Who got you started in Slipjoints?

My first slippie has a bit of a bitter/sweet memory to it. Bitter cause my old man split when I was nine. Sweet cause the love of knives stuck.
I was raised in the sticks of Mississippi during the early 60's when the governor (Barnett?) decided to close the public pools instead of integrating them. Because of that, if we wanted to swim it was down at the "crick" where we made a pool with some liedowns. After stoning that pool each time prior to jumping in, to roust the water moccasins we'd jump in. In those days it was still considered the smart thing to do, if snake bit, to slice the wound and suck out the poison. All the kids, from 5 on had a knife just for that reason. And not one of us ever had to use it for that reason, but the habit stuck.

Mike
 
My granddad was a farmer in Southern Illinois. He died before I met him…but his eldest son (my uncle) owned a hardware store in Equality, IL. Every summer when we’d visit, he’d let me pick a knife out of his display cases down at the hardware store. Only thing was…he’d never let me have a Boker. He always said they were too sharp for me. He said if a man had enough time on his hands, he could whittle down a tree with a Boker. So…from his display cases I ended up with some Imperials, a Keen Kutter…and one Queen. I still have all of those knives…
 
vsanks said:
My granddad was a farmer in Southern Illinois. He died before I met him…but his eldest son (my uncle) owned a hardware store in Equality, IL. Every summer when we’d visit, he’d let me pick a knife out of his display cases down at the hardware store. Only thing was…he’d never let me have a Boker. He always said they were too sharp for me. He said if a man had enough time on his hands, he could whittle down a tree with a Boker. So…from his display cases I ended up with some Imperials, a Keen Kutter…and one Queen. I still have all of those knives…
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vsanks, welcome to the forums. Nice story, too.

My interest in knives was slowed some by my first one...a boy scout knife with a spoon and fork. I wasn't impressed! Too damn big.
My grandfather owned the local lumber yard, and he was always pulling his pocket knife out and cutting on things. Seems like it must have been a trapper model? I finally started sticking a pocket knife back in my pocket when I worked for him some during summer breaks from college. He made it seem like a man was suppose to have one. Have had one there ever since.

- Joe
 
My grandfather was a farmer in Southern Illinois.
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My granddad was a farmer in Southern Illinois.
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Maybe we're related. :) Raleigh isn't far from Equality; my grandmother was a Stricklin and was from Equality.

My ancestor's grave in Rosiclare:
washing-george-cowsert.jpg


-Bob

p.s. Welcome to BladeForums!
 
When i was 13 my best friend travelled to Switserland with his parents. When they came back, they gave me a Victorinox Spartan. It was the only knife i had for many years, but sadly enough, one day i couldn't find it anymore. I never figured out where i lost it...
The funny thing was that his parents bought him a fancy swisschamp, but he liked my spartan a lot more. The swisschamp is very nice, but it's so heavy it kinda slows a kid down :)

But to be honest, it's you guys that are turning slipjoints into my favourite chronic disease :D
 
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