I just felt like talking about this knife. The Native 5 in G10 and S35VN was my first Spyderco, after a long list of knives that were sometimes very good but did not especially impress me. I've talked about how much I love this design on a weekly basis here, so I won't write an essay about it.
My grand-father gifted me my first knife. It's a story shared by many here. It was a Victorinox Huntsman that I used in my adventures with my friends, building cabins in the forest, facing monsters and doing stupid stuff. He was like a father to me up to my 5/6 years old, since my father was in the Military and rarely present. For a little boy, being there as much as possible is what counts. He came back fully, and from then I had the chance of having 2 fathers.
Sadly, the illness really diminished him over the last 5 years and he reached the point where it was time for him to go. He had a full life of 85 years, built a loving family that has good values and knows how to stick together. His departure is hard, but we all know that he deserves to rest, after all the pain he went through.
For the funeral, I just decided to carry this knife (I lost the one he gifted me as a kid, but not before I had used it for countless hours and adventures). For me, this knife is the continuation of the spark my grand-father lit when I was about 10. I felt the need to write about it, and how it (maybe weirdly) is part of the strong link between me and "papy". Most of his soul went where it already was, in the heart of all of his loved ones. But I can't stop myself from thinking that there's a tiny piece of it in this knife too.
I'll keep using it, and it'll keep making me think of him, certainly for the rest of my life.
This thread might be a bit weird, and my feelings might not translate correctly into words, but I wanted to share this for a good week now, I had this weight on the chest.
Thanks for reading, and thanks Sal, for a knife that became more than a knife to me.
Since we have privately talked , I want you to know I will carry my Native in memory of your Grandfather and you , my wonderful friend . Dan
