Home Forums Gear Knives and Blades What are the knives you’d never sell and/or the ones you most regret letting get away?

Was having a nice chat with MOGC and asked him this question. He mentioned that it would make for an interesting, and informative thread. I agreed.

I’ve only had two custom knives made since I fell down this hole, so I have nothing really to add in that regard, but I am waiting on two more.

Love to hear what your answers would be.

An old time blacksmith made some primitive knives for me back in 2016 and 2017. I gave a couple of them away, but kept a Kephart and a Canada Belt Knife style that he made for me. They aren't as pretty as a Howe, Ingram, or Winston, but they hold an edge and do the job when called upon.

Don't have a lot, only four customs, a couple antique English Bowie's, never sold any. I enjoy carrying a different belt knife every time I hunt. For me folding knives are pocket knives, and hunting knives are fixed blade. When my brother and I were old enough to go deer hunting, we went with our father and two of his friends , and the son of one of them. Both my fathers friends were vets that had walked across Europe in WW2, and both carried big knives, a big Cattaragus, and a Pal, looked like a Kabar, and that planted the seed. I inherited a Cattaragus from my FIL, and have a couple big Brownings, and a big Buck.

No knives with real continental value.


I do have a few i wouldn’t part with....

Couple of Rick’s knives marked “PROTO”

Winston’s
Ingram’s

any of mine are for sale at the right price. I am old, not that able to get out, and can't take 'em with me

Every knife I own can be bought.

i have my Grand father's Keen Kutter barlow that I treasure.

I have 5 I'd not part with.

Bottom knife is my Dad's Case bought in 1966. It bounced around the ranch for 40 years. No way to know how much meat it's cut.


Top knife is a 1981 Buck 110. Last year of the "Woodpecker Lips" hard 440C. I was down in Boise visiting my girlfriend when some scum sucking POS broke into my truck and stole the Randall Model 8 I'd received as my graduation present. I needed a knife so bought this one at a local Army/Navy store. It's been with me through a lot.



Third one is the Randall Model 11-3 (in the middle) that little gal I was seeing in Boise bought me as an anniversary present a couple decades later to replace the one that was stolen at her place right before we wed.

Last 2. I'd spoken with Geno Denning about making me a copy of a George Herron pattern I really liked right before he hit a bump in life's road that severely curtailed his knife making. Out of the blue 2 years later he called and said he'd been at the South Carolina State Museum cleaning up a display there sponsored by SCAK where he and Mr. George had contributed various knives/parts/tools illustrating the steps of the knife building process. He told me one of the things in the display was a roughed and heat treated blade of the pattern I wanted and asked if I'd like him to finish up the knife for me...well DUH. The late WC Davis made the folder for me as a matching compliment shortly before he passed. 3 great makers dearly missed.

My all time favorite, it ain't going anywhere but hunting with me. Ingram Slim Hunter...



Ingram B&T matches the Slim and does good work.




The wife and kids gave me this one as a retirement gift. It's a keeper.




Menefee Trapper is a keeper...



Brett Dowell B&T has a home here...



I need a skinner. Ingram Lite Semi...

I would never sell any knife gifted to me by relatives or my Personel used money-makers.NEVER my hunting knives....

Not a never sell or one that got away but my grandpa’s Old Timer Barlow that he got from a Prince Albert promotion, still have it but broke both blades digging spent bullets out of a old highway post that was used as a backstop when I was a kid.

Geez, got a pile of em. Hoping to make the kids/grandkids happy one day.👊🏻

Lotta nice blades right there brother, Grats!! 👊🏻

I have my Grandfather's old Schrade. He carried it for at least 40 years. Blade has been sharpened so many times it is thin and a half inch short. It is in a box with other momentos and one day will go to one of his great grandsons.

A few that got away and I wish I had back...

Have to be the Uncle Henry i got for my 12th birthday.
The one like a Buck 110. Used it for a number of years, until i started buying other knives to play with. Only one that means anything to me.

Got a Wyoming Knife from my wife for Christmas years ago.
Not sure if it's the knife or me, don't really like it.
Wouldn't be the last knife to go, but in the middle.

Back in '56 I acquired my first real hunting knife. A Kinfolks. My Mother asked "What does
a 12 year old need with a knife like that. Well I still have it, but not used in many years.

I have two that I wouldn't sell (one that nobody would want anyway):

Number one is my only custom knife, a drop point hunter my wife gave me for Christmas two years ago. Made by Seth Borries, who was a "Forged in Fire" champion.

Second one is my dad's Western fixed blade hunter. He gave it to me in 1970. Had a broken retainer strap on the sheath, but I carried it, and soon lost the knife.

I never told Dad (his temper was legendary), but I looked for it for years, every time I went for a walk in the woods behind our house, where I assumed I'd lost it.

Fast forward to 2003. We were having a new septic system put in, and my young son told me he'd found a rusty old knife in the dirt pile. That was it!

After 33 years it was recognizable, but rusted beyond repair, and I'll never part with it.

I rewarded my boy with a new Buck Woodsman.

I sold my dad's USA made sharp finger because I never warmed up to it and I had a large box of knives I inherited and didnt use.

Thats the only one because I never really used it growing up and you won't find the USA made versions now.

Long before I'd ever owned any customs, I had a Buck limited edition 1 of xxx I was pretty excited about. I used it on an elk one afternoon and had a bit of a rodeo in the dark packing out when my headlamp chit the bed. Digging out fresh batteries, that knife managed to fall out of my pack and is still on a hillside somewhere. I went back with a metal detector and tried to find it and was pretty bummed not being able to replace it with same.

I now have a drawer full of mostly production and a few customs, but these below are the last I'd part with: