Your first "truly awesome" folder

50 years ago in high school, I sent away for a japanese version of the air force survival knife. They always made good blades. (They even tried to fight WW2 with swords.)

But the serrations on the back were worthless, and the edge angle was like an axe, but it did the job for me.

I still use it. But just last year I ground off the serrations, cut the blade edge back to a 22-degree angle, blued the blade, and dyed and waxed the leather handle.

After 50 years, it's like a new knife. I use it a lot more than it's bona-fide Camillus air force cousin. Nostalgia, I guess.
 
First was an oldtimer that was a liner lock, it has a brass liner that would lock. Can't remember the model but is when I was probably about 8 to 10 so say sometime around 78-80. Next was the Queen Cutlery Big Chief aluminum handles and cheap about 6 bucks, but awesome. Lost so many of those things on my Aunts farm riding go karts and playin in the woods it wasn't even funny. Just thinking about those knives and those days gone by brings a smile to my face tonight. Thanks, good post.
 
The one that started it all for me was a Kershaw Leek. Bought it from Cabela's a couple years ago on a whim.
 
My very first knife ignited the passion. It was a gift from my dad at around 10 years old. I still have the knife, a carbon steel Henkels two-blade slipjoint with dark jigged bone handles and nickel bolsters. The big clip point blade is 2-5/16" long with a 2-1/8" edge, while the smaller blade is spear point and an inch shorter. Closed, it measures 3-1/4". It takes and holds a wickedly sharp edge, and disappears in my pocket.

I don't carry it much anymore because I would hate to lose it, and I really prefer the combo of a locking one-handed folder plus a SAK for maximum utility.

It is funny to reflect that I carried a shaving-sharp knife every day from the age of 10 and never raised an eyebrow at school or anywhere else. I am indebted to my father for teaching me safe knife handling and proper blade etiquette from the beginning. I rarely cut myself and have never cut anyone else.
 
Last edited:
Mine would be the Kershaw Oso Sweet that I was given at a "product knowledge meeting" for work a year or two ago. I wasn't really interested in pocket knives at the time, having really only dealt with "traditional" folders and SAKs, so that handle and the Speedsafe flipper kinda blew me away.
 
The first knife that really got my fancy was the Kershaw Blue Mountain.
It just felt right and I used it primarily for about 15 years... hell of a lot of miles out of that knife.
The ZT 301 was probably the first knife I got that qualifies as 'awesome'.
Holy crap, that thing is a freakin' tank!
 
I'd say my Buck 279T was my first really good folder...been carrying it for nearly 5 years and its a tank and sharp as all hell!
 
My first "Wow" knife was a Buck Esquire. Carried it all through college and lost it the week I graduated.
 
My Böker Black forrest. I bought it a year ago. I LOVE it to death. Every time I pick it up I just feel quality.
568-in%20hand.jpg
 
Buck 110, I was about 8yrs when I got it, felt like a big shot. Truly fascinating at that age, sort of like the first time you had strawberry ice cream as a kid.
 
First decent knife I ever had was an old style Spyderco red Endura. My Dad bought 2 at a gun show for 35 dollars each and one was black. He gave me my choice and I grabbed the red one! Musta been around 12 or 13 and I carried that thing everywhere with me. I broke the plastic clip off on a door frame and after that it wasn't the same and I soon started to look for other knives that had repairable/replaceable metal clips.(and no serrations, as I can sharpen the PE just fine) And today I never hardly carry a knife clipped in my pocket because I catch them on brush so often. (belt sheath when hiking) So, the Endura started me on one-hand folders and the big single bladed one hand openers are still my very favorites to this day.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top