Your Oldest User Knife

[bikerector]

I was admiring some of my older knives today, mostly fixed blades since that's what I used a lot when I was young and hunted and fished way more than today, and started to reminisce about the first nice knife I probably ever had, a buck 118 pro-line from Cabelas my dad bought me during a trip in his semi over summer break. I was trying to remember when I got it and it must have been shortly after hunter safety, so 20 years ago maybe?

I started doing a little research on the knife only to realize it's been discontinued for quite a while and was brought back at some point (didn't look too long). That's what made me curious as to how long I've actually had it since it's mostly hung out in a drawer since I haven't consistently hunted since I left for college years ago; lived in the city ever since so I can't just go out back and shoot some food. I'm hoping to change that soon as my wife and I plan to move away from the city more when she's done with her final bit of her training/schooling.

Anyway, what's the oldest knife you still have around that you've used and some of the history behind it? Besides being dropped a bunch the 118 is in pretty good condition after wiping it down with oil and a new sheath. I was a poor deer hunter, only even got 1, so it's mostly only cleaned rabbits and squirrels which weren't too hard on the knife. It was carried a whole lot more than used, that's for sure.

Used and retired is good too. I'm as interested in the stories as I am in the knives.

 

[RLDubbya]

Circa 1992 Spyderco Economy. A circa 2000 Endura is runner up. Both all stainless, the Endua has a SpyderEdge.

 

[SW-EDC]

My CS Voyager from early 90's.

 

[SALTY]

Buck knives in my case as well; an old 110 that has done much for me and brings back many memories as well as a Buck 119 Special that I field dressed my first elk with. No matter how many "better" knives I get - those Bucks (and some other Buck Knives) will always hold the most memories.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I only got this imperial Barlow and imperial h6 fixed blade last summer, but I edc them all time because they're so awesome.
The Barlow is probably from the 70's ( tang stamp dates '58-88' but I'm pretty sure they only used stainless in the 80's ) and the fixed blade is probably from the 50's as the sheath was so petrified and brittle that it has to be pretty old. ( the easily broken black delrin scales were also a clue )
I may not have had them their whole lives, but I'm sure to have and use them for the rest of mine

 

[GB940Rookie]

1960's Kiffe Bolo
1960's Case Canoe

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The bolo was found at a garage sale in bad shape about 5 years ago by a friend of mine who makes knives. He reconditioned the blade and made new scales for it. It comes with a WW1 sheath.

The canoe was obtained when my father died. I have no idea where he got it. He loved knives also.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Let's start with the oldest, mid 1800s Josef Sziraki Sleeveboard Lobster in Pearl with NS fittings. I got this at the first estate auction I went to and I carried it and used it for nearly 25 years before a member here sent me the history of the knifemaker. I'ts so well made that after almost 200 years it still walks and talks like a brand new knife. It takes and keeps a razor edge and always get put into service on occasions where I get dressed up.

Union Knifeworks Moose, 1911-1912. I either bought this at a flea market for a couple of $ or found it in a tool box either way it was covered in paint and rust with a broken blade. I cleaned it up and reground the broken blade into a box cutter. This old girl cuts like a teenager. She'll out cut any Modern production blade out there.

Also about 100 years+ Bastian Bros Knives. Another one that I bought for cheap only to find out 20 some years later it was an old valuable knife. Still it cuts like a fazor, takes an easy edge and keeps it so it gets regular pocket time. It also comes with a long story about how my detective work led me to it's age based on the coined covers.

Longest continuously used knife I own, Custom Bud Nealy Aikuchi made back in the late 80s when he finally became a fulltime knifemaker. I bought this at my first real custom knife show, either ECCKS or NYCKS I don't recall but I've carried it continuously over 25 years and a knife I'd trust my life with.

 

[bikerector]

Erdelyi, that's some nice history in those pieces. Those are quite unique. Love it.

Thanks all for sharing the stories so far. Keep em coming.

 

[leghog]

My EDs about 55 years old. An old ulster made for Sears. It's the knife at the top of the pic below.

 

[Wowbagger]

Hmmmm well the Buck 110 is the oldest. I carried it some way back (~1981) but just wasn't my kind of knife. I like the classic look but not the application.

The "fixed blade", kitchen knife on the other hand I EDCed and I mean every day for like a decade or more. I must have got it in the early eighties and only stopped carrying it in the late nineties or 2000 something. From day one I made a quick sheath for it out of thick card stock, three layers just like a real sheath, stapled all along the edge. I just put it in my back pack or bicycle bag. I carried it mostly for food prep, at lunch or at a friend's house . . . where ever I found my self. I did a bunch of house sitting and sleeping over so where ever I was at least I had a sharp knife for kitchen work etc.

I admit to carrying it for self defense if as they say the stuff hit the fan. Never had a close call though I traveled a lot, by my self, on my bicycle, late at night. Also a lot of bus trips from city to city. Which means a lot of walking city streets.

Guess I was lucky.

Now . . . it is just used in the kitchen . . . EVERY SINGLE DAY.
haha . . . I don't recall ever dropping it . . . if I did it would probably go right through my shoe and nail my foot to the floor . . . shades of Cold Steel videos (you know the ones through the boot).

The knife bellow it has taken over the fixed blade's EDC role very nicely. A folding flipper (Urban Trapper).

So as you can see THIN is the way I roll.