Replies to This Discussion

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Scott King on May 3, 2009 at 18:25

Trip down memory lane, Trent. I need to go see what I have in my closet too.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on May 3, 2009 at 23:53

I wish I still had MY first knife.
My Dad passed in 1996. He used to carry a Buck Stockman, till he lost it. His last was a Buck 303

My Grandfather carried this Barlow...

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Frazer on May 7, 2009 at 13:50

I'm kicking myself too, I lost my first knife that was my grandpa's EDC from when he was alive when I was a kid. I should never have let myself take it out with the boy scout troop. I should have taken a newer SAK. I'm really upset with myself, it's frustrating but I guess live and learn.

Moral of the story:
Never EDC a keepsake knife or anything really expensive in case it gets lost. In the case of expensive just make sure it's not so expensive for you that you want to die if you lose it. Everyone has a different definition of "expensive" some knives are only worth having if they are expensive (some good survival knives for example) just make sure it wont break the bank if you have to buy a new one. You'll kick yourself for (in my case) 18 years (and counting).

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Gary Kennedy on May 8, 2009 at 18:12

Great story . My first I can't remember , what it was but as soon as I was old enough to save my money .I would slip in the hardware store and buy a knife then when I went home my father would say I wasn't old enough to have it . This is where my passion for knives begin .After I was old enough to keep a knife I start collecting what my father carried a Case Trapper . When he passed away I have his Trapper along with about 150 others from xx to present . Not to mention about 700 other ones from customs ,Tactical, antiques, switchblade fixed blades and so on and on after 40 years of buying selling and Trading .Every time I see a knife I like It's like the kid I was looking at that display case in the hardware store .

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jim Prather on July 5, 2009 at 18:18

JJ...
Excellent tribute to your Dad and Grandfather. Bob Picklesimer has my grandfather's knife making a new back spring for it. I'll have it back soon.

Both of these were his. The one at the top is the one being repaired. The other he kept in his tackle box in a plastic case. He would clean it and sharpen it and oil it down after each fishing trip.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rob Gregg on December 14, 2010 at 8:06

These are 2 of Grandpa's knives now in my collection. The Imperial Fish Knife was his tackle box knife that he gave me when I was 7, my first knife and the knife that started me collecting. It looked a lot better when he gave it to me, but I kept and used it in my tackle boxes over the course of the next 20-25 years. I retired it to my collection the year Gramp's died. The Buck 501 was his last knife. When I got it, it was a script tang stamp model. The blade was well worn but still had quite a bit of life left in it. I actually used it for EDC for few years. One day my youngest son asked to borrow it to strip some wires for a trailer wiring harness he was putting on his rig. That little voice spoke to me, but I didn't listen. I handed him the knife giving him that fatherly "don't you hurt my knife" look. He gave me that look that teen age sons always do, as if to say, "yeah, yeah, I know". After just a couple of minutes, I heard that unmistakeable twang sound that sends shivers up the spine of any true knife fanatic. He slowly slid his way out from under the truck, the "yeah, yeah" look now replaced with the classic "oh, _ _ _ _"!! look. I have to admit, it was one of those moments when his next words needed to be very carefully chosen. They were. In his very best "I LOVE YOU DAD" tone, he explained how he had tried to use the knife to pry loose one of the clips that held the factory wiring to the chassis. What could I say? I had learned 'im up better knife eticate for years, but I reckon 16 year old boys just know more then their dads. (uh, huh) Anyway, I sent the knife off to Buck and for a few bucks (no pun intended) they replaced the blade and did a super job of cleaning the old knife up before sending it back. Sadly, they didn't send the original piece of blade back, I would like to have had it to go along with the story and a good reminder to show my son from time to time when he thinks he knows more then the old man. (never hurts to have one up on them youngn's ya know?) Thanks for a great thread and a chance to share another piece of my past. Rob 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Trent Rock on December 15, 2010 at 15:02

Rob Gregg said:

