Oh the memories...

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MidRoad

MidRoad

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While packing up boxes for my mom two weeks ago (she's now disabled and can't do too much), I came across something. I found my very first pocket knife. Couldn't believe it really, thought it was long gone. Many of my fond childhood memories took place with this guy in my pocket. Especially fishing with my brother at our camp in the Adirondacks. Although it is a cheap Twain made knife, it holds a special place. Nice to have it back!
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I don't know if this was my first knife or not. I also found it at my Mother's house while tearing out a wall in her basement. It dates to about 1950. Its a genuine Boy Scout knife. I don't have much feeling for it. It is what it is.... an old knife but I'll hang on it it and pass it on down to my survivors

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bannockburn said:
Bones741

Nice reunion!

I still have my first pocketknife; obtained by way of selling magazine subscriptions to get it from the prize catalog!

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I bought that same knife in a little swap shop a couple years ago. You never know what kind of jewels you will find. Can't beat the Kamp King for $8:D

I lost my first pocket knife years ago. I'm not even sure what it was. Probably some mystery slip joint my grandma bought at a rummage sale. I will say the first knife I can remember being gifted to me was from my dad at Christmas.

I remember it being under the tree. I was about 6 at the time. He put it there weeks before Santa showed up, so I had basically an eternity to be tortured over what it could be. My old man is like that to this day;) It was wrapped in simple paper. I could tell dad did it himself. I share the same deficiency in my wrapping gene when I am forced to bundle up my daughter's presents. Of course I could shake the box, but I had no idea what was in there. It was about 6" long and 2" wide. Heavy for such a little box. Not a toy. Not a watch. I had no idea.

Finally I got to open is Christmas morning. The gaudy stacks of gifts from Santa were shoved out of the way so I could finally figure out what was in that dang box. I opened it and found a multi-tool. A very simple thing and it didn't cost much money as my dad knew being a 6 year old boy in the country that I would lose it (I promptly did of course. Eaten by the creek, but that's another story). This was over 30 years ago, so Leatherman wasn't top of mind. This tool was a simple adjustable wrench with black plastic scales. It had slip joint tools that folded out from the handle. A knife, screwdrivers, etc. Etched in gold "fancy" font on the black scales was "Jacob". My name on my first tool. A contractor's son gifted a tool that could be pressed into most any application in a pinch.

From that day on, I don't think I have ever been without a multitool. Years of SAKs filled the role. I stumbled into the wonderful world of pliers based tools my freshman year of college when found it indispensable for assembling a two-piece boat while on the rowing crew. I've collected dozens of them, spent hundred and hundreds of dollars. I never leave the house without something in my pocket that can do more than just cut something. Still, all these years later, I will never forget that simple gift from father to son. Probably the reason I remember it so well, sappy as it may seem, is that my dad took the time to KNOW it would be something I would use and enjoy. Best gift I ever got.
 
Fiv3r said:
I bought that same knife in a little swap shop a couple years ago. You never know what kind of jewels you will find. Can't beat the Kamp King for $8:D

I lost my first pocket knife years ago. I'm not even sure what it was. Probably some mystery slip joint my grandma bought at a rummage sale. I will say the first knife I can remember being gifted to me was from my dad at Christmas.

I remember it being under the tree. I was about 6 at the time. He put it there weeks before Santa showed up, so I had basically an eternity to be tortured over what it could be. My old man is like that to this day;) It was wrapped in simple paper. I could tell dad did it himself. I share the same deficiency in my wrapping gene when I am forced to bundle up my daughter's presents. Of course I could shake the box, but I had no idea what was in there. It was about 6" long and 2" wide. Heavy for such a little box. Not a toy. Not a watch. I had no idea.

Finally I got to open is Christmas morning. The gaudy stacks of gifts from Santa were shoved out of the way so I could finally figure out what was in that dang box. I opened it and found a multi-tool. A very simple thing and it didn't cost much money as my dad knew being a 6 year old boy in the country that I would lose it (I promptly did of course. Eaten by the creek, but that's another story). This was over 30 years ago, so Leatherman wasn't top of mind. This tool was a simple adjustable wrench with black plastic scales. It had slip joint tools that folded out from the handle. A knife, screwdrivers, etc. Etched in gold "fancy" font on the black scales was "Jacob". My name on my first tool. A contractor's son gifted a tool that could be pressed into most any application in a pinch.

From that day on, I don't think I have ever been without a multitool. Years of SAKs filled the role. I stumbled into the wonderful world of pliers based tools my freshman year of college when found it indispensable for assembling a two-piece boat while on the rowing crew. I've collected dozens of them, spent hundred and hundreds of dollars. I never leave the house without something in my pocket that can do more than just cut something. Still, all these years later, I will never forget that simple gift from father to son. Probably the reason I remember it so well, sappy as it may seem, is that my dad took the time to KNOW it would be something I would use and enjoy. Best gift I ever got.
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That was a great story. The simplest things can be the most meaningful gifts. Thanks for sharing!
 
I am pretty sure my first knife was a Camilus cub scout knife. I have no idea what happened to it. I remember my dad carried a pearl handled penknife. I remember him doing minor surgery with it on some growth on his arm with that knife and thinking how that must hurt but he didn't wince. My first knife that I purchased as an adult was a Buck 300 series (305 I think), which is pretty close to what he had without the pearl. That knife I still have from way back then.
 
When I was a kid in NYC I used to carry a Mercator K55 pocket knife in my back pocket. It was an early, somewhat primitive lock back, very thin, made in Solingen Germany.

The blades on those would loosen up to the point you could flick your wrist to open it, it would qualify as a gravity knife nowadays.

I told myself it was for self protection, but thankfully was never used for that. Housing projects and subways were a little scary back then for a 12 year old on his own.
 
Speedo66 said:
When I was a kid in NYC I used to carry a Mercator K55 pocket knife in my back pocket. It was an early, somewhat primitive lock back, very thin, made in Solingen Germany.

The blades on those would loosen up to the point you could flick your wrist to open it, it would qualify as a gravity knife nowadays.

I told myself it was for self protection, but thankfully was never used for that. Housing projects and subways were a little scary back then for a 12 year old on his own.
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Those little K55s are classics. Well made and easy to carry, especially for the price. Mine hasnt loosened up like that, though.
 
Mom bought me my first one at about 8'ish from Kmart. Was a two blade canoe under the Kmart house brand with black jigged bone handle. Unfortunately I was far to trusting and left the knife on a table at Boy Scout meet and it was taken. Mom replaced it and IDK where it went to but it was carried for a few years. Wish I had it as a memoir from those times.
 
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