Did Your Dad Carry a Knife?
By
Gerry Niskern

When I say knife, I mean a penknife. The kind that boys used to carry. My resident historian carried a penknife that he said he had owned since he was a boy. In those days, no self-respecting kid would be caught without one. He bought his when he was about eight or nine, with money from odd jobs. It was a kind of “rite of passage” for a boy.
The knife was not for show. It carried a sense of responsibility. To own it required competence and good judgement.
His penknife was about three inches of stainless steel with a walnut covering. The blade opened with a smooth click and our kids thought that he could fix almost anything with it. The knife served as a screwdriver when one wasn’t available. It also sharpened pencils, sliced an apple for sharing, and cut the stubborn ribbon on a birthday present. Many a splinter was removed with that useful tool, sterilizing first of course.
The knife was used to break down twigs and branches for kindling for the campfire. Sharpening the point of a stick for stabbing your hot dog while camping calls for a penknife. And those sharpened points for the marshmallows can only get done with dad’s penknife. If someone forgot the can opener, no problem, the penknife could easily open the can of beans.
I understand with increased security at airports and other buildings, penknives have been disappearing from men’s pockets. I guess it’s a good thing Ken was traveling before things got so restricted. He had many trips for work to other states and some Asian countries and he always had his trusty penknife in his pocket. Whether he was wearing business suit and tie or Levi 501s, when he emptied those pockets at night, the penknife, rested among the money clip and coins.
Years of use had darkened the decorative wood inlay on the side. The important purchase of a young boy years ago had served its owner well.