These are 2 of Grandpa's knives now in my collection. The Imperial Fish Knife was his tackle box knife that he gave me when I was 7, my first knife and the knife that started me collecting. It looked a lot better when he gave it to me, but I kept and used it in my tackle boxes over the course of the next 20-25 years. I retired it to my collection the year Gramp's died. The Buck 501 was his last knife. When I got it, it was a script tang stamp model. The blade was well worn but still had quite a bit of life left in it. I actually used it for EDC for few years. One day my youngest son asked to borrow it to strip some wires for a trailer wiring harness he was putting on his rig. That little voice spoke to me, but I didn't listen. I handed him the knife giving him that fatherly "don't you hurt my knife" look. He gave me that look that teen age sons always do, as if to say, "yeah, yeah, I know". After just a couple of minutes, I heard that unmistakeable twang sound that sends shivers up the spine of any true knife fanatic. He slowly slid his way out from under the truck, the "yeah, yeah" look now replaced with the classic "oh, _ _ _ _"!! look. I have to admit, it was one of those moments when his next words needed to be very carefully chosen. They were. In his very best "I LOVE YOU DAD" tone, he explained how he had tried to use the knife to pry loose one of the clips that held the factory wiring to the chassis. What could I say? I had learned 'im up better knife eticate for years, but I reckon 16 year old boys just know more then their dads. (uh, huh) Anyway, I sent the knife off to Buck and for a few bucks (no pun intended) they replaced the blade and did a super job of cleaning the old knife up before sending it back. Sadly, they didn't send the original piece of blade back, I would like to have had it to go along with the story and a good reminder to show my son from time to time when he thinks he knows more then the old man. (never hurts to have one up on them youngn's ya know?) Thanks for a great thread and a chance to share another piece of my past. Rob 

That's a great story!!
Thanks for sharing
I know a lot of collectors started collecting because of a knife they were given by their father or grandfather
I love hearing the stories :)

I have a few fisherman knives
Is that some sort of a "flipper"/opener on yours?
I don't think I have ever seen an Imperial with the flipper thingy
Or does it have another purpose?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rob Gregg on December 15, 2010 at 15:49

Hi Trent, thanks! That blade is a "Beverage Can Opener" (a.k.a. church key) It's actually the reason Gramps handed me the knife in the first place. Back in those days you still needed one to open a can of soda or most any other type of refreshment for that matter. ;-) He had taken me out on his boat to try and catch a few small perch to use as trot line bait. It was the middle of the summer and hotter'n blue blazes. I allowed that I was pretty thirsty, he reached into his cooler, pulled out an orange soda then into his tackle box for the knife. After showing me how to use it to open the can I handed it back to him. He looked at it, handed it back and said "I think it's about time ya had ya a knife, don't you?"  It's kinda hard to do cartwheels in a v-bottom boat, but...!!  That same afternoon I caught a pan size perch and he showed me how to use the knife to remove the hook from the fish's mouth and how to scale and clean what I remember as being my first "keeper".  
      Funny how many years can pass and some things you can remember as if they happened just yesterday. Hands down Gramp's was one of the finest men I've ever known. Even though I've shared these stories with my kids and grandkids. I really appreciate having a place like iKC to relive them yet another time.  Thanks again, Rob
Trent Rock said:

Rob Gregg said:

These are 2 of Grandpa's knives now in my collection. The Imperial Fish Knife was his tackle box knife that he gave me when I was 7, my first knife and the knife that started me collecting. It looked a lot better when he gave it to me, but I kept and used it in my tackle boxes over the course of the next 20-25 years. I retired it to my collection the year Gramp's died. The Buck 501 was his last knife. When I got it, it was a script tang stamp model. The blade was well worn but still had quite a bit of life left in it. I actually used it for EDC for few years. One day my youngest son asked to borrow it to strip some wires for a trailer wiring harness he was putting on his rig. That little voice spoke to me, but I didn't listen. I handed him the knife giving him that fatherly "don't you hurt my knife" look. He gave me that look that teen age sons always do, as if to say, "yeah, yeah, I know". After just a couple of minutes, I heard that unmistakeable twang sound that sends shivers up the spine of any true knife fanatic. He slowly slid his way out from under the truck, the "yeah, yeah" look now replaced with the classic "oh, _ _ _ _"!! look. I have to admit, it was one of those moments when his next words needed to be very carefully chosen. They were. In his very best "I LOVE YOU DAD" tone, he explained how he had tried to use the knife to pry loose one of the clips that held the factory wiring to the chassis. What could I say? I had learned 'im up better knife eticate for years, but I reckon 16 year old boys just know more then their dads. (uh, huh) Anyway, I sent the knife off to Buck and for a few bucks (no pun intended) they replaced the blade and did a super job of cleaning the old knife up before sending it back. Sadly, they didn't send the original piece of blade back, I would like to have had it to go along with the story and a good reminder to show my son from time to time when he thinks he knows more then the old man. (never hurts to have one up on them youngn's ya know?) Thanks for a great thread and a chance to share another piece of my past. Rob 

