The knife that got you started

[J2000E]

We all probably have one knife in mind that got us started. For me it was my brothers Iisakki Järvenpää Scout. First it belonged to my oldest brother, then one inbetween and lastly and still me. It is battered and worn... Let us be nice and call it well loved.

As it is 11 years between me and my oldest brother I was not even born when he got it, around 1960-61. I asked the Järvenpää factory about the birch bark handle as the scout normally had and still have a leather handle. They confirmed that in the 60ies you could choose the birch bark handle for a short while. He got it when he was 7 or 8 years old and it all fits nicely into the timeline. I got it around 1971-72 when I was 7 or 8. I remember harassing my "middle" brother to get it and eventually he caved in.

When thinking about "a knife" this form comes up first for me. And despite that I have not got one in this design since then - until very recently. As the Scout is a very small knife for adult hands I went for a cirka 1970-80ies 3447 which is their midsized option. Found it locally at auction and it seems almost unused.

What is your "first" knife, do you still have it and what has it meant for your further knife-life?


I do not like the sheath though and I am going to get a custom one made for me.

The old one:





The "new":

[old Lefty]

Fantastic looking Järvenpääs and lovely story


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[Farmer X]

 

One of the first dedicated knives I owned was a Buck 425. It went through hell because I was a dumb kid who didn't know or care how to properly use a knife. The tip broke off because I pried something with it. Though it's long gone by now, I seemed to understand at a young age that a lockback is one of my preferred blade locking systems. It runs second only to the Virobloc.

[nate j]

Let’s see…

There were three knives my grandfather had that piqued my interest as a child.

The first was a Schrade Old Timer (US-made of course) small Stockman in carbon steel, about 3” closed.  Its blades were black with patina.  Whether he was mowing the grass, wearing a suit and tie, or anything in between, that knife was always in his pocket.  He used it for everything from opening packages to cutting up fish bait.

The second was a Western hunting knife with a brass guard, stacked leather handle, and leather sheath.  He was pretty much retired from hunting by that time, but he would still get it out and show it to us.

The third was my great-grandfather’s WWI bayonet.  That of course wasn’t used for anything since the war, but its long straight blade made it look more like a small sword than a knife, especially to a kid.  When I was old enough, I’d hold down the release button and listen for the soft hiss it made as it was drawn from its steel-and-leather scabbard.

The first knife that was actually mine was a Case Pen Knife.  It was followed a few years later by a Vic Spartan, which of course was the start of my love affair with SAKs/MTs.

Pretty sure I still have all of these, with the possible exception of the Old Timer, which may or may not  have been lost in a fire.  Maybe pics later…

[Farmer X]

Old Timer stockman, about three inches long...I'm thinking a 108OT? I might still have one of those laying around.

[nate j]

Old Timer stockman, about three inches long...I'm thinking a 108OT?

That seems about right.  If/when I find it, I’ll check to see if the stamp is still legible.