What's the oldest knife you carry and use hard?

mnblade

mnblade

Joined
Feb 7, 2000
Messages
6,693
For me, it's an equal-end 3" penknife by Case (6279). It's about 30 years old. Not terribly old by any means, but it got me to wondering what old knives you guys are still toting and putting through their paces.
 
Case XX Copperhead(pre 1965)
Case XX Stockman (pre 1965)

Lots of use,but still belongs in the pocket.Feels good there.
 
Mine is Finnish fishing puukko "Era" made by Kuusamon Uistin.
I got it for my birthday something like 20 years ago.
It has taken some bad weather, but I like it and will carry it, I hope , for a long time.

Juha
 
I still occasionally carry the first knife my dad gave me in 1960.(an Imperial stockman). He had a few eteched with his company logo on the blade and gave them to customers for Christmas presents that year.
 
I got my usual EDC, Uncle Henry premium stockman in 1976, haven´t used too hard though.

I had and really abused a Buck 112 for about 20 years, until it was stolen in the 90´s.
 
Usually carry a Buck but have a 1974 Case (6344) Stockman that I carry and use. This knife has the old carbon steel with the real gray color. It was made the year my wife and I were married so it was a good year. Sometimes carry a Queen Stockman, 3 3/4, that I picked up for $10. It is from around 1981 or 82. Also use a couple of old Schrade Waldens and a Camillus 4 blade Congress from time to time. These are from the 70s. One of my favorites is an old Kutmaster 2 blade jack knife that I bought for $5 at a yard sale. Don't know the age but it has great carbon steel blades. Have plenty of new knives and enjoy them but also like the feel of slipping one of those old ones like my Dad and Granddad had in their pockets.
 
Up until last year, I used a Victorinox that my Dad gave me in 1972, my first knife. It's starting to really show some wear, and after he died, I decided to retire it for memories' sake and move on to a stockman. Never really abused it, but sure used it all the time.
 
The oldest knife in my drawer is dated 1942. It probably came from a sailor in the Indian Navy who survived the world war.

It bears a slight crack in the handle but looks like it has a lot of wartime stories to tell. It still cuts rather well.
 
For hard use, I carry a Camillus TL-29 in my tool box. It was military issue so probably made before the mid-60's.

None of my pocket or belt carry knives see "hard" use and most are of recent manufacture (within the past 5 years).
 
A Peters Brothers trapper thats been rehandled with a white bone. Other than the handles the knife dates from between 1876 and 1886. It is carried and used daily. Every now and then I'll also carry a R H Boker MOP tuxedo knife that dates from the 1850's.
 
The oldest EDC that I have is a Waterville "easy opener" barehead two-blade jack with ebony handles that dates to well before the turn of the last century. The knife belonged to one of my maternal great grandfathers. My next oldest is a Progressive Era two-blade "teamster pattern" bone-handled tear drop jack, which was made by Fox of Milwukee, Wisconsin, that belonged to the other of my other maternal great grandfathers. Both knives are "users", having been repaired back to usability. (Yeah, I know, "collectors value", and all that, but these knives were tools and that is what they will remain for as long as I am around to use them. And what tools they are! I don't know what they put in the old "silver steel" that is used in these knives but it seems to cut a whole lot better than most modern steel blades that I have used do.) These old knives are a pleasure to use and are fond reminders of the grandfather and great uncle who passed them on to me.
 
I've just recently started carrying a Ka-Bar pruner with wood scales, which looks to be at least 70 or so years old. It was in my collection (but the blade was sharpened none too well). Now it's a great user.
 
My PAL RH36 has been with me on many hunting trips & opened it's share of deer.
Made in 1944, it's a fixed blade Bowie style blade, issued to my Dad when he was in WWII in the Marines. It's edgeholding is great & it's one of my sharpest knives.
Actually it's my favorite knife.:D
 
The oldest one I have is my fathers old sak, a wenger with the old style can opener and pinned on handles with metal shield (about 60 years old).
 
Case XX 4 blade Congress
Old Timer Stockman
Schrade Stockman


They were my dad's. He used them a lot and didn't take care of them. I continue to use them, but they are getting good care now. Amazing how long a good knife can last.
 
My Grandfather was a butcher from the 50s through the early 80s. We still use one of his butcher knives processing deer. My Dad says he can remember seeing my Grandfather steel it and use it in the 60s. It doesn't have any identifying marks on it. The blade is still about 12", and Daddy says it used to be much larger. You can see that about 1/2" has been sharpened off the edge over the years where the blade meets the handle. It's still a great slicer!
 
I have used my deceased Grandad's Camillus '67 Stockman before. It was his work shop knife and was in pretty bad shape after lying around for who knows how long. With lots of patience and WD-40, it's just as functional as when it was new.
Matt
 
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