what were your early "bushcraft" knives?

[emeraldcoastbear]

I'm about to reach an anniversary with my favorite knife. In March I will have been using my Puma "auto messer" for fifty years. It was given to me on my twelfth birthday by my dad,who had picked it up while in Germany with the Air Force. It was actually my second sheath knife-I'd been carrying a Hawthorne since I was eight,and having shown responsibility and diligence in learning "woodcraft", I was rewarded with the Puma.
I thought it would be interesting to see what knives others had started with,and what knives allya'll had moved on to...
So here are some pics of my old friends-

ECBear
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd451/emeraldcoastbear/034.jpg
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd451/emeraldcoastbear/018.jpg
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd451/emeraldcoastbear/021.jpg
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd451/emeraldcoastbear/036.jpg

[pgun1267]

I had a similar one that my parents gave me around that age and it is still going strong.
http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m578/pgun1267/oldie.jpg

[solocanoe]

wow! 50 years and more... what a partnership!

I have nothing from my own youth, but I was allowed to use my G-pa's little blade - he taught how to skin and fillet with it - many times:

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/fsmh3/papasknifetome.jpg

I got this in a PX during my Army basic in '85 - I did everything with it for my tour. Many things a knife shouldn't have to do...but it never let me down. It's in a shadow box now in my sons room with some patches:

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/fsmh3/myoldArmyknife.jpg

[SlayerOfBunnies]

My only serious fixed blade from the time I was a teen until fairly recently (five or six years ago?) was this Camillus version of the Kabar USMC F/U (on my left hip). I abused the living heck out of it and it's managed to remain in existence in spite of my foolishness.

The sheath is a newer Kabar one (original sheath finally gave up the ghost) but the knife is Camillus...

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff187/GingivitisKahn/20090228_ac_03.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff187/GingivitisKahn/IMG00642-20100824-1845.jpg

[Muddy Paws]

Started with a Buck special then a Kabar and SAK Recruit. Great story and pics above.

[KajunKat]

my first fixed blade was a buck. I sold about a zillion magazine subscriptions to buy it. lost it in the swamp in about 4-6 inches of water, never did find it. I have since destroyed, lost or traded everything I had. I think my oldest knife is only a couple of years old. I had a SOG that I sold to my son this year that was about 20 years old. Come to think of it I am dang hard on just about everything but guns and trucks. (since I found toyota that is)

[PMSteve]

My first "bushcraft" knife was a Western Cutlery hunting knife that looks almost exactly like the first one in your post. I still have it after over 50 years and I still use it.

My first quality folder I purchased just out of boot camp was a Buck 110 folding hunter. I still have and use that one, too.

I have bought and sold hundreds of knives between then and now, but the best users always seem to stay in my possession.

Steve

[Mr.Black]

http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i401/operationalextras/Partisanpack020.jpg
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i401/operationalextras/Messtin045.jpg
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i401/operationalextras/Picture_0061.jpg
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i401/operationalextras/Mycountetrackers.jpg
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i401/operationalextras/stitchpacks042.jpg
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i401/operationalextras/Quickandeasy004.jpg
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i401/operationalextras/rattler018.jpg
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i401/operationalextras/oldgear030.jpg
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i401/operationalextras/Picture_0065-1.jpg

That all lead to to this.
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i401/operationalextras/USknives003.jpg

More to follow lol

[renter6]

My godfather gave me a copy of Blackie Collins' book about knife throwing when I was 13, so I don't have any of the knives of my youth anymore. Wrecked them all, either broke the handles or snapped the blades. He gave me a Hibben throwing knife and I lost it on a wild throw; he threw an old Kabar and it was just about rattled apart.

The only survivor from this period is a Buck 110 that I used in the boy sprouts. I swear I found that knife in the brush behind a parking lot near my house in Pittsburgh, probably used in a crime, and my mother took it away when I showed it to her. When I was old enough I found it stashed under the sink and started using it while camping. Its been sitting in the top tray of my tool box for 15 years now, and probably looks like every other 110 out there.

