The Gift

[Pheroze]

My son's friend came by today. His grandfather passed, and he inherited his camp knife. It struck me as probably the most beautiful token of a life well lived. Not a special knife with fine engraving. But, a silent testiment to this man's passion.

I am not sure if the photos show it. The knife blade is worn by repeated sharpening after days in the bush, and on the lake. He was a serious outdoorsman, and he used this tool well. I found this worn knife to be such a powerful reminder of the man who wore it. I never met him during his life, but somehow I feel like I was just introduced to him.

I know this lad will cherish this knife, and I hope it inspires him. I know it has inspired me.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Wow! That looks like an old Western Cutlery knife. It has a blood groove which you almost never see anymore. Western Cutlery was started on Marine Street in Boulder, CO by Harlow Platt. He learned his skills working at Schrade Cutlery. It was the oldest knife company west of the Mississippi.
Might also be a Schrade or Marble. They all had very similar designs.
Very nice!

 

[Pheroze]

Wow! That looks like an old Western Cutlery knife. It has a blood groove which you almost never see anymore. Western Cutlery was started on Marine Street in Boulder, CO by Harlow Platt. He learned his skills working at Schrade Cutlery. It was the oldest knife company west of the Mississippi.
Might also be a Schrade or Marble. They all had very similar designs.
Very nice!

That's great information, thanks. I will pass it along. The knife has a wonderful weight to it.

 

[Mekaniks]

Very Cool!

I don't think it's a Marbels or Remington since both manufacturers usually had their logo stamp on the blade. It could very well be a Western or maybe a Sharade. And I would say it's defiantly one of the larger manufacturers. Probebly built in the 1930's or 40's. That style of knife was really popular for about 20 years. I think a little google research and you can probebly figure it out.

 

[Pheroze]

Very Cool!

I don't think it's a Marbels or Remington since both manufacturers usually had their logo stamp on the blade. It could very well be a Western or maybe a Sharade. And I would say it's defiantly one of the larger manufacturers. Probebly built in the 1930's or 40's. That style of knife was really popular for about 20 years. I think a little google research and you can probebly figure it out.

The blade had something on it at some point. I couldn't quite make it out - could have been a word beginning with 'P' and possibly some numbers

 

[CAustin]

This is exactly what a young man should be left by a grand father. I hope the knife stays in the family for another generation or two!

 

[Ridgewalker]

Pheroze, blowing the photo up, it looks like "PETE" in caps. But it looks like a magic marker printing to me. That era (and most today) were stamped with the model number and manufacturer near the guard, like the "978-16-?". The manufacturer could be stamped on the other side.

 

[Pheroze]

Pheroze, blowing the photo up, it looks like "PETE" in caps. But it looks like a magic marker printing to me. That era (and most today) were stamped with the model number and manufacturer near the guard, like the "978-16-?". The manufacturer could be stamped on the other side.

The words were etched I think. I don't have the knife to look at now. I half wondered if he tried to engrave his own name on the blade. I was thinking Pete, or Petzl or similar. Beside the model number there were numbers scratched in, like the "Pete", a phone number maybe?

This is exactly what a young man should be left by a grand father. I hope the knife stays in the family for another generation or two!

I looked at my own camp knife, and thought I need to use it a lot more before I hand it off to any future grandchild

 

[Ridgewalker]

I looked at my own camp knife, and thought I need to use it a lot more before I hand it off to any future grandchild

Yes you should! Get some history/character on it! For your sake as well as the grand kids.

 

[jpr792]

If the knife could talk....

 

[Daniel222]

This is exactly what a young man should be left by a grand father. I hope the knife stays in the family for another generation or two!

I agree. Having read this post, I thought about such a gift for my son/ grandson.