First knife you bought for yourself? Still have it?

[BDinPutnam]

I'm not counting the handful of bullshit "Swiss army" knives I got for a couple of bucks around the same time (you remember the type, ran about 10 bucks and the corkscrew AND the main blade would usually snap around the same time i.e. after about a week). Nor knives that were given to you, obviously.

For me it's a Gerber Magnum LST, circa early 90's. I still EDC this in the city from time to time and I use it around the house a lot. I bought it at Ramsey Outdoor on Route 17 in Jersey (back when all they had was the little store on the side of the road).

I *wish to hell* I had had the scratch back then to buy the SOG Tomcat gen one, and Gerber LMF.

Anyway, for some reason I had this out today and was thinking it would make a nice nostalgia thread.

 

[kev74]

When I was old enough that my parents would let me buy a knife, I went big. I bought myself a machete at the old Playtogs in Middletown back when they still sold guns and other fun stuff, probably around 1985 or so. I think it cost less than $5.

I still have it and use it in the yard, but the sheath has long since disintegrated.

 

[Blimey]

I do have a couple of huge, genuine Swiss Army knives, but they were gifts. Also a big buck knife got when I was 16. Used it today.

Otherwise first utility type knife was some $20 gerber folder. My EDC for past four-five years is a $4 folder from Walmart. Aluminum and I have carried it for years. I still carry it almost as a personal joke because like I said it was under $4 new but it locks well and is a perfect size.

I am thinking of getting a neck knife if I can get one that doesn’t show under business casual clothing.

 

[GTN]

Yep. SOG Trident. Only bought it 5 years ago

 

[Podmonkey]

Don't have it anymore but the first "proper" modern folder I bought was a SOG Twitch. Prior to that I used the blades in a Leatherman or Gerber, before that it was Swiss Army Knives. The real ones. I always had Buck Knives but I never carried em really.

 

[Curmudgeon]

Ka bar BK 3 tac tool. For some reason I thought that was the first knife I should buy.

 

[Mosinitis]

I have a lot of childhood memories connected to my swiss army knife. ..... and a few scars.

 

[masterswimmer]

When I was old enough that my parents would let me buy a knife, I went big. I bought myself a machete at the old Playtogs in Middletown back when they still sold guns and other fun stuff, probably around 1985 or so. I think it cost less than $5.

I still have it and use it in the yard, but the sheath has long since disintegrated.

Bought my first firearm at Playtogs. My 10/22 still runs like a champ. That was back in 1979 or 1980.

 

[BDinPutnam]

My EDC for past four-five years is a $4 folder from Walmart. Aluminum and I have carried it for years. I still carry it almost as a personal joke because like I said it was under $4 new but it locks well and is a perfect size.

I had to buy my wife a thermos today and Walmart seemed like the best place to do it- 2:00 at Walmart on Saturday I almost wished I had one of these in my cart to slit my own throat.

I have a lot of childhood memories connected to my swiss army knife. ..... and a few scars.

Definitely not knocking them; in the late 1980's/early 1990's in NJ at some of the shops by me you could buy "Swiss army knives" which were definitely not what you're thinking of, I don't think.

 

[Mosinitis]

Definitely not knocking them; in the late 1980's/early 1990's in NJ at some of the shops by me you could buy "Swiss army knives" which were definitely not what you're thinking of, I don't think.

Mine was Russian made in 1970's, decent quality.

 

[Saltwater60]

Funny you bring this up. I had a Gerber gator that I probably bought years ago and a black leather jacket bought about the sametime. I put the gator in the inside breast pocket and never took it out. A few years back my wife’s leather jacket had a few spots of mold on it and she said I’m going to pitch it. I said no I can clean and condition it. A while back going some place nice looking for my black leather jacket I found hers and not mine I thought she threw mine out and not hers. Well last week I started back at the gym after gaining a few pounds and looking for my workout shoes in the front closet I found my jacket and knife. The coat hanger had broken and the jacket fell between the shoe rack and the wal. It was invisible unless you got right in there. The knife was still in the pocket. I busted it out and show the kids. Ahh

 

[dubleuhb]

Bought at the surplus store in Lockport, late 70s

 

[Exonautic]

First real edc knife I bought that I could remember was a Kershaw assisted opening knife. Had a 3.75 in blade on it. Had it on me one day and I got surprised with going to a rangers game for the night. Which means msg in Manhattan. Had to toss it in the garbage somewhere to avoid being detained at the gate because that knife was technically illegal in NYC. Still a good birthday overall.

 

[dsdmmat]

18 years old in AIT Fort Rucker, AL, first knife I ever bought was a Gerber boot knife.