[Two Rivers]

NICE COLLECTION MR. BLACK

[anubis1335]

1980's survival knife..complete w/ compass and fishing kit and one of those made in pakistan folders that look like a buck 110. lol truth tho...and that got me by until i was much older....

[Awasos]

A Buck 112 folder and a Western Hunter fixed blade whit stacked aluminum bake lite rings handle.

[hellhammer]

Kabar marine corp knife and a Green River skinner made by my grandpa.

[emeraldcoastbear]

NICE COLLECTION MR. BLACK

+1 on that-ECBear

[emeraldcoastbear]

wow! 50 years and more... what a partnership!

I have nothing from my own youth, but I was allowed to use my G-pa's little blade - he taught how to skin and fillet with it - many times:

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/fsmh3/papasknifetome.jpg

I got this in a PX during my Army basic in '85 - I did everything with it for my tour. Many things a knife shouldn't have to do...but it never let me down. It's in a shadow box now in my sons room with some patches:

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/fsmh3/myoldArmyknife.jpg

That little blade of your G-pa's is a sweet piece. thanks for sharing.

[dog.breath]

My dad had this old Ka-bar that I used to get out and admire as a kid. He finally gave it to me when I was in jr. high school. I don't use it much anymore, but I do still enjoy it.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FAIccyGTvNs/TULfDTMUQ9I/AAAAAAAADKM/-nKV1TFVsXc/s640/img_1680.jpg

[Seeker]

my first was a Camillus factory second. they sold them cheap, and different groups would buy them for prizes. they had them on a series of raised 2x4, bigger knives in back, and for about 25 cents, you got 3 rings to toss. if it landed over a knife, it was yours. dad won me a one bladed folder with white handles at a booth of some sort. i was 6.

My next was a Camillus barlow, when i was about 11. I also won two Camillus Cam-Loks in various boy scout events in my tweens. I got my first SAK when i was 17. Got a Gerber Mark-II from my then fiance when i went on Active Duty in 1986. Have acquired several SAKs over the years.

A few years ago, I made my first real "woodsy" knife from a kit. Then i upgraded to a Falkniven F1. An a neighbor gave me a Camillus Close Quarters Combat Knife a couple years ago. And i also found a nice Western L66 on ebay for about $25 that i use once in awhile.

Pics are attached. The CQ blade is a stock photo from somewhere.

[Flag_Mtn_Hkrs]

The earliest knife I remember was what I now understand was a Camillus US Army folder. I beat the hell out of it throwing it at trees.

The second was a USMC Ka-Bar that was my dads as well. Beat it to $@#+ as too.

What a fool I was as a kid.

My oldest now is a Buck 120 I have had for the last 15 years or so. I never use it though, to big for my taste.

Sent via Hkrs_Mobile

[alex30808]

I remember my first knife was a Barlow. I can remember they used to hang at the check out counter at K-mart...I was given an allowance of $2.00 per week and saved my money until I could get it...keep in mind it was under $10.00 but that still took me a month of feeding the cows, watering the chickens, collecting the eggs, and walking the fence line...all at the age of 9 years old...today's parents would not let their kids feed the cows...much less take a gun and walk the fence line!

I've got no idea where that knife is or what even happened to it...I was at a hardware store last week on Tuesday with Survival Dude and there was a Boker Barlow in the show case...they were asking $45.00 for it...

[Bushwacker73]

I had a pile of the shitty survival knives. My first good knife was a Buck fieldmate with a Green kraton handle, saw teeth on the spine and scalloped serrations on the clip point.

[Capt. Jeff]

its funny to read that i am NOT the only one that ruined their knives throwing them!
i was given a very nice Swiss Army knife when i was younger. it was one that had about 20 tools on it! lol! went to a friends house and we threw it against a tree until it exploded into pieces! man my Dad was pissed!

