Who Inspired Your Interest in Knives?

I grew up in my Grandfathers house. He was a woodworker. Anything from furniture repair to remodeling to construction. He did it all out of the house so naturally I spent countless hours with him in the shop starting at 4 or 5 years old. He was never without a pocket knife and used it for eveything. It was a small stockman. Out of all his tools, and he had them all, that knife was the most fascinating thing to me. Because of that I've EDC'd a knife my whole life from 2nd grade on. Now almost 40 years.
 
Probably my dad, as he was always sharpening his case knife to skin more coons for their hides to take to market. And he also had buyers for the meat.
 
My grandfather. He was a woodworker. He liked to whittle in his spare time too. He always had a blade in his pocket. He gave me my first knife.
 
My dad always carried a knife, which saw a lot of use around the farm. At the age of 10 I got my first SAK and that saw a lot of use too, around the farm, fishing, making camp fires with friends, etc. I got used to carrying a knife and I still always carry at least a SAK.
 
My dad. Always carried a folder, but more than that always had at least 100 knives stashed away, 'just in case' :D

Unfortunately he's gone, but thankfully I got some of his knives...
 
I think i came out of the womb a knife lover. Though it was my mom who gave me my first real knife, which i still own today. That toothpick just made me want more and more. The other great thing is that she(mom) travels alot and occasionally will pick up some sweet weapon or mask that you can only get in that country. Kind of cool when you think about it, that a mother is willing to give weapons to her son. I must say that my dad was also very enthusiastic about my fondness for knives and weapons of destruction.
 
I was always into knives but one day I stopped at a garage sale and picked up a Victorinox SAK. I was sunk, I started collecting the Vic,s. That was 40 Plus years ago and I have just gotten worse,but now it's all knives instead of just SAK's.:eek:

I have been a avid hunter since age six.
 
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It was my late father, he passed about 5 months ago arround Christmas. Growing up I always admired his extensive vintage Al Mar collection. He passed his entire collection to me, while quite valuable I don't think I could ever part with it. I will post some pictures when I pick them up next month. My wife is going to be pissed with the house flooded with even more knives (and guns) thann normal.
 
Interesting....for me, it was a combination of being interested in firearms and my military service. Simply put, guns are an expensive habit and knives, to me, was a natural offshoot that wouldn't break the bank as bad (how many Spydercos and BMs can you get for the price of one Kimber?) Of course, when I enlisted, being a sea service, I learned very quickly how handy it was to have a knife on hand...being dragged overboard, for example, because you weren't paying attention, got tangled and didn't have a blade ready wasn't about to happen to me! Now it is all about a knife strong enough to pop seals on ammo cans, assist in field stripping a M16A2 (we're stuck in the ice ages, what can I say?), etc. and still cut line and untangle knots that fuels the search for the "perfect" knife.
 
My older brother. I can remember him standing on the porch whittling a stick and asked him if I could try it, he said I was to young. A few days later he cut the tip of his finger almost completely off, docs reattached it, no harm, no foul. I think I waited a few years after that.
 
My Gradfather. He gave me a camping knife when I was 6 and an Old Timer when I was 8. I carried the Old Timer everyday until I was 12 and bought a Parker Leopard. I still have all three knives.
 
My grandmother bought me a Victorinox Explorer as an Xmas present when I was around 8 or 9.

After she passed away I looked online to find a Swiss army knife to replace it, and ended up on here, and have since spent too much on knives.
 
I never had anyone inspire my interest in knives - no one in my family carries a knife that I am aware of. My stepfather goes tramping regularly but I don't even know if he has a knife with him.

I have always liked gadgets (calculators, computers, flashlights, etc) and around a decade ago I read an article on ZDNet about a new pocket tool for computer techs (I was a computer tech at that time) made by Victorinox called the Cybertool. I asked at a store that sold Victorinox (the store name is actually 'The House of Knives' but they sell kitchen knives primarily) but they hadn't heard of it - they did say they would ask the Victorinox rep about it and get back to me. When they called to say they could get one I told them to go ahead and I got my Cybertool. It was great! So many useful tools in one handy gadget. Then a few months later I decided that if one handy gadget was good then 2 would be better and I bought a Leatherman Wave. I still have both of these tools and still carry them every day. But this didn't lead me into an interest in knives.

Then last year I decided to get back into camping after not having done that since I was at school. Some guys on CandlePower Forums had mentioned knives and there were pictures of EDC gear which included knives, so I tried to work out what I needed and started with a couple of folders and a couple of fixed blades. From there I spent too much and got a range of knives to cover whatever tasks I might need them for. I also learned how to sharpen and get a lot of satisfaction from making a knife properly sharp.

I still don't know anyone away from these forums that share my interest in knives. No one that knows me even knows how many knives I have or how much I have spent on them. Actually that is also true for flash lights, especially how much I have spent (more than on knives). I also don't know anyone that is much into flash lights or gadgets like me either.
 
Grandpa foremost. I can't remember a time when he didn't have his pocket knife out over a visit. Usually a Keen Kutter, Case or John Primble. I have a few of them to cherish. Dad likes knives as well but fancies a good fixed blade.
 
That's an easy one, Davy Crocket and Daniel Boon. :)

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My Dad. Bought me a K55K, an Opinel, a Mora, taught me how to tie knots and splice, chop wood, start camp fires. Let me pick up a machete in Trinidad, and a switchblade in Tijuana, wish I still had that sucker.

My G'ma brought me a SAK from Switzerland, similar to the Climber, but a bit smaller. I loved that knife, and used it for maybe 20 years before it disappeared. Never saw the equivalent for sale.
 
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It's a simple question but for me it is difficult to answer. I have always liked knives and I can't remember if people had any influence over that. My dad doesn't carry knives neither does any family members I can remember. I do remember loving to go to a local store to look at the different SAKs even when I was young.
 
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