Who or What got you started?

B

Blade_Crazy

Joined
May 26, 2011
Messages
704
I have always been interested in knives, probably cause my dad had a couple of nicer buck knives when i was growing up, plus i loved being in the woods camping, hiking, and everything else that is outside, and any time camping and such is involved the need for a good knife is close behind.

But i didn't dive headlong into the knife world until a guy at work showed me His Benchmade Griptilian (which got me looking). Shortly after that Dad got an Endura 4 FRN and it was over from there. I went from buying 20 "bargain" knives to being a hard core Spydie fan with my next purchase to be a Spydie Sage 2 with the Ti handle, and I i don't plan to end the "addiction" there.

Any way i was interested in what or who got you guys started.
 
Dad bought me an Old Timer single blade folder the day I was born and have it to me for my 8th or so birthday. What really kicked me into high gear was a Kershaw JYD 2 my mom got me for my 16th birthday and I bought myself a ZT0300. It all went down hill from there. :D
 
Its kind of a funny story -

I was 6 or so, in day care. I was playing a game with some older kids. They said I was going to have to fight some monsters (they also played the monsters) and gave me a toy razor out of a children's make believe shaving kit. When the monsters all ran at me, waving their arms and making monster sounds, I wasn't sure what to do. Then a helpful monster took my hand (the one with the toy razor in it) and made a slashing motion across his own chest. This caused him to fall backwards clutching his wound and howling in pain. That's when it happened! It was like in the movies where the light shines down from heaven and the angels sing. I was finally equipped with just one of the claws God had forgotten when he designed humans. I was now a much more complete beast. I went bazerk on those monsters, hacking and slicing, killed everyone of them. I've pretty much had a knife on me since then which was totally acceptable for a kid raised in a small Alaskan village. In fact, once I showed an interest in cutlery and received real knives from my Dad (immediately after the monster incident), I found out they were useful for things other than killing monsters. I ended up with the standard variety of pocket knives and a "hunting" knife. Then, the Holy Grail! My Dad gave me a Gerber Frisco Shiv which I had for about 20 minutes before my mom went nuts and made him take it back. Ah... the one that got away :-(
 
I used to go in a local knife shop at the mall when I was younger and buy cheap mtech knives. But I always lusted after a Kershaw A/O knife in the case, but it was way out of my price range ($150). Well now that I'm older and have more money, I just happened to remember that knife and decided to search on google to find out what model it was. I found out it was a Kershaw Boa and read reviews of the knife on here, and decided to pick one up online for ~$90. And so it began...
 
When my dad got me my first quality knife ( it was a Wenger that looked like a SD classic) I became hooked for life also a few years later my Uncle bought me a Case Jackknife for Christmas and got me addicted to traditional slipjoints.
 
I think what got me interested in knives more than anything is the fact that it was rebellion against parents that would have freaked out if they knew I had one. I bought my first knife at summer Boy Scout camp...years ago (I'm 43 now). It was an official "scout knife" but don't remember any details other than it had at least one blade, can/bottle opener and probably a reamer. I eventually cut myself with it...due to being dull...on my wrist. Now that was hard to hide/cover up from my parents...I don't even remember now if I said it was done with knife or made up something else. They didn't take the knife away but I definitely got an ear-full. Once I got into middle/high school, I was burnt out on scouting...more interested in band and school friends. My next knife was a Schrade LB7. That was bought as a gift for me by my dad's sister....so that one was in secret too. Unfortunately I have no idea what ever happened to the scout knife. The LB7 was stolen at work when I was in my early 20's. Memory is a blur on some of this but at some point I had discovered Victorinox. I do remember having one brought back from Switzerland by an aunt who traveled around that part of the world. I still have that knife. I did use it some but as I bought a few more, I decided to put it up for safe keeping.

Later in life, I discovered Gerber as I was looking for a locking folder. I still have those...I believe EZ Out and a Gator. In the early 2000's I started designing web sites...something I started learning on my own. A friend of mine a few years later opened a law enforcement supply store and agreed for me to design his first web site...and he was a Benchmade and Emerson dealer...so needless to say, I have a hand full of gifted and purchased Benchmade and Emerson folders. Of all of them, my favorites are the Benchmade 722 SBT Pardue at a great price and a gifted original Benchmade 710 in 154CM.

