The second I saw that knife I knew I would buy one.
I was a huge fan of the Military at the time and always loved the lines on the Police 1, but wasn't a fan of stainless scales. Especially back then when I lived in a colder climate.
The new version caught my interest immediately. Index choil, full flat grind, and g10 scales. It looked perfect.
It's still one of my favorite knives nearly 15 years later.
Me and a buddy took a road trip from Ohio to Virginia that year. Fredericksburg, Virginia.
I decided Bluefield WV would be a worthwhile detour, only four hours out of the way.
I bought my first Police 3 down in Bluefield at New Graham knives. The pictures are all gone but you can read my post from 2008 here
I've been pretty loyal to new graham ever since.
They're one of the first places I check for any knife I buy, and I always swing by to make a purchase when I'm in the area. Even stopped by on my first bike tour to buy a flashlight to rig on my handlebars replace my misplaced headlight.
The years have gone by.
Many, many changes have happened in my life since 2008.
I no longer live up north, and now I'm a dad!
My little one has seen me use my "spider knives" a million times.
Whether it's sparking a ferro rod to start a camp fire, slicing up food for her, carving marshmallow roasting sticks, breaking down boxes, opening the mail, picking splinters, trimming a thread from her clothes, opening her new toys or trimming back briars on hiking trails - she knows daddy always has a spider knife on him ready to go.
She's been asking when she can have a knife since she was about 2 1/2 to 3 years old. I had to say no back then - she was too young and clumsy and irresponsible.
But I was just as excited for that day as she was.
I've watched her over the years. I've seen her play with two sticks and act like she's making feather sticks to start a fire. I've heard her talk about sharpening things so they cut better.
She asked me time and time again to let her try my big shiny chef knife in the kitchen, and she's always been obsessed with the tiny scissors in my Micras and Squirts.
Just like daddy thought those small Victorinox Classics were the coolest thing in the world when he was 4.
Gradually I taught her.
My hand over hers, teaching her how to rock the chef knife for quick push cuts. Showed her slicing motions with a baguette we baked ourselves. Making wood shavings together...
Explained the concepts of cutting away from yourself and the danger zone. Watched her become more and more dexterous with her safety scissors.
We took a road trip for spring break this year.
I showed her my roots.
I wasn't born in the North, but it's where I spent the bulk of my time on Earth.
We took back roads going from SC to OH. We stopped by all sorts of random things I've seen on my bike tours you don't always see from the highway.
Blue Ridge Parkway.
Big Walker Lookout.
Paint Creek.
Mothman.
Big Muskie Bucket.
Plum Orchard Lake.
Lake Erie.
And New Graham Knives.
I decided a few months ago - it's time. Time to let her pick out her first Spider Knife.
I let her look at New Graham's entire inventory. Besides the swiss army knives, she wasn't interested in anything but the pink Spydercos they had.
If I remember correctly, they had a Delica, Dragonfly and Squeak in stock in pink.
The Delica was much too large for her. I'm sure some day it will be too small for her - she's my blood after all!
The Dragonfly fit her better, but still looked a bit off in her grip. The lock was also too tough for her to work.
Thinking the slipit might be the ticket, she tried the Squeak. Even though it was a slippie, it was too tough for her to work as well.
I wanted her to try a Ladybug, so that was next. "But it isn't pink, daddy!" "Sweetie you've seen me dye my knives. We can buy a yellow one and dye it pink or purple or anything you want!"
She handled one and it was a very good fit.
The lock still wasn't easy for her, but she managed to unlock it herself at one point, which she couldn't do with the others.
I asked her which ladybug she liked best and there was no hesitation whatsoever. The hawkbill.
She was so excited when she was holding it.
At that point I believe she still wasn't 100% convinced I was going to buy it for her. It took another minute before it sank in this was for real, and she started beaming.
I remember telling her hold on, I want to look at daddy knives too. Planned to handle a bunch of models. Ended up checking out a caribbean and liked the ergos, though it was a touch small, but the super light detent killed my interest in it.
I looked over and could see the impatience in her eyes. She was ready to go ready to test out the hawk. I decided this was her day, and ended up not looking at any more models, or buying myself a knife. That's a first for me at NG!
I did not expect the reaction I got.
Of course I expected the hugs, the thank you daddys, and the yes I promise I'll be carefuls.
I didn't expect her to name it. I didn't expect her to want to "just hold it" for hours while we drove. Told her she had to keep it closed or it was mine and she listened, she just wanted it to be by her side. I'd glance back and sometimes she had it in her cup holder, sometimes she was flying it through the air like a pretend air plane, at one point she even tucked it under her headband "since my dress doesn't have pockets daddy." She cracked me up.
We didn't even make it back across the parking lot to the car before she asked to try it.
Here she is making her first cuts with it!
We continued our journey up North and she absolutely killed me. I forgot most the things she asked to cut but it was the silliest things, like opening the straw to her juice box, something she's been doing with her hands since she was 1. She just had that itch to try it out any chance she got.
Here she is using it for the super serious task of opening some ketchup for her lunch at a park in Charleston.
Amazingly day 1 passed without any accidents. I'd generally close the knife for her as she gradually builds up her hand strength. It's been over a week now and still no cuts to herself or to daddy.
Can't get over how cute it is when we show ours off side by side:
Tonight we finally got around to trying to dye ladyhawk. Pink, of course. Didn't turn out quite how we expected.
Told her if she wants I can order another ladyhawk and different pink dye, but I don't think she's going to take me up on that offer. You have to understand, this is her knife. Whether it's yellow, pink, or red, she's proud and she's been bragging to her friends.
I told her if she keeps being responsible with it and demonstrating safe habits, we can order her a pink dragonfly as a graduation present. She'll have a nice collection started then!
Just some dust in my eye.
