As a child growing up in the early 60’s knives to me were a toy. My grandfather gave me an old Case pocket knife that I used mostly for whittling points on sticks. I learned the basic rule to always cut away from me. Dare I say later in life some carving experts informed me that there are certain circumstances under which you should cut towards yourself but I am uncomfortable with that.
When I was in third grade my family moved to a small farm (if you can call 10 acres a farm). Suddenly y knife became a tool around the farm as well as a toy. A few years later I joined the cub scouts and my mother bought me a real Boy Scout Knife. In Webelos we started going on camping trips where we found lots of uses for those knives while camping and fishing. I’m quite sure, however, that I did not get all of the intended usage from that knife. I mostly used the long blade. Nevertheless, it piqued my interest in Swiss Army Knives so someone gave me one of those as a Christmas present one year. I felt it was cheap with its plastic handle when compared to the old world craftsmanship of my other knives at the time!
Throughout my childhood years I envied the Buck knife but did not own one until I was an adult. That was the ultimate long blade folding knife. Not only was it useful with that sturdy sharp blade but it was beautiful as well with that hardwood and brass handle. By the time I got one I really had no use for it except to admire its beauty.
Much later in life, I went with my pre-teen son to a knife and tomahawk throwing competition. That was an eye opening experience for both my son and I. Not only was it amazing to see those knives being thrown, it was also entertaining to see the competitors dressed like mountain men and women. Of course, after that, my son and I had to have a knife and a tomahawk of our own! We scrounged up a couple of cut cottonwood tree stumps and set them up in the back yard for practice. We learned it was more difficult to throw those and make them stick than it looked!
These days I have a few knives in my knife collection including that Buck knife, Throwing knife, and Tomahawk. I often look at knives at gun shows but the prices for old originals like I like seem high to me. I guess I am still stuck in the 60’s expecting 60’s prices.
Unlike my brother-in-law, who is a true knife collector, I never got into tactical knives. In addition to many classic knives he inherited from his father and grandfather, he is also quite interested in military and police knives. To me they are like ARs of the knife world. They certainly have their place, and are the best tool too have in certain circumstances, but I guess I am still drawl to old world craftsmanship.
Finally, I am not much of a cook (thanks to my wife spoiling me) but I do like a quality cooking knife set! Unfortunately, so far at least, we have to settle for a low quality set because that price factor comes into play again. I just can’t see spending hundreds of dollars on cooking knives. Maybe it is time to upgrade to a medium quality set!