That's a great story!!
Thanks for sharing
I know a lot of collectors started collecting because of a knife they were given by their father or grandfather
I love hearing the stories :)

I have a few fisherman knives
Is that some sort of a "flipper"/opener on yours?
I don't think I have ever seen an Imperial with the flipper thingy
Or does it have another purpose?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Trent Rock on December 15, 2010 at 17:43

Trent Rock said:

Rob Gregg said:

These are 2 of Grandpa's knives now in my collection. The Imperial Fish Knife was his tackle box knife that he gave me when I was 7, my first knife and the knife that started me collecting. It looked a lot better when he gave it to me, but I kept and used it in my tackle boxes over the course of the next 20-25 years. I retired it to my collection the year Gramp's died. The Buck 501 was his last knife. When I got it, it was a script tang stamp model. The blade was well worn but still had quite a bit of life left in it. I actually used it for EDC for few years. One day my youngest son asked to borrow it to strip some wires for a trailer wiring harness he was putting on his rig. That little voice spoke to me, but I didn't listen. I handed him the knife giving him that fatherly "don't you hurt my knife" look. He gave me that look that teen age sons always do, as if to say, "yeah, yeah, I know". After just a couple of minutes, I heard that unmistakeable twang sound that sends shivers up the spine of any true knife fanatic. He slowly slid his way out from under the truck, the "yeah, yeah" look now replaced with the classic "oh, _ _ _ _"!! look. I have to admit, it was one of those moments when his next words needed to be very carefully chosen. They were. In his very best "I LOVE YOU DAD" tone, he explained how he had tried to use the knife to pry loose one of the clips that held the factory wiring to the chassis. What could I say? I had learned 'im up better knife eticate for years, but I reckon 16 year old boys just know more then their dads. (uh, huh) Anyway, I sent the knife off to Buck and for a few bucks (no pun intended) they replaced the blade and did a super job of cleaning the old knife up before sending it back. Sadly, they didn't send the original piece of blade back, I would like to have had it to go along with the story and a good reminder to show my son from time to time when he thinks he knows more then the old man. (never hurts to have one up on them youngn's ya know?) Thanks for a great thread and a chance to share another piece of my past. Rob 

That's a great story!!
Thanks for sharing
I know a lot of collectors started collecting because of a knife they were given by their father or grandfather
I love hearing the stories :)

I have a few fisherman knives
Is that some sort of a "flipper"/opener on yours?
I don't think I have ever seen an Imperial with the flipper thingy
Or does it have another purpose?

OHHHHHHH...I see now..I thought it was connected to the main blade....got it.....

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Terry Truett on February 8, 2011 at 8:26

Trent,  awesome knives!! I have several of my grandpa's old pocket knives but they where well used, sharpened many many times while castrating over 1000's of calves over many years. My grandpa passed away in 1981 and all the knives are in bad shape but have alot of great memories. Thanks for sharing your story and picture's!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by terrence ellington on August 22, 2011 at 11:34

Thanks Trent. My Dad or Grandfather never passed anything down to me but I tried to with my son. When he was seven or eight I gave him a Shrade sheath knife. It was a stubby thing no longer than 6in. overall. I've never seen another. They've probably all been lost by little boys in the woods, which is what happened to his. Not long after, on a camping trip, he comes and asks for MY knife- a razor sharp Case hunter. He says "I'm going to build a shelter". Some time later he came to me and says "Gee, Dad I know why you carry such a BIG knife". "Why?" "So you can grab it by the end and hack with it". I suppose I should have given him a proper tool for the job speech, but there where few moments of bonding and what the hell.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on August 22, 2011 at 18:27

Terrence,

Great story.  Like you said, worth it for the bonding

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page