Your "COOLEST" Knife?

[tnmandpshooter]

Esee 6

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[30-30remchester]

This is a BIG shout out for ABSALOM and WOOD714. These fine members realize the importance of the history of a knife. Both have left their knives untouched and un-cleaned. The dirt and grime tell their items unique history. I am a knife, gun, and tool collector. I have in excess of 500 antique knives. I made a good part of my living, taking something old and not working and making it new. So, when I started collecting old knives, I did the same. To date I have ruined nearly 500 old knives. Lessons learned too late in life. I cleaned up my late father in laws little folder. And this is when I stopped. I removed all his history and adventures from that knife. Many of the adventures I was with him at the time. I would give anything to have left it alone. But it was dirty and had pocket lint and a broken blade, so I "fixed" it. Now it is just a shiny object sitting on a shelf and the casual observer gets no hint of the miles traveled and or the reason it had the tip one blade broken off. But most importantly they get no sense of the great man that carried it.

 

[sceva]

Mine is a tossup between these two.

A Marble's Special order for the Ohio Gun Collector's






Or this Geno Denning hunter; it's a mini version of his GM model scaled down to about 6" overall. This is the first one ever made; it went on to be a popular sub-model. Geno is no longer making knives.

 

[CajunBass]

I'm not much of a knife guy really. I've made do with SAK's in my pocket, and a couple of folding Bucks on my belt for years.

But I do have one that I bought from a guy across the river named Ben Shelor. He called it his "Alaska Hunter" or something like that. I paid $200 for it, which seemed like a stupid price back in 1979, but looking back at it now, 40 odd years later, it seems it was a bargin.

I carried it a lot when I hunted and it's skinned many a deer. It never seemed to lose it's edge. Everyone who used it, loved it.

I had told him I didn't want a long blade...something about as long as my palm is wide. Other than that, it was pretty much up to him.

The blade is scratched up, especially on the other side where I scratched it before I really learned how to sharpen a knife, but that's OK. I put the wear on it, so I'll take ownership. It's been a good knife.

Oh. The hole in the blade. Everyone asks about that. Ben called that the "eye" of knife. I assume he put it on every knife he made. At least every one I ever saw a picture of had it. I never actually saw another one.

 

[Echo40]

My Coolest knife would be my Gerber BMF.

That is a really cool knife. I'm a sucker for sawback blades like these, it's a shame that they've sort of gone out of style. I would buy one if they were still made, same goes for the Buckmaster 184.

This is a BIG shout out for ABSALOM and WOOD714. These fine members realize the importance of the history of a knife. Both have left their knives untouched and un-cleaned. The dirt and grime tell their items unique history. I am a knife, gun, and tool collector. I have in excess of 500 antique knives. I made a good part of my living, taking something old and not working and making it new. So, when I started collecting old knives, I did the same. To date I have ruined nearly 500 old knives. Lessons learned too late in life. I cleaned up my late father in laws little folder. And this is when I stopped. I removed all his history and adventures from that knife. Many of the adventures I was with him at the time. I would give anything to have left it alone. But it was dirty and had pocket lint and a broken blade, so I "fixed" it. Now it is just a shiny object sitting on a shelf and the casual observer gets no hint of the miles traveled and or the reason it had the tip one blade broken off. But most importantly they get no sense of the great man that carried it.

I must partially disagree here. While I can see leaving a well worn knife alone, especially if it's a family heirloom, leaving dirt, grime, and especially rust on a blade seems almost disrespectful to me. It's like, I just can't see one of my ancestors approving of me essentially neglecting a knife out of some sort of sentiment placed upon it being dirty/corroded, but then again, my Grandfather was the sort of man who kept all of his tools spotless, ergo if anything he would be angry to see me neglecting one of his tools by allowing it to remain dirty/corroded just because it became that way once he took ill and was no longer able to clean it himself.

I also cannot help but feel like if the original owner left their knife dirty and allowed it to corrode, then that implies that it meant nothing to them, that it was a disposable commodity that they couldn't be bothered to wipe down after use, and thus any sentiment attached to the blade by a future owner is misplaced.

Scratches, notches, chips... Those are all signs of hard use which certainly do allude to romantic stories of the untold adventures it was carried/used during.
Dirt, grime, and rust... Those just strike me as signs of neglect by someone who really didn't care about maintaining the blade because they could just buy another.

But that's just me, based largely upon my own personal experiences, with my own Grandfather in mind, who wasn't the sort to leave his tools dirty, and would likely scold me if he had left me any tools which I left dirty just because they became that way in his absence.

If you fancy something as a treasured family heirloom which you intend to pass down through generations, then it's detrimental towards that goal to allow it to stay dirty and/or continue to corrode, not to mention that it sets a poor example for future generations when it comes to taking care of their things if you sort of romanticize the fact that an ancestor never cleaned nor cared for their things, then indirectly encourage them to do the same.

 

[VaTom]

I don't collect knives but of the ones I have this is the coolest. A WWII vintage US Navy Mk II KBar. Found at an auction in the bottom of a box that contained a 1970's Air Force survival knife and a military bayonet in poor condition.

Shown with my all original military contract 1943 Ithaca 1911A1.

 

[kmyers]

One that goes with me anytime I am out.

I flipped it to tip up carry and zip tied the Spyderco to wave open. Had it for decades and used it once for its intended usage one time many years ago when attacked leaving work.

 

[30-30remchester]

FORTE SMITTEN WESSON, I can relate to you above post. When and how much is the question. When I said I had ruined 500 knives, that wasn't entirely true. Many I rescued. It is the over polishing, re-bluing, blade buffing that makes us collector cringe. I bought a beautiful original, circa 1921 Honk Falls jumbo jack that was so over cleaned and polished it was of no interest to Honk Falls collectors. I didn't do that one. I used to re-blue WW 2 Western Sharks, if they had any wear. I admit this only because the statue of limitation on stupid acts has expired. It is not the cleaning, it is the turning them into "bling" condition that urks us. I still do clean certain knives. My most valuable folder is a vintage Remington bullet knife, baby muskrat with stag handles. I found it in a painters tool box, so covered in paint and rust, I wasn't sure what is was. Now at least after some cleaning you can tell its a knife. I stop rust to the point I am over zealous as rust is a cancer that will keep growing and completely consume an object. I will also try to remove scratches to the blade inflicted by a bench grinder. There is going to be a special seat in Hell for people who sharpen knives with a bench grinder or file. I acquired a stunning mint condition Case Tested XX green bone muskrat, absolutely mint, except someone sharpened it once with a bench grinder. Took a $1,000 knife and made a $20 knife out of it. Two examples I acquired this month are good examples of the extremes. One is a 1950's Kutmaster stockman with beautiful green swirl celluloid scales. It was found in such horrible condition that the blades could not be open. After some cleaning, but not polishing, it is a decent specimen. The other knife I bought was a 1930's era Roberson tickler with green bone scale. It is aging well and though the blades are not shiny and the bolsters dull it required and received no special treatment except a little oil in the joints and on the blade.

 

[Lee Barner]

a couple of my many "favorites". first is a German knife, fork and cork screw. all you need in Germany. I probably bought 10 or 11 of these over 5 years there as presents. the stains on the blade are probably from MREs. next is an 1880s English Gentleman's horse knife. you can hurt yourself trying to open all of the blades/tools for a picture. the bleeding has stopped. enjoy. Lee

 

[mauser9]

Some very "cool" knives indeed. Really nice collectable and special edition anniversary ones too. Knives make a collectible for the hobby. My only cool one would be the Puma Skinner from 1966 if you could call it that. Pumaster steel at least. Cost was around $28 back then so I would call the price pretty cool. Thanks to all for showing a fine group of knives.

 

[Xfuzz]

Not my coolest...but a good story.
For near 20 years I hunted out of Rocksprings Texas.
Large ranch of 14,000 acres.

Always had workers from south of the border passing thru.
Many times off season they would climb in a stand build a small
fire for the night.
Surprised they did not burn one or more down.

Anyway, I was invited back for a hunt around 3 years ago.
Climbed up in my favorite spot and killed the pictured deer.
Came down and sat under the stand to give the deer some time.

Looked down and found this on the ground....

The worn leather sheath was inserted inside the canvas.

The deer...

 

[dwh]

For me it my marble sport 99. I passed on this knife when they came out. I held one at a traditional archery shoot in Michigan and just couldn't justify spending that kind of money on knife. I regretted not buying it ever since. Well thanks to eBay I have one now and it's on my belt every time I hit the woods.

 

[gmborkovic]

In the early 70s, Dad rec. a Gentleman's Pocket Folder, brass handle with
ivory slab inserts from Jimmy Lile. With one small addition. Its a button spring actuated switch blade. Never seen another one. Mike

 

[BE Mike]

I found this one in the gutter when I was about five.

 

[H Richard]

I haven't seen anyone post one like this yet.