[Mattexian]

My "first" was a Utica-made BSA Deluxe pocketknife, with carbon steel blades and fake ivory scales that have yellowed a lot since then. That got a lot of use in my first several years of Scouting, sharpening countless sticks for kabobs, marshmallow toasting, and hiking. I retired it once I got my first SAK, the sidelock 111mm Adventurer, so I wouldn't worry about accidentally closing it on myself. It's safely in a big plastic toolbox with a bunch of my other Scouting stuff ('cept for my uniform and show-off patch jacket).

Currently using the OH Soldier SAK (nearly the same for that ol' Adventurer, but with a saw and one-hand opening blade, in the OD military scales).

Matt in Texas

[RuggedBushcraft]

My father got me the Bowie knife when I was about 8 years old, before that it was your typical folding SAK.

http://a4.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/125/cf123e6f1ab3406b984d7d59db1d7aea/l.jpg

[benajah]

My only serious fixed blade from the time I was a teen until fairly recently (five or six years ago?) was this Camillus version of the Kabar USMC F/U (on my left hip). I abused the living heck out of it and it's managed to remain in existence in spite of my foolishness.

The sheath is a newer Kabar one (original sheath finally gave up the ghost) but the knife is Camillus...

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff187/GingivitisKahn/20090228_ac_03.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff187/GingivitisKahn/IMG00642-20100824-1845.jpg
I've had both Camillius and KaBar kbars and liked the Camillius one much better. Seemed to hold an edge better.

[glen1100]

My first real knife was a Marbles Expert. My Dad bought it for me when I was 12 years old

[GrowlingBear]

I started with the Gerber BMF. I used it on four-or-five trips. It's a little light for chopping but it splits OK. I then used my Black Jack Anaconda I. It stuck around as my main wood chopping tool for a couple years. I always had a SAK for smaller tasks.

http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b422/GrowlingBear1/BMFnANA1.jpg

[J]

Sak tinker in black was my first knife. I then had a case skinner for many years. I also had a camillus hawkbill. I own none of them now. Lost every damn one of em. Someone gifted me an old camillus hawkbill recently that made me really happy reminds me of being a kid. In the army i carried an old western knife with a stacked leather handle, and a px boot knife.

[Mtnfolk Mike]

great thread.. those are some nice looking blades folks..

the knives of my youth were a small Gerber folder(i forgot the name of it?) and a SAK Tinker.. i used those for many years.. those were followed my a Cold Steel SRK and Benchmade Mini-AFCK..

[MedicineMan68]

First knife for me was a Barlow that my Grandpa gave me. Ain't no tellin' where it's at now. My first "bush" knife was a Buck 119 Special which I still have. Had to save for an entire summer for it and bought it on my birthday... I believe I was ten. Broke the tip off throwing it into the ground and ended up grinding a new one (nice and rounded:27:) on there with a diamond stick.

[Rubicon_Dave]

An old Imperial Double Eagle 4515 I got from my dad...It went with me everywhere and I still have it.

Not mine, but the same knife...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/Gr8Scout/4515042.jpg

[Easy_rider75]

Didn't kow what bushcraft was back when I was a kid but my first camping and everyday knife was an old buck 110 my aunt gave me and an SAK my Grampa gave me. Never had a fixed blade before till this past year

[L.V]

Marttiini M571 in 80's / yearly 90's, then some bigger blades and now again those small ones.

[werewolf won]

I have a Puma that has been (and will be again as soon as I get a new sheath made for it) my constant companion in civilian life. While working for Uncle I carried a K-Bar.

Wolf

[Solphilos]

My old Uncle Henry Bear Paw was my main user since I was about 13, only recently retired. Accompanied me on many a camping and fishing trip, cleaned scores of dove, squirrel
and fish, carved many figure four traps and every other task now handled by my more specialized 'bushcraft' knives.

http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv275/trichosirius/100_3712.jpg

[Steveo1o9]

My first knife was a little pen knife that my grandfather gave me. It had what appeared to be white ivory(ish) scales and a large and small blade. I used to sit and whittle with it but that was about it. Fast forward to my early college years I found the knife and decided to start to carry it again. Well that didn't last long as I left the knife behind in a classroom while working on a project and never found it after that. Really wish I still had that knife and I can even remember exactly where I left it...

