Farewell to an old friend

jerseydevil · **on:** March 27, 2011, 05:20:26 AM

I was at a buddy's place earlier tonight, just hanging out. He went to open a beer with a cheap, no-name Chinese SAK knockoff he had in a drawer, and CRACK! The knife fell apart! After I finished laughing, I handed him my Tinker, which did the job nicely. For the rest of the night, he was fooling around with the Tinker. It was pretty obvious that he really liked it. At the end of the night, the question I knew was coming came: "How much do you want for it?" I was a bit torn. That Tinker was the knife that got me started carrying a SAK everyday, 7 or 8 years ago. It had come in handy far too many times to count, and there wasn't a tool on it I haven't used numerous times. Several other models had spent time in my pocket, but I always came back to that Tinker. I didn't want to see it go. At the same time though, here was an opportunity to let someone have a REAL SAK, not a cheap POS. I could tell he appreciated the quality and feel of it. So, I decided to let go, and sold it to him for the princely sum of 25 cents. I hate to see it go, but I'm confident it's found a good home. Farewell, old friend, and thank you.

Now, what to replace it with....

gadgetman7 · **Reply #1 on:** March 27, 2011, 05:23:35 AM

I just ordered a soft grip Tinker. It's basically the same knife but with different scales. I haven't gotten it yet but am looking forward to carrying it.

GraysonK · **Reply #2 on:** March 27, 2011, 05:36:10 AM

That was awfully nice of you. I've done the same with a Super Tinker, a Climber, and my LM Wave. I'm confident they went to good homes. Spreading the love! It's all good.

alelser · **Reply #3 on:** March 27, 2011, 06:19:09 AM

Nice gesture.

-Al-

Cyclone82 · **Reply #4 on:** March 27, 2011, 06:37:51 AM

What exactly is the 'soft grip' version?

You could have told him he can buy a new one for not much at all instead of giving him your treasured one.

AHB · **Reply #5 on:** March 27, 2011, 08:19:52 AM

Good one J_D..

Zed · **Reply #6 on:** March 27, 2011, 10:12:32 AM

That was a nice thing to do, i dont have many to give away or lend, but i gave my best mates son a micra, and i let him borrow the st300 that chako gave me a while ago, he loves it and has since got himself a skeletool, this is a good thing as gets more people loving MT's etc

pass on the love

edcgear · **Reply #7 on:** March 27, 2011, 11:32:14 AM

Spreading SAKlove...

And one more SAKnut is born...

Gareth · **Reply #8 on:** March 27, 2011, 01:25:20 PM

Very good of you mate. I gave away one of my first SAKs (a Climber) to a friend who was going to work overseas, sorry to see it go but I knew he'd get some use out of it.

Gareth · **Reply #9 on:** March 27, 2011, 01:27:35 PM

Quote from: Cyclone82 on March 27, 2011, 06:37:51 AM

What exactly is the 'soft grip' version?

You could have told him he can buy a new one for not much at all instead of giving him your treasured one.

here you go mate.

http://www.swissarmy.com/MultiTools/Pages/Product.aspx?category=new+softgrip+knives&product=53107&

Neil · **Reply #10 on:** March 27, 2011, 02:10:46 PM

A good move. You just collected three extra karma points

Cyclone82 · **Reply #11 on:** March 27, 2011, 02:34:30 PM

Never seen those before. Is it just a rubbery grip sort of?

gadgetman7 · **Reply #12 on:** March 27, 2011, 03:31:12 PM

It hasn't arrived yet so I'm not really sure. I got it for an excellent price and just wanted to try it out. I believe it's just a little softer not made of rubber.

Does anyone else have one?

grimm_kaosboy · **Reply #13 on:** March 27, 2011, 04:15:32 PM

Nice one, I tip my hat to you sir.

silentio · **Reply #14 on:** March 27, 2011, 04:57:40 PM

That was nice of you. But, did you tell him clearly that the knife is worth a lot more than the 25c you sold it to him for? People tend not to treasure things that are obtained cheaply. I hope he knows the true value (both monetary and sentimental) of that Tinker.

jerseydevil · **Reply #15 on:** March 27, 2011, 06:48:31 PM

Quote from: silentio on March 27, 2011, 04:57:40 PM

That was nice of you. But, did you tell him clearly that the knife is worth a lot more than the 25c you sold it to him for? People tend not to treasure things that are obtained cheaply. I hope he knows the true value (both monetary and sentimental) of that Tinker.

Oh, he knows, he's seen that knife in action many times over the years. I talked to him today, and he was pretty excited that he had it in his pocket at work, and the awl was the perfect tool at the right time! I have no worries that it won't be used and be as useful to him as it was for me.

nsa-x-file · **Reply #16 on:** March 27, 2011, 06:56:15 PM

Great story.

J-sews · **Reply #17 on:** March 27, 2011, 07:08:57 PM

Stirling3749 · **Reply #18 on:** March 27, 2011, 09:56:50 PM

Good on ya man.

...Should have held out for more though, like the last beer or something.

nuphoria · **Reply #19 on:** March 27, 2011, 11:03:48 PM

Very cool.... I love doing that too

The best bit is when they tell you months later how incredibly useful it has been!

enki_ck · **Reply #20 on:** March 28, 2011, 12:24:37 AM

Quote from: Stirling3749 on March 27, 2011, 09:56:50 PM

Good on ya man.

...Should have held out for more though, like the last beer or something.

I believe it was more of a "You should never gift a knife, it will cut the friendship" kind of thing. Right? So you "sell" it for a small coin. I love those kind of customs.

ironraven · **Reply #21 on:** March 29, 2011, 04:29:03 AM

You didn't give your friend a knife- you gave him a part of yourself.

Mercury · **Reply #22 on:** March 29, 2011, 07:21:29 AM

Pretty awesome thing for you to do JD. I couldn't imagine parting with a tool after so long.

jerseydevil · **Reply #23 on:** March 30, 2011, 12:45:57 AM

Quote from: Mercury on March 29, 2011, 07:21:29 AM

Pretty awesome thing for you to do JD. I couldn't imagine parting with a tool after so long.

Yeah, I had that Tinker for a while, and kinda miss it already. Kinda? Ok, I miss it

. I have my Super Tinker in my pocket, but it doesn't feel quite right. I have a feeling that a new Tinker is in the cards soon. But, I didn't give it to just any of the usual gang of idiots. I've known this guy since I was seven, and I just turned 32. I'm very surprised at myself that I hadn't given him a SAK somewhere in the past two decades plus. I'll call it a decent deal on my end.

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #24 on:** March 30, 2011, 01:27:15 AM

I think it's a lovely gesture, and I'd feel much happier gifting a tool I had fond feelings for to a friend I had fond feelings for rather than sell it to a stranger, and I'm sure the guy receiving it will feel a similar way. Don't worry too much if the new tool doesn't "sit right" just yet - you've yet to make it "yours". New friends seldom become best friends straight away - you need to get through some interesting times together first

Personal gifts are the best gifts of all - the best to give and the best to receive.

Well done buddy

Mercury · **Reply #25 on:** March 30, 2011, 01:27:49 AM

I once gave a good friend a Blast, but I had only owned it for about 4 months. He loves it too, it never leaves his side.

Aloxfan · **Reply #26 on:** March 30, 2011, 05:35:43 AM

Nice story. Gotta spread the SAK love.

charlie fox · **Reply #27 on:** March 30, 2011, 05:50:10 PM

Good job, way to pay it forward! If I had a nickel for every SAK I've gifted to the "less fortunate", well...

I COULD BUY MORE

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Farewell to an old friend

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