 

[Lonegle57]

Mine was made by a college room mate. He was making knives in college
and sometimes makes them now when he isnt building rifles. It is a damascus hunter with stage handles. I have a number of his knives from college days to the hunter. He is a Mastersmith in the ABS and just finished
a Ruger number 1 for me in 30-30. I sent him a beat up Ruger, he rebarreled, new trigger, refinished the wood and case color hardened the receiver. A true artist, craftsman and good friend.

 

[mk70ss]

 

[30-30remchester]

I am computer challenged to say the least so I am trying to post a photo of some knives I have stored in my albums. If no pictures show up please disregard this post and stop laughing.

 

[squidsix]

At work we dig up these railroad spikes from the late 1880s, and my friend makes knives out of them. I make the sheaths, and they go off to their next home.
He is getting pretty good at it.

 

[Smoke]

Not Even A Question



My RETIREMENT gift to myself

 

[Greyman50]

Collected US military knives for 40+ years, this modified knuckle knife would have quite a story if it could talk. These were mostly done by US Paratroopers in WWII. IIRC, picked up at flea market so no history.

 

[AJ]

The TL 28 is WW II USMC issue. A friend gave me this one. I have several that are marked U.S. that were issued to me and also several TL 29's that were issued to me.

The two sheath knives are USMC Ka-bars. The one on the left was given to me by my Staff. The one on the right was given to me by a friend who was a WW II & Korean War Marine Corps Veteran. He had carried it in both wars. He figured it needed to go to another Marine. When I cross the Rainbow Bridge it will go to my eldest Grandson, who also wore the Eagle, Globe & Anchor.

 

[leonardocarrillo]

This is an Argentinian Gaucho's "dress knife"; I received it as a gift from a Colombian horseman who we bought a Paso Fino from about 25 years ago. The hilt and scabbard are Sterling Silver, with 18K gold leaf highlights. The rear of the scabbard is shown to display the tab that fits over the belt when worn. The blade is stainless steel and holds a nice edge, and is fairly thin from edge to back. For some reason, the blade was buffed from edge to back near the hilt, where the maker's mark is located. This mark has "Fuca" in script, with Industria Argentina inscribed above and below it. The rest of the blade is polished lengthwise. The blade is 8 inches long, overall length is 13 inches.

The correct name of the brand is JUCA, they are manufactured in the city of Tandil in the province of Buenos Aires (Argentina), due to the shape of the letters, your knife must be from the 1960s, that style of knife is called facon.

 

[joe44va]

I think my coolest is my Benchmade Emissary 470 because of the S30V steel and the wonderful Axis lock. Williams and McHenry (Father in law and Son in law) invented the lock which I think is the best ever.

 

[britbike1]

Family made

The first knife is from my grandparents farm in Ark. Horse hoof knife made from and ixl. Notice the hook on the end for cleaning. The second a dagger was made by my dad in the navy in ww2 for his younger brother in the army. Unfortunately he was killed in France on 6-14
-44. Not sure if dad used a file or a spring. Very thin blade. The last two are brit P88 from Queen Victoria era. For Queen and Country!!

 

[Smoke]

I don't know that this is a "cool" knife but I'm proud of it.

A friend of mine gave it to me as a gift. It was the first Benchmade I owned.

It's a McHenry & Williams 710. It was the first Axis Lock Benchmade ever made.

 

[turnerriver]

I like this pair of stag handled knives. A friend comes from California most years to camp with us and I loan him the Case knife so he doesn't have to check any luggage. The Hoffritz came in a F.W. Byrd sheath, I remember looking at the displays at the Hoffritz store in Dadeland Mall when I was a kid.

Regards,

 

[crazyphil]

I have a tidy little collection of knives. Lock backs at left below.
2nd from left are some autos and semi-autos. But 3rd left is the
one I would call my coolest. I had the Solingen knife for a long
time, but it had a cracked handle. So, one day I took the cracked
handle off and made this one out of a pick handle. I remember
asking my Dad what he thought of it. He said it ain't much for looks,
but Hell for strong.

 

[s&wchad]

This is one of my "cooler" knives, a #4 Skinner by Hall of Fame knifemaker George Herron.



I'm also rather fond of this Henckel's Twin Works chef knife. The blade is 14" of forged Solingen steel. Michael Myers, eat your heart out!

 

[6518John]

Microtech Troodon. Out the front automatic. Makes knife regulators from coast-to-coast break out in hives before they go into apoplexy.

I always enjoy the Microtech warnings "Caution Sharp Edge." It's like the cowboy bar I use to frequent in my younger days with a sign above the urinals—"Don't Eat The Big White Mints."