Home Forums Gear Knives and Blades Favorite old knives... what's yours?

New knives are always interesting, but many of us have some favorite old knives that are no longer made anymore. One of mine is a large 2 blade folding hunter made by Schrade-Walden over 30 years ago. This knife measures about 5 1/4" closed and has 4 1/4" carbon steel blades. You know you're carrying something when this baby is in your pocket:

I love those big ol' 5-1/4'' folding hunter patterns. Also like the old 4-1/2'' "Bullet" large trapper pattern as originally made by Remington, with several different modern replicas. Big old heavy folders with bone or stag, my favorites.

Here's another old Schrade that's more than 30 years old. This is from their 49'er series and is a 498L with a leather handle:

Gerber Pixie......................

One of my favorites is a big, stag-handled Ka-bar 2-blade folding hunter. It was my Dad's knife. He carried it for as long as I can remember.

Another favorite is a Marble's "Expert". The clip point blade is close to 5" long. It has a cocobolo handle with a stag pommel. This one was my Grandpa's knife. (Dad's dad.)

Sorry, I don't have any pictures to show. Guess I should try to remedy that situation.

That big folding hunter model is one of my sentimental favorites too. A jigged bone handled Case with their old carbon steel was my first "big game" knife. This in the early 70's. Big game here is whitetail deer. My dad has one from 1962 that he still uses. Case really built a nice knife back then. I think Queen makes a nice version of that knife currently with D2 steel.

WMac, what blade steel does that knife have?

My favorite old knife wasn't old when I got it but it's 50 years old now. I bought it in London, Ontario when visiting family in 1955. I was twelve at the time.

It is a Solingen hunting knive with stag grips a two piece leather sheath with folding saw, awl and fish descaler in the handle.

It is marked "Made in West Germany." The sheath is tired and the knife shows it's age as do I <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />but it's still a beauty.

It couldn't have cost too much, since I was generally poor at age 12 (and beyond.)

My dad bought this KaBar 1209 for me when I went to Vietnam in 1969. This knife never left my side during the year I was there:



Anyone remember the old Westmark knives from Western Cutlery? They offered 3 semi-custom knives, the 701, 702 and 703. I have a 703 that I bought when I was discharged from the service in 1970. I borrowed this picture from the net because I'm too tired to dig out my knife to take a photo:



I have a couple of old Puma knives that are also favorites, the first is a Puma Deer Hunter, similar to the Buck 110. I skinned my first bear with one of these in 1970. This picture is also ripped from the net for the same reason as stated above:



This one is a Puma work knife 644 that I bought in 1971. A classic knife and beautiful for it's simplicity. One of my very favorite knives:

Gerber bolt action exchange blade knife. It has 3 blades, drop point, gut hook (gasp), and a saw blade. Bought it new in 84 and it has seen a TON of game. It is always in my pack.

Hey WMacD, I have a similiar knife to yours that is probably my all time favorite "go to" knife for big game chores. Its an old timer alaskin skinner,identical to your photo except handle material. Got it in a trade in 1967. Has done between 20-30 deer and other game. Always liked the fact it held a good edge, was easy to sharpen, and had the other blade when the other did dull up. Just have to be careful they didnt close on you when taking care of buisness-great knife!

Yep, that would be the Schrade 25OT Alaskan model Old Timer. Same great knife, different handle material:

Here are mine:



I have no idea how old the Case on bottom is but it�s at least 40 years because I remember my Dad using it when I was a kid � and using it a LOT. Heck, the balls that thing�s cut off of livestock alone would probably fill a train car�

The Buck 110 on the top and I have just celebrated our silver anniversary. In 1980 I took winter and spring break off college to earn some cash by running a trap line, calling coyotes and working for an outfitter spring bear season. Not a week into it I was down in Boise and some lowlife scumbag POS broke into my pickup and stole my Randall 8, my absolutely most prized possession. Anyway, my parents bought me the 110 as an early Christmas present since I needed a knife and hardly had two dimes to rub together. We�ve shared lots of good times �

R. David / Thiers
Othello
Laguiole Hunter
Laguiole's
Spyderco Horn
Puma Winchester commemorative
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/Othello041990/SchradeUncleHenry.jpg[/img] Schrade Uncle Henry

OOOHHHHH Andre...I like the first picture...Tell me what's it made up of??? Handle, blade,etc....

Elf

Funny, that is the one I zeroed in on as well! That is one gorgeous knife. Everything about it works. How does the steel hold up?
M

Here is the knife made for me at the Steyr Works in 1947 when my uncle was the boss of occupied Austria. It's signed with my initals/Steyr/1947.

I also fell for its elegance and bought it a week ago (a steal actually. It's a Laguiole variation, incl. forged bee on the locking spring, that came from the same collection selling off I got the previously posted Gerber C475 from). OAL 8" - hollow ground blade 3.6", 440 C - silver plated, engraved bolsters and lining - handle looks like laminated and resin impregnated rosewood. Markings : LAG LOCK - 440 C - R. David (NB: a reputed Thiers/F knifemaker). It came with a simple but elegant, greased saddle leather, open top sheath. It has replaced my Spyderco as my everyday carry knive since.

the lags always hold interest; they appear to me elegant rather than dainty with their typically long lines. the top one is, indeed, a keeper/carrier with its more hand-filling grip.
and your knife, sav, is a beauty, too.

WmcD

RVN 1971, Echo Recon 2/1

Here is a picture of my Gerber that I got while at Ft Bragg Special Forces School. It is pitted with rust from all of the moisture in Vietnam and I cold blued the blade so it is black. The steel is very soft and sharpens to a rzors edge. Because it went to RVN and back it is worth $200-$300 now.

The other is my yarborough #167

WMacD...I have one of those KBar knives that I bought in 1968. I read a few years ago that this model was the first contract Navy Seal knife. It was a slightly smaller version of the Marine Corp knife with a blackened blade and resin impregnated waterproof handle. I still have mine also. The ones sold to the public were the contact over-runs.

One of my favorite "oldies" is a WWII vintage Cartaugarus 5.5" fixed blade. It served my father well in the Navy during WWII and then as my main hunting and camping knife for many years.

Bob