As time has gone on, there are a handfull of other Benchmade, Emerson and Victorinox SAK added to the collection. My main interest right now are rare/discontinued SAKs...I've found a few over the years and always keep my eye out for word on models to soon be discontinued. I have a new itch for a traditional folder...anything GEC is what's in my mind...but with the economy the way it is and being self employed/freelance I'm just waiting on a few projects to complete before I go after one of those.

John
 
I was dating a girl when I was 18 and her Dad bought an Air Products business and on the front counter was a Puma Knife Display Case and at that time I was using and carrying a Buck 110 W/Sheath and really thought that was the end of my knife buying.! "WRONG" The young ladies Dad did not like Knives and he told me I could have the Puma Knives with the Case for a $100.00 and the next day I bought them.* I took them off the counter and liked to have got a Hernia and I could not figure out why they were so heavy. Got it home and looked in the back of the case and there was a door with a Key that locked the case. Opened it and had a ball looking at all those knives and like a fool I gave most of them away and sold enough to pay for my buying the knives and I picked out about 6 or so that I liked and gave the case to a friend of mine who liked Case Knives and he used it to display his knives. From that day on I was hooked on knives and I keep thinking what all those knives would be worth today.! Oh well ~~ you lose some and you win some and can't see into the future { only wish I could have }.!!* We all would like to go back and know now what we did not know then.*
 
I found myself on temporary duty in Saigon during TET of 68 with a Philippine made dagger the only weapon available (they didn't trust us zoomies with guns). Didn't use it but it was nice knowing it was there and ever since I've had an obsession with sharp and pointy things.
 
Oddly enough it was this forum. I heard good things about Kershaw and came here and found the first iteration of the Kershaw forum. Then I bought 5 different ones. Now I am waiting for my first ZT. Not much of a collector (kids and such will easily remove fancy knife acquisition money) but hope to get more good users.
 
Through Scouting and a friend who began collecting before me. I went to an army surplus store, bought a Benchmade, and so it began.
 
When as a kid I left my Dad's Puma white hunter out in the rain for a few days and I spent hours trying to remove the rust and "restore" it. He scolded me for being careless but praised me for my efforts to clean it and taught me knife/gun safety and fundamentals. Been playing with knives and guns ever since.
 
I almost think I was born with a knife in my hand, but I know that was not the case. Dad always carried a knife and used knives a lot. As a kid I saw the usefulness of a knife and it allowed me to do things like cut stuff, and carve my initials in beech trees. My first knife was in the 2nd grade. I can still "see" that little slip joint. It was very small, but I was small. As I grew, the pocket knives got larger to fit my hand. Dad always said you needed a pocket knife that you could use and that usually meant it need to fit you properly. My first real knife was a Case Barlow. Used it to death. The blade broke once and Case replaced it for free. I wore the second one pretty much out with the blade worn so badly that it was fairly unsafe to carry.

So, I always liked knives, guns, and similar things...

I never really considered custom knives or even large fixed blades until I meant my Sister's husband to be in the 1980's. He had several Randalls, a Bill Moran blade, and several others. They were very cool, but I had no idea what these things cost at that time. Around 1988-89, I started attending gunshows and hit one of the Blade Shows when it was still in Knoxville TN. I don't even know why I went other than it was something to do that day. This is when I started buying more expensive knives and begining my education. Still getting educated and buying stuff I shouldn't.
 
I was about 5 or six years old and my father gave me my first knife. I remeber my mother telling me what ever you do, do not run the blade accross your hands. So as soon as her back was turned I did just that. A few stitches later I was hooked. I have carried a knife almost daily for the past 40 years.
Actually people I know think it odd if I do not have at least one on me.... But living in NYC I have to be more descreet about it these days
 
After I watched the movie 127 hours..... I started shopping for a "good knife" to take with me when I go hiking/camping and ended up getting a BK2. It all went downhill from there :D
 
OTF's got me interested, I then went looking on the net and found this place. Been broke but happy ever since.
 
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