sm
member
I grew up with Veterans living nearby, this includes amputees.
Men and Women, who gave so much, to preserve Freedom.
Born in mid 1950's for a time line.
Knives were tools, it was not uncommon for a person to own one pocketknife, and that one knife served them for everything, and for a lifetime.
Money was tight, times were hard. One bought what they saved up for, could afford, or used Lay-a-way.
It was rite of passage when a young man, or young lady received that first knife, they had earned this right. One was not dressed, boy, girl, gent or lady was not dressed without a knife on person.
The knife was maintained, and kept sharp!
Pocketknife was an important tool, and amputees use knives as well.
Sometimes serious tools, like needing to cut a leash to free a dawg that in excitement had jumped out of a truck bed, only to be literally hung as the leash was secured, or just got caught on something in the truck bed.
Knives were often determined by location, and what folks did.
Single blade knives cost less money than multi blade knives. Simple matter of materials and labor.
The more materials and fitting, the more labor. Then again, folks knew tools, and how to use. Yes while some shapes and designs do make some tasks easier, it was the user of the tool, not the tool itself.
Single blade knives such as Barehead Trappers, or Slimlines , were popular.
These worked fine for farmers, ranchers and anyone.
Two blade Trappers, Big or Junior sized worked well, that Spey blade skinned a lot of game, from small to deer.
Sodbusters, Regular and Junior, with single blade, carried easy, and did hard work.
Three inch Pen knives, with one clip, and one pen, or coping, or spey blade, did everything for a lot of folks, from farming, ranching, to you name it.
Amputees, they have to get the dad-blasted thing open. That dog is literally hung, a shoe lace caught and a little boy, or girl is tangled up in a bike, skinned knees and hurt, that letter from a Vet buddy came in the mail...
- Match Stick.
Yep, just stick a kitchen match down in where blade rests.
Fiddle, adjust and the end of that blade will be exposed just enough for a lady or gent to catch on britches, apron (shop or kitchen) edge of desk...
The match stick stayed in place, knife worked just fine...
-Pinch.
Some knives did not come with a nail mark/ nail nick.
Design of knife with a "wide" blade that set up above the handles, and pinched it to open.
Even some knives with a nail mark, it was easier to pinch it.
With a file, "scoop" or "dish" these handles out a bit more.
Using nail mark, really did not apply to amputees, the Pinch worked best for everyone.
Just hold by the blade, catch the handle on again anything, dress pocket, apron, britches, desk, ...
One day, I listened and watched intently.
Vet had an idea, and he sketched it.
His sketch, instructions and other Mentor shaped the front of his knife, later on this would resemble what I first seen on a Case knife from the factory.
I do not know if he got the idea from Case or not, I honestly could not tell you. Just I know Case and others had these knives shaped, where the blade caught on something to assist in opening.
I could not find a picture, and I cannot recall the name, I do know years later I and others would buy these knives by the dozens and give to physically limited folks, be they amputees, or bad arthritis, or surgery and hand/wrist in a sling/cast.
Later on this Russ-Lock [tm] came out, again, a way to get a knife open, one handed.
These persons just wanted a tool.
They had fought real wars, and survived. Some fought these wars still when trying to sleep.
They had a knife...
Access was fast!
Like the times that dawg was cut loose, the kid getting untangled from a bike, or getting a letter from a Vet buddy...
I was present during these times, and others.
Something stirred me share How raised - What you do again.
Some things should never be forgotten, and passing on is the best way to insure these things do not get lost in time.
-
Men and Women, who gave so much, to preserve Freedom.
Born in mid 1950's for a time line.
Knives were tools, it was not uncommon for a person to own one pocketknife, and that one knife served them for everything, and for a lifetime.
Money was tight, times were hard. One bought what they saved up for, could afford, or used Lay-a-way.
It was rite of passage when a young man, or young lady received that first knife, they had earned this right. One was not dressed, boy, girl, gent or lady was not dressed without a knife on person.
The knife was maintained, and kept sharp!
Pocketknife was an important tool, and amputees use knives as well.
Sometimes serious tools, like needing to cut a leash to free a dawg that in excitement had jumped out of a truck bed, only to be literally hung as the leash was secured, or just got caught on something in the truck bed.
Knives were often determined by location, and what folks did.
Single blade knives cost less money than multi blade knives. Simple matter of materials and labor.
The more materials and fitting, the more labor. Then again, folks knew tools, and how to use. Yes while some shapes and designs do make some tasks easier, it was the user of the tool, not the tool itself.
Single blade knives such as Barehead Trappers, or Slimlines , were popular.
These worked fine for farmers, ranchers and anyone.
Two blade Trappers, Big or Junior sized worked well, that Spey blade skinned a lot of game, from small to deer.
Sodbusters, Regular and Junior, with single blade, carried easy, and did hard work.
Three inch Pen knives, with one clip, and one pen, or coping, or spey blade, did everything for a lot of folks, from farming, ranching, to you name it.
Amputees, they have to get the dad-blasted thing open. That dog is literally hung, a shoe lace caught and a little boy, or girl is tangled up in a bike, skinned knees and hurt, that letter from a Vet buddy came in the mail...
- Match Stick.
Yep, just stick a kitchen match down in where blade rests.
Fiddle, adjust and the end of that blade will be exposed just enough for a lady or gent to catch on britches, apron (shop or kitchen) edge of desk...
The match stick stayed in place, knife worked just fine...
-Pinch.
Some knives did not come with a nail mark/ nail nick.
Design of knife with a "wide" blade that set up above the handles, and pinched it to open.
Even some knives with a nail mark, it was easier to pinch it.
With a file, "scoop" or "dish" these handles out a bit more.
Using nail mark, really did not apply to amputees, the Pinch worked best for everyone.
Just hold by the blade, catch the handle on again anything, dress pocket, apron, britches, desk, ...
One day, I listened and watched intently.
Vet had an idea, and he sketched it.
His sketch, instructions and other Mentor shaped the front of his knife, later on this would resemble what I first seen on a Case knife from the factory.
I do not know if he got the idea from Case or not, I honestly could not tell you. Just I know Case and others had these knives shaped, where the blade caught on something to assist in opening.
I could not find a picture, and I cannot recall the name, I do know years later I and others would buy these knives by the dozens and give to physically limited folks, be they amputees, or bad arthritis, or surgery and hand/wrist in a sling/cast.
Later on this Russ-Lock [tm] came out, again, a way to get a knife open, one handed.
These persons just wanted a tool.
They had fought real wars, and survived. Some fought these wars still when trying to sleep.
They had a knife...
Access was fast!
Like the times that dawg was cut loose, the kid getting untangled from a bike, or getting a letter from a Vet buddy...
I was present during these times, and others.
Something stirred me share How raised - What you do again.
Some things should never be forgotten, and passing on is the best way to insure these things do not get lost in time.
-
