Photos Your knive’s story. Chronicles of our knives

[baxtrom]

(I don’t think I’ve seen such a thread, please excuse me if something similar exists)

I’m interested to hear if your knives have some special provenance, please share histories and anecdotes preferably with photos of the knives in question (and other relevant illustrations).

All stories are welcome

Maybe your father or grandfather carried that ka bar over the beaches in Normandy while liberating us Europeans? (Thanks for his service)

Or that mother of pearl pen knife that your great-grandmother was gifted by that famous old west gunslinger?

A Japanese folder that was brought back by your uncle who was a sailor onboard the USS Missouri when the Japanese surrender was signed? And that was gifted to you on your tenth birthday? Origato uncle-san!

Or the knife that was carried by your dad over decades as he was providing for the family? It doesn’t have to be about the wings of history.

 

[JPD1998]

I've posted pictures of this knife in the past.

My father-in-law brought this knife home, after serving in Europe during WWII.
My wife said he got it in Belgium, and it was on his dresser from 1946 until his death in 1980.

It looks homemade and the wood handle was already well worn when he got it.
From what I can make out, the name on the handle is Leslie Andersen. There was a Leslie Andersen who served during WWII, maybe they crossed paths?

The certificate was given to my FIL's port company. My wife said he witnessed the aftermath of the V-2 attack on the Rex Theatre in Antwerp (he was supposed to be inside but decided not to go to the show).

 

[baxtrom]

I've posted pictures of this knife in the past.

My father-in-law brought this knife home, after serving in Europe during WWII.
My wife said he got it in Belgium, and it was on his dresser from 1946 until his death in 1980.

It looks homemade and the wood handle was already well worn when he got it.
From what I can make out, the name on the handle is Leslie Andersen. There was a Leslie Andersen who served during WWII, maybe they crossed paths?

The certificate was given to my FIL's port company. My wife said he witnessed the aftermath of the V-2 attack on the Rex Theatre in Antwerp (he was supposed to be inside but decided not to go to the show).

View attachment 2159757

View attachment 2159763

And the thread is off to an excellent start! Thanks for sharing!

Edit: I didn’t even notice at first that the handle is shaped as a head.

 

[black mamba]

My dad was a lawyer and worked waaay too hard, but he did enjoy rabbit hunting on grandpa's farm and fishing on summer camping trips. This was the only knife he had for many years before he added a Rapala fillet knife. I got it when he passed in 1984.

 

[hsherzfeld]

Thanks for starting this thread!

I’ve mentioned my Grandpa Jim in the past in regards to him always carrying an Old Timer 108OT Middleman as long as I knew him (unfortunately, only about 14 years of my life coincided with his).

He was born in Elgin, OK and grew up on a farm during the Great Depression. He carved wooden toys for his brothers. He joined the Army Air Force cadet program in WWII, but the war (and the program) ended before he finished and he ended up as a Private, First Class. He served in Germany with the occupation army.

After the war, he went to the University of Oklahoma (my alma mater as well, mainly because it was his) on the GI Bill, studied mechanical engineering, and graduated in 1951 to begin a career at Shell as a drilling engineer.

He was long retired by the time I knew him. He and my grandmother cultivated a beautiful garden in their backyard, with stone pathways and a drainage system that he engineered himself.

He alway carried a small pocket knife, a 3-blade Old Timer Middleman.

After he passed, I thought his knife was lost, but my uncle found it and gave it to me last year.
Note the scratches on the scales in the second photo. They speak to the life of hard, honest work that my grandfather lived.

 

[baxtrom]

My dad was a lawyer and worked waaay too hard, but he did enjoy rabbit hunting on grandpa's farm and fishing on summer camping trips. This was the only knife he had for many years before he added a Rapala fillet knife. I got it when he passed in 1984.

Beautiful patina, a well used knife!
Is that the sharpening stone?

Thanks for starting this thread!

I’ve mentioned my Grandpa Jim in the past in regards to him always carrying an Old Timer 108OT Middleman as long as I knew him (unfortunately, only about 14 years of my life coincided with his).

He was born in Elgin, OK and grew up on a farm during the Great Depression. He carved wooden toys for his brothers. He joined the Army Air Force cadet program in WWII, but the war (and the program) ended before he finished and he ended up as a Private, First Class. He served in Germany with the occupation army.

After the war, he went to the University of Oklahoma (my alma mater as well, mainly because it was his) on the GI Bill, studied mechanical engineering, and graduated in 1951 to begin a career at Shell as a drilling engineer.

He was long retired by the time I knew him. He and my grandmother cultivated a beautiful garden in their backyard, with stone pathways and a drainage system that he engineered himself.

He alway carried a small pocket knife, a 3-blade Old Timer Middleman.

After he passed, I thought his knife was lost, but my uncle found it and gave it to me last year.
Note the scratches on the scales in the second photo. They speak to the life of hard, honest work that my grandfather lived.
View attachment 2159838View attachment 2159840

Thank you for sharing! Great that your uncle could save this stockman heirloom

 

[Just Tom.]

I keep hemming and hawing about whether to tell the story of this one or not, along with the stories of my first Opinel and my first Okapi. I think if only Porch members could view it, I would. It’s nothing as mysterious as I’m making it sound here, but it involves an iconic institution that many pretenders and wannabes have claimed affiliation with, and I feel it would sound like a load of bull.

 

[baxtrom]

I keep hemming and hawing about whether to tell the story of this one or not, along with the stories of my first Opinel and my first Okapi. I think if only Porch members could view it, I would. It’s nothing as mysterious as I’m making it sound here, but it involves an iconic institution that many pretenders and wannabes have claimed affiliation with, and I feel it would sound like a load of bull.

