always been fascinated by knives.

 

[chanvic]

I don’t remember a time I didn’t love knives and knife like objects.

I had my mom make me knives out of fabric so I could swing them around (and occasionally throw at my sister).

My Dad had given me much of his knife collection by the time I was probably 7-9, and by age 12 I spent $50 of my own money on a Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker (which in hindsight I may have purchased directly from Sal - I just remember an older gentleman who was touting clip-it knives and the Sharpmaker at some sort of country fair…?).

Anyway - my interest in and time spent using, maintaining, thinking, reading and writing about knives has only increased with age (50 now). Although I have slowed my buying somewhat as my collection of users becomes more complete.

Thanks for the visual of fabric knife throwing! In my early 20s, my roommate and I would practice throwing knives in our basement. Never will forget the sound it made after the ricochet. We weren’t that good so there was a lot of that going on.

 

[Danny Linguini]

It’s only within the past year I plunged into this insanity. It started with a Kershaw Blur. After doing a bit of research on blade steel, I figured my first one was worth the splurge on S30V. Of course I still have it; it’s not quite the best cutter in the drawer, and the textured trac-tec inserts would surely shred up my pockets if it were carried often, but it still comes out once in awhile. It’s a bit of a beast, and it was a great first knife to give me an idea of what I do and don’t want in an EDC.

 

[bigsurbob]

SOG Pentagon Elite mini tanto tip. The liner lock. Bought at an army surplus store in Grass Valley, CA late 90s. Wish i still had it.

ETA just remembered the "Rambo" type knife my dad gave me in the 80s... with the fish hooks and waterproof matches etc in the compass-topped hollow handle.

 

[beeinak]

Great topic. I have always loved anything with an edge and truly do not remember ever not having blades. After hundreds of knives, I still remember some of my first favorites like an Imperial Wildcat skinner and folder with fish scaler and hook disgorger, as well as my first SCUBA knives. I don’t own those now but still have a very old Old Timer folder, sharp-finger, and small Buck folder from my youth.

 

[Knives&Lint]

My fascination with knives started as a kid. SAK's, a surplus store purchased Rambo type survival knife like bob mentioned above that rode on my belt through much of my elementary aged years and built many a palm frond fort in the woods, and one that particularly sparked a passion was a Puma folder gifted to me by a family friend.

Most of the SAK's and Rambo knife are likely lost to time, though I might still be able to find the odd one somewhere at my dad's house. I know for a fact the Puma is still there. You see, although I cherished the knife, my dad quickly deemed it too nice for me and told he he'd have to hold on to it for safe keeping. Yep, dear ol' Dad pulled the old "It'll be boffa ours, but we'll keep it at my house" trick on me . To his credit though, he did keep it safe. I asked him about it on a visit last year. He took me back to his back room, opened a drawer, and there it was; right alongside all of the modern knives I've gifted him over the years, still in their boxes .

I didn't really get into nicer knives until the early 2000's, when I bought a Snody designed Benchmade HK. I bought it because of the Hk name, not Benchmade. I really liked that knife, and carried it for some years as my only knife before getting really bit by the bug and starting a collection. I still own it, plus a spare, and to this day it is my favorite Benchmade

 

[bigsurbob]

My fascination with knives started as a kid. SAK's, a surplus store purchased Rambo type survival knife like bob mentioned above that rode on my belt through much of my elementary aged years and built many a palm frond fort in the woods, and one that particularly sparked a passion was a Puma folder gifted to me by a family friend.

Most of the SAK's and Rambo knife are likely lost to time, though I might still be able to find the odd one somewhere at my dad's house. I know for a fact the Puma is still there. You see, although I cherished the knife, my dad quickly deemed it too nice for me and told he he'd have to hold on to it for safe keeping. Yep, dear ol' Dad pulled the old "It'll be boffa ours, but we'll keep it at my house" trick on me . To his credit though, he did keep it safe. I asked him about it on a visit last year. He took me back to his back room, opened a drawer, and there it was; right alongside all of the modern knives I've gifted him over the years, still in their boxes .

I didn't really get into nicer knives until the early 2000's, when I bought a Snody designed Benchmade HK. I bought it because of the Hk name, not Benchmade. I really liked that knife, and carried it for some years as my only knife before getting really bit by the bug and starting a collection. I still own it, plus a spare, and to this day it is my favorite Benchmade

Yeah i remember my dad had a 2 SAKs. A little one and a big one. So unbelievably cool to play with as a kid...

 

[beeinak]

I had random pocket knives all growing up but it wasn't until about 2011 when I got bit by the "EDC/quality pocket knife" bug. That being said, it was a Spyderco Endura 4 with a saber grind and black FRN scales that really got me paying attention to what was in my pocket. It was a great knife but sadly I lost it in Afghanistan. Weirdly I've never been able to bring myself to replace it with the exact specific model. I have had the waved version, the FFG version, and even Delicas. But never got the black with saber grind...

I don’t find that weird at all! Knives and dogs have special bonds and memories for us. You will love another, but they never replace the attachment you had with another. Glad you made it back.

 

[JoeBusic]

Cold Steel SRK 1994, worn out before 2000

 

[kafolarbear]

First two I bought were a Gerber haul and a Ka-Bar USMC by the advice of my combat instructors to get a knife. I then bought my own OKC-3s bayonet as a gift for myself when I graduated infantry training and I was content until I saw a picture of a Gerber Propel Downrange, somewhere in the mix I got totally hooked on knives and it just didn't stop. Ended up gifting the Ka-Bar to my dad after using it for a bit, the two gerbers and the bayonet are still in my collection.