Could t tell you where it is 35 years later. I haven't seen it since 1985.

 

[minderasr]

Not sure where the line is between crap and real EDC knife.

During high school I wore a buck knife (folder) on my belt...everywhere...even in school. Everyone did. No idea where that knife ended up, it's long gone.

Around 1979 or so I bought a nice old timer (folder, buck clone). Had my name engraved on the scales. Again, no idea where that knife ended up, it too is long gone.

I've owned a lot of knives over the years. I own a lot of knives right now. Current EDC is a Benchmade 300 axis flipper, which I've been carrying since ~2017.

 

[cardinalny]

This was my first knife that I bought in the early 60s. I could flick it open so it acted like a switchblade. It was flat and easy to carry. I didn’t know it was a Wehrmacht knife

 

[Toecutter]

I bought a buck 110 must of been in my teens I don't remember, I still have it only folder that has lasted. I also had one of those Rambo knives with the compass built in. My mother took that away. It may have been my first but I think I traded baseball cards for it

 

[S&W Fan]

Back in the early 70’s when I became a Webelo in scouting I was allowed to purchase my first knife. A Scout utility knife made by Ulster knife company. I believe my Son has this in his knife collection now.

 

[BDinPutnam]

I had one of those too but my friend gave it to me.

For one dollar, of course. So I don't count that one for me.

 

[Mosinitis]

I missed "bought for myself" part. My first knife was given to me by my father when I was ten. I was over 30 when I bought my first knife. It was a Buck knife for hunting.

 

[Jackalope]

Fifty years ago this year, my mom drove me to a Western Auto store in Ballston Spa, NY. She allowed me to purchase a fixed blade, drop point knife with a leather sheath. I had saved up the funds from babysitting and yard work jobs. If I remember correctly it cost 12 or 13 dollars. I still have the knife and sheath. The sheath needs replaced, and I need to do a restoration on the knife, but it's still in decent shape. I'm thinking of restoring it and making it a everyday carry knife while at the homestead.

 

[pramaglia]

I bought my first knife in 1969 when I was in my senior year of high school. I started deer hunting that year and needed a hunting knife. I bought this Case XX 216-5 model and it's been sitting in my dresser drawer for the last 40 years. I just took it out to take these pictures of it. I took very good care of it and only used it for cutting meat. It still looks new.

 

[ArmedCorgi]

While it's not necessarily the first knife I've bought for myself, it's the first EDC knife I bought for myself. It's a Buck Vantage Pro. While it isn't the best one put there, I think it's a solid knife and I love the way it feels in the hand. The only issue I've had with it is just one of the grip screws backing out and getting lost.

 

[dwa12479]

My first "real" knife for EDC was this folder from S&W. Im on about my fifth one now over 15 or so years maybe. Absolutely love the MAGIC assist system. Its a bit bulky and heavy, but it rides perfectly in my right hip pocket.

 

[masterswimmer]

While it's not necessarily the first knife I've bought for myself, it's the first EDC knife I bought for myself. It's a Buck Vantage Pro. While it isn't the best one put there, I think it's a solid knife and I love the way it feels in the hand. The only issue I've had with it is just one of the grip screws backing out and getting lost.
View attachment 96913 View attachment 96914

Find a screw that fits, and a single drop of Loc-Tite blue or red will keep it set.

 

[218bee]

Another vote fer der K55K. Walked into a tiny thrift shop with my lunch money, probably 12 years old back in the mid 1970's and the guy actually sold it to me. Flicked and flicked till it slipped out of my hand and stuck in my inner thigh. Still have the scar. Never told Mom, though. Wish I still had it.. was my fishing knife and I think I just beat it to death..

 

[Vapor]

I think it was Gerber paraframe or a Kershaw vapor. Both are lost, long gone.

 

[HIghlander]

I bought one of these Hunter grooved handle Buck when I was 16 for deer hunting in 1971. I still have it and the leather sheath is still good.

 

[WillyK]

View attachment 39099 Back in the early 70’s when I became a Webelo in scouting I was allowed to purchase my first knife. A Scout utility knife made by Ulster knife company. I believe my Son has this in his knife collection now.

That was my first too, bought it with lawn mowing money. It's long gone. Next was a Case Mako that I've had for 40 years. It's pretty beat up and I still carry it occasionally.

 

[Xae289]

My first knife that I bought for myself was a Victorinox Spartan Swiss Army Knife. I don't know what happened to the original, but I must've been about 14 or 15 and took that thing everywhere. For my wedding, I bought one for each of my groomsmen as gifts and got myself one as well. I don't carry that one since I wouldn't want to lose it, but I do still carry a Victorinox Huntsman fairly often in addition to a fixed or locking blade.