All About Pocket Knives

After carrying my old Boker Congress for 50 years I finally decided to retire it.
I gave her a good cleaning, oiled her up and wrapped her up in a nice cloth.
I found an old Sodbuster I've had for a while and thought I would see how I like it.

Beavertail wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 7:54 pm After carrying my old Boker Congress for 50 years I finally decided to retire it.
I gave her a good cleaning, oiled her up and wrapped her up in a nice cloth.
I found an old Sodbuster I've had for a while and thought I would see how I like it.

50 years is a long time. I'm sure that was not an easy decision. Hope you find an adiquate alternative.

TPK wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 8:04 pm

Beavertail wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 7:54 pm After carrying my old Boker Congress for 50 years I finally decided to retire it.
I gave her a good cleaning, oiled her up and wrapped her up in a nice cloth.
I found an old Sodbuster I've had for a while and thought I would see how I like it.

50 years is a long time. I'm sure that was not an easy decision. Hope you find an adiquate alternative.

It was a really hard decision.
My father gave it to me for my eighth birthday.

Beavertail wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 8:12 pm

TPK wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 8:04 pm

Beavertail wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 7:54 pm After carrying my old Boker Congress for 50 years I finally decided to retire it.
I gave her a good cleaning, oiled her up and wrapped her up in a nice cloth.
I found an old Sodbuster I've had for a while and thought I would see how I like it.

50 years is a long time. I'm sure that was not an easy decision. Hope you find an adiquate alternative.

It was a really hard decision.
My father gave it to me for my eighth birthday.

Well I'm sorry about your loss my friend. Have you ever thought of looking for one just like it or close to it to carry as a substitution?

Nice to be able to still have it...even if you aren't using it. I don't know how many people who have been able to hang on to a single knife that long. Especially starting at the age of 8!!!

I'm curious about why you felt the need to retire such a faithful companion
None of my business, of course, so if you'd rather not get into it...

Steve Warden wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 8:37 pm I'm curious about why you felt the need to retire such a faithful companion
None of my business, of course, so if you'd rather not get into it...

Over the past few years I've noticed that's the blades were developing some wobble.
I'm afraid they might get worse so I decided to give her a rest.
I'll still carry her on special occasions like my birthday.

Glad you don't have to retire the memories Tim.

Beavertail wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 10:01 pm

Steve Warden wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 8:37 pm I'm curious about why you felt the need to retire such a faithful companion
None of my business, of course, so if you'd rather not get into it...

Over the past few years I've noticed that's the blades were developing some wobble.
I'm afraid they might get worse so I decided to give her a rest.
I'll still carry her on special occasions like my birthday.

I respect that. No sense in running her into the ground. Give her the test she deserves

You have made the right decision for a faithful companion. It is like putting your best broodmare out to paddock to spend the rest of her days peacefully.

I used my first knife a little too long. If I’d of retired it a year sooner it would still have a bail and the awl would be full length. It’s a really cool old SAK my dad’s coworker gave to him to give to me on my 6th birthday.

Good for you, Tim. I retired one I’d carried over 25 years. My wife gave it to me the year we married. But one day I lost it. That made me realize what it meant to me. It went missing for several months until our youngest son found it. I cleaned it up and retired it, lest I should ever lose it again. Sometimes I think about whether to leave it to one of our sons, or have it placed into my pocket when I’m buried.

They say “you can’t take it with you”, and you really can’t, but it can go with your body. We put my dad’s felt Stetson into the coffin with his body.

Ken

That's great that you were able to hold onto it for that long. It sounds like it's earned a retirement.

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 11:54 pm Good for you, Tim. I retired one I’d carried over 25 years. My wife gave it to me the year we married. But one day I lost it. That made me realize what it meant to me. It went missing for several months until our youngest son found it. I cleaned it up and retired it, lest I should ever lose it again. Sometimes I think about whether to leave it to one of our sons, or have it placed into my pocket when I’m buried.

They say “you can’t take it with you”, and you really can’t, but it can go with your body. We put my dad’s felt Stetson into the coffin with his body.

Ken

When Pop was buried we put a plug of Cannon ball chewing tobacco in the bib of his overalls.
He also had his pocket knife and a picture of him and Mama before they were married, She's 93 now.
We put Christmas flowers on his grave last week and I told Pop he couldn't have Mama yet she wasn't ready to go.

Beavertail wrote: ↑Tue Dec 15, 2020 12:27 am

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 11:54 pm Good for you, Tim. I retired one I’d carried over 25 years. My wife gave it to me the year we married. But one day I lost it. That made me realize what it meant to me. It went missing for several months until our youngest son found it. I cleaned it up and retired it, lest I should ever lose it again. Sometimes I think about whether to leave it to one of our sons, or have it placed into my pocket when I’m buried.

They say “you can’t take it with you”, and you really can’t, but it can go with your body. We put my dad’s felt Stetson into the coffin with his body.

Ken

When Pop was buried we put a plug of Cannon ball chewing tobacco in the bib of his overalls.
He also had his pocket knife and a picture of him and Mama before they were married, She's 93 now.
We put Christmas flowers on his grave last week and I told Pop he couldn't have Mama yet she wasn't ready to go.

Bob overalls, chewing tobacco, and pocket knives. I think me and your pop would have gotten along real well!

I understand all too well about retiring a favorite EDC. I just retired my favorite one for the same reason. I haven’t had it near as long as you had yours, but it was my favorite. Ya done the right thing.

Colonel26 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 15, 2020 1:23 am

Beavertail wrote: ↑Tue Dec 15, 2020 12:27 am

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 11:54 pm Good for you, Tim. I retired one I’d carried over 25 years. My wife gave it to me the year we married. But one day I lost it. That made me realize what it meant to me. It went missing for several months until our youngest son found it. I cleaned it up and retired it, lest I should ever lose it again. Sometimes I think about whether to leave it to one of our sons, or have it placed into my pocket when I’m buried.

They say “you can’t take it with you”, and you really can’t, but it can go with your body. We put my dad’s felt Stetson into the coffin with his body.

Ken

When Pop was buried we put a plug of Cannon ball chewing tobacco in the bib of his overalls.
He also had his pocket knife and a picture of him and Mama before they were married, She's 93 now.
We put Christmas flowers on his grave last week and I told Pop he couldn't have Mama yet she wasn't ready to go.

Bob overalls, chewing tobacco, and pocket knives. I think me and your pop would have gotten along real well!

I understand all too well about retiring a favorite EDC. I just retired my favorite one for the same reason. I haven’t had it near as long as you had yours, but it was my favorite. Ya done the right thing.

Thanks Colonel.

Sorry to digress off the knife topic, but one of the best "yes, you can take it with you" stories involves a business acquaintance of mine. Ken was the best golfer for an older guy that I've ever seen, before or since. He played to a legit mid single digit handicap well into his 60's. Golf was his passion. He would routinely cut down all the young long hitters at the knees that thought they could take him. In the game of golf, you don't get to be that good without being an exceptional putter. I know he played thousands of rounds with his battle scarred Titleist Scotty Cameron putter. His family laid him to rest with that putter by his side - no one else would ever have the same appreciation for that putter as he did with all the fond memories it gathered for him ... so yes, I'm a firm believer if something is that important to you, you can actually take it with you.

I've been carrying my Western 854 for about 45+ years and have retired it a number of times for something "better". That never lasts long and it sits in my pocket as I type this.