During the time I grew up, every man I knew carried a pocketknife. Carrying a knife was almost a rite of passage for young boys. It might be a two-blade small knife or a larger three-blade model but he had one. You didn't see any of the large blade models of today that are carried on a clip or in a leather holster on the belt.
A pocketknife was a tool. One never knew when the occasion would arise when a knife would be needed, whether it was peeling an apple, opening a package, cleaning fingernails or whittling on a stick, one needed to be prepared.
I remember my first pocketknife. I had accumulated a little money, probably from a grass-cutting job, so I went to Andrews, a local hardware store. I bought two knives that day, a smaller three-blade model and a larger fisherman's knife, complete with one blade for cutting and a second that was a fish scaler and hook remover. i don't remember the brand but I do recall that both had yellow handles. I paid seventy-five cents each. I no longer have the original ones I purchased but do have a similar model of the fisherman's knife.
In my early school years, boys were allowed to have a pocketknife at school. I recall playing a version of Mumbly Peg at recess with our knives. Mumbly Peg, at least our version, involved throwing an open knife to stick it in the ground near the foot of your opponent. Fortunately, no toes were injured during the playing of this game!
By the time I reached high school, the rules had changed and knives were not allowed. Imagine if a child arrives at school today with a pocketknife. I'm sure the penalty would be quite severe.
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| A selection from my collection of pocketknives |
I've carried a knife at various times during my lifetime, mostly when it was useful for my job. The Navy issued what is called a TL-29 knife. It has one cutting blade and a second "blade" that locks open and has a screwdriver-like end. I never found the screwdriver very useful but carried the knife nonetheless.
I would later carry a Swiss Army knife with several blades/tools, including a tweezer and a toothpick. Who could ask for more?
I always thought I could sharpen a knife until I started wood carving. Every man thinks he can sharpen a knife, just ask them! But few truly master the art.
There's an axiom among wood carvers: a dull knife will cut you worse than a sharp one. A dull knife requires a lot of effort and force to make a cut, often resulting in a slip that combined with that extra force, makes for a nasty wound. Complete with a carver's set of knives and other tools is usually a box of BandAids and a story of an ER visit!
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| Woodcarving knives |
So, I learned to sharpen a knife. As my brother Woody remarks, my knives are so sharp they cut a quarter of an inch in front of the blade!!
It wasn't until the last couple of years that I've gotten to the point my Daddy was at, where, if I've got my pants on, I've got a knife!
It all started when Mary and I were in a jewelry store and I saw a display of William Henry knives. One doesn't normally think of shopping for a pocketknife in a jewelry store but a William Henry is not a normal knife! These knives are made with scales, the proper name for the material comprising the handles of a knife, of exotic woods, stone or animal bones, mammoth tusks and the like. The blades are frequently made from Damascus steel, an ancient method of forging steel into swords and other cutting edges.
I started carrying a pocketknife at that point so I could one day justify buying a William Henry. I had forgotten how often a knife comes in handy. Nowadays, I use my pocketknife many times during the day and feel like I'm lost if I don't have one on me.
I've acquired several knives in the meantime, most of them eBay purchases where I try to find vintage models of unique knives. but I also have several current models of popular brands like Case, Buck and Kershaw.
But times have changed and now even a small pocketknife is considered a dangerous weapon. Courthouses, sporting events and most certainly airports prohibit any knives. Several times I've made a trip back to my truck to put away my knife rather than having to give it up to enter a building.
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| William Henry "Katsumi," Number 06 of 50 |
For my birthday in 2015, Mary bought me a William Henry, one made with a Damascus steel blade and scales made of fossilized dinosaur bone , one-hundred million years old! I don't carry it daily and it doesn't see much use in my work shop or when I'm working in the yard. I consider it my "dress-up" knife! Any other time, the knife I carry might be used for just about any task.
So, if I'm around when you need a box opened or a string trimmed, just call on me. After all, I've got my pants on, ain't I?