Wish I knew the brand so I could locate another.

Just ordered a Condor Bushlore can't wait for it to get here. This will be my only true bush knife, I do have a buck 110 for hunting use though.

[Looker]

My first dedicated user was an Old Timer Sharpfinger. I bought it because it reminded me of a stone skinner that I had seen on the cover of a book I had read when I was younger, in the hands of a Cherokee. I loved that knife and did absolutely everything with it (I had never thought of batonning back then). I bought it when I was about 11 or 12, and I had it until I moved into my current house in my late 20s. Sadly, I still have the sheath but can no longer find the knife (how did they get separated?). While it's not what we typically think of as a bushcraft knife, it was a good skinner and I loved it. I would love to get another one someday...

Looker

[theboomboom]

Well it all started with a Buck 119 Special, which led to a Mora #1, which led to a Fallkniven F1, which led to a Cold Steel SRK Carbon V, which led to a Habilish Bushtool...

Darn you guys, now I have to struggle with justifying having all these knives :54:

[Desert Drifter]

My self made Dall Deweese patern knife.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y220/loosenock/dall005.jpg

'drif

[Grizzly]

First real fixed blade knife that I used was the Buck 105 (I believe that is the number) it is called the Pathfinder. Still have it though it does not get much use. Is in my truck as a backup. I sometimes will take it on a long distance backpacking trip were weight is a real issue. The knife is light and tough, and holds a decent edge like most Buck knives do.

Have had the knife for over 20 years.

[alukban]

I had several balisongs... guess what country I grew up in? :dblthumb:

When we moved to "the states", a grand uncle gave me his Wenger SAK fisherman. My youngest brother uses it still.

My first real "outdoors knife" though was from when I was 15 years old in the mid-80's. It is this full tanged, custom micarta handled gem that I somehow managed to buy. I still have it and it is now functioning as one of my primary kitchen utility knives.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh178/bankayhoodlum/blades/3183b843.jpg

[Taliesin]

http://i555.photobucket.com/albums/jj469/Mo-Ped/blackpowder1.jpg
This was the first fixed blade knife I ever bought. It was made by Taylor. I bought it in 1983 (or there abouts). Got it at discount at a knife store, because the sheath was not 100%. I think I paid $30. It's surgical steel and extremely hard. Takes a bit to get it sharp, but then it's sharp for a long time. I carried this knife during Desert Storm and it will be handed down to my son.

[Swampfox]

Really great photos and collection Mr. Black. My 1st knives were a Buck 110 and a SAK, back when I was 8 or 9. Didn't get a fixed blade until a teenager, and damn I can't even remember what it was!!

[AirPirate]

I had one of the cheesy "survival knives" with the compass and hollow handle too. It was the only fixed blade my parents would allow me to have for whatever reason. Also of course an SAK, a Black Climber if I remember correctly.

[Bush Bear]

I had a Bowie knife almost exactly like this one. I got when I was 12. I carried that and a 18" Tramontina. That big old slab of knife actually held up to all my attempts at throwing. I used those two nearly every day on the farm. I think I sold the bowie.


My father got me the Bowie knife when I was about 8 years old, before that it was your typical folding SAK.

http://a4.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/125/cf123e6f1ab3406b984d7d59db1d7aea/l.jpg

[LMT66]

My first was a Barlow I bought at K-Mart. Ugliest thing I ever laid eyes on but it got used daily and felt good in my pocket. Then I had a couple Buck 110's, a Schrade skinner and a Buck 119 as I got older.

[Corso]

had 3

a SAK copy, a buck copy and a Rambo knife made out of tinfoil

though I was beyod badass

happy times

[Quill]

Fist knife was a Barlow. You could get them just about everywhere. For anything more I used a butcher knife. I think it is in my knife block. It was my parents. Snuck it out of the house over 40 years ago. I preferred the boning knife but mom used it all the time.