We don’t get to see our grandson (or granddaughters) nearly as much as we’d like, but this past weekend we got to see all of them. Locke is nine years old and I’m not sure how the topic came up, but he wants a pocket knife. I got the impression that negotiations for a knife weren’t going too well in his house. I suspect that his parents (I’m guessing more his mother, but I don’t know that) think he’s too young to carry a [pocket knife.
I’m not sure how old I was, but my dad gave me a pocket knife when I was pretty young — and, of course, my mom thought I was too young. But since that very young age, I’ve always carried a pocket knife. I’m pretty sure I still have that pocket knife that my dad gave me.
I remember giving Dave a pocket knife when he was about Locke’s age, and I also remember taking it away a short time later, for some reason that i don’t remember.
Anyhow, for people my age, a pocket knife was an essential item. If you went out, you had your wallet, your keys and your pocket knife.
The first folding pocket knife was created by first century Romans. They were easy for soldiers and other people to carry, but the use and popularity of sheathed knives overtook the pocket knife and it fell out of favor for a while.
But by the late 16th century, pocket knives began to become popular again. They were especially useful in the American colonies. From farmers to lawyers, men in all walks of life began to carry them. It proved to be the ultimate portable tool — useful for a variety of tasks.
Men have been carrying pocket knives for centuries, but with increased security at airports and other buildings, fewer and fewer men have knives in their pockets. But — I think carrying a pocket knife is a manly tradition and it should be continued.
When I was growing up, my dad, my uncle, my dad’s friends, and just about every man, all carried pocket knives. For that generation, a pocket knife was an essential tool for daily life. A lot, maybe most, of my adult friends today don’t carry pocket knives. I’ve seen pocket knives used to repair cars, remove splinters, carve toys, opens cans and bottles, sharpen pencils, remove staples, cut zip ties, cut tags off new clothes, clean fingernails, separate LEGOS, strip wire, tighten/loosen screws, cut cheese, clean battery terminals, and probably a lot more that I can’t think of right now.
Pocket knives may not be as popular as they once were, but they’re just as handy, and sometimes, necessary. So if you ever find yourself in a tight spot, and need some help — just look around for a guy with a pocket knife. He’ll probably be able to help you out….
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