Don’t be shy! The thread is open, go ahead and share your tale of the Case lockback and the zippo!
Is it about Area 51?
I don’t even mind if the story is somewhat inflated, tell it like mr Ballen would. A tale of the Strange, Dark and Mysterious

On a side note, being a somewhat permanent guest on the BF traditionals sub forum since a few years back, I have still not fully understood the concept of the Porch. What does it refer to specifically? Sorry for the stupid question, but I am a Swede

 

[birdsbeaks]

Don’t be shy! The thread is open, go ahead and share your tale of the Case lockback and the zippo!
Is it about Area 51?
I don’t even mind if the story is somewhat inflated, tell it like mr Ballen would. A tale of the Strange, Dark and Mysterious

On a side note, being a somewhat permanent guest on the BF traditionals sub forum since a few years back, I have still not fully understood the concept of the Porch. What does it refer to specifically? Sorry for the stupid question, but I am a Swede

I believe it refers to the "Front Porch" -- an open space preceding the entryway to a structure that commonly includes rocking chairs and has been designed to facilitate the gathering of old men and the telling of great and numerous sea stories, tall tales, statistics, and other damnable lies.

 

[Danke42]

This one, issued to me as an infantry soldier in the 80s. At a time when supply clerks had a mandate to hang onto all the stores it was an achievement unlocked.

 

[Old Engineer]

My Father was an Electric Lineman for many years and he used this Old Hawkbill Pruner to strip Electric Wire . He kept it tied to his Tool Belt all of the time . I wanted very little from my Dad's things , but I did want , and have , all of his Climbing Gear and Tools . He was a tough old guy . The other knife is just an old user to prop up the blade of the pruner for the photo .

Harry

 

[Sventhelumberjack]

These were my Father's knives. He was born in 1934, served in the Navy in Korea, and was an Idaho farmer turned schoolteacher. He taught Industrial Arts for many years throughout my childhood, and there was almost nothing he could not build, fix or repair. The Gerber he wore everyday; the others were among a number of other knives he had, mostly quite utilitarian - a Kershaw lockback, and a Sabre brand trapper from Japan in imitation MOP. I miss my father, but I know that I will see him again someday. Love you Dad, thanks for your faithfulness and all of the wonderful memories.

 

[baxtrom]

These were my Father's knives. He was born in 1934, served in the Navy in Korea, and was an Idaho farmer turned schoolteacher. He taught Industrial Arts for many years throughout my childhood, and there was almost nothing he could not build, fix or repair. View attachment 2160774The Gerber he wore everyday; the others were among a number of other knives he had, mostly quite utilitarian - a Kershaw lockback, and a Sabre brand trapper from Japan in imitation MOP. I miss my father, but I know that I will see him again someday. Love you Dad, thanks for your faithfulness and all of the wonderful memories.

Your father sounds like the kind of father I would like to be to my kids. That’s my theory of the meaning of life, to first have a great childhood, and then make sure your kids have one too.

 

[baxtrom]

My Father was an Electric Lineman for many years and he used this Old Hawkbill Pruner to strip Electric Wire . He kept it tied to his Tool Belt all of the time . I wanted very little from my Dad's things , but I did want , and have , all of his Climbing Gear and Tools . He was a tough old guy . The other knife is just an old user to prop up the blade of the pruner for the photo .

Harry

That’s a hard working tool. to hard working men & fathers!

 

[baxtrom]

This one, issued to me as an infantry soldier in the 80s. At a time when supply clerks had a mandate to hang onto all the stores it was an achievement unlocked.

A full metal jacket folder! Hopefully one of those clerks are not seeing this and claiming it back

 

[Heathenhymnal]

Some of my grandfather's knives. I believe he carried the Case in the bottom left while deployed.

Grandather's old tackle box/ hunting knife... a super early American butterfly folder. by Hemming Bros from around 1905-1925

German officer's short sword my great uncle brought back from WWII.

 

[baxtrom]

Some of my grandfather's knives. I believe he carried the Case in the bottom left while deployed.

Grandather's old tackle box/ hunting knife... a super early American butterfly folder. by Hemming Bros from around 1905-1925

German officer's short sword my great uncle brought back from WWII.

Any background on the photos, are they his personal photos or generic air force ditto?

Interesting butterfly knife btw, it seems that design was quite ahead of its time. I would never have guessed 1920s or earlier.

 

[glennbad]

I have shared this before. My dad was career Air Force, and was an EOD technician. This was the kit he carried. The tool pouch was attached to the front of the knife sheath when he gave it to me, but I separated them and made a new stone pocket and reattached that to the sheath.




He used to lament to me that at one time early on, they had offered Randalls as issue fixed blades, and he wished he had grabbed one. I don't know if that was true, but he didn't have any reason to make that up, so I take him at his word on that.

 

[pa knifeguy]

Tom, I'd love to hear about your Case and Zippo. I'm sure others would too

 

[Heathenhymnal]

Any background on the photos, are they his personal photos or generic air force ditto?

Interesting butterfly knife btw, it seems that design was quite ahead of its time. I would never have guessed 1920s or earlier.

Yeah the photos were his own. He took TONS of photos while he was deployed. He was a pilot so all the photos in the post are either of him with his plane or photos he took from his plane.

The amazing thing is he wrote notes on the backs of most of them. Here are the notes from the photos in my post.

"Plane I flew in combat, Palawan P.I. Punta Princessa 1945"

"Between Asension Island & Africa on way over seas above Atlantic Ocean"

"Flying back from Roosevelts Funeral 1945"

"On way to Borneo to bomb oil refineries 1945"

"Me in A-26 in Osaka Japan"

Yeah I was very surprised too about the old American balisong/butterfly knife, I hadn't realized the design had really made it to the west that early on.