There are some outdoorsmen who choose to be buried with their favorite knives. If that’s someone’s wish, it should by all means be honored. Too often, though, no one talks about what they want to happen to their blades when they’re gone. If that’s the case your knife could be destroyed, donated to charity or sold to someone who’s going to let it rust away in a toolbox. If you don’t want those things to happen, you should, at the very least, make a casual mention to your loved ones about your wishes for your knives. You may not realize it, but even a simple comment uttered once over a sandwich 25 years before you die will likely be remembered by those closest to you.
That said, there’s much to be said for passing your knife on to someone you know and trust. An obvious first choice is a son or even a daughter. Friends who don’t know much about knives should be considered, too. If they knew you and how much you cared about your knives, they’re going to have strong bonds with your knives. In actuality, though, it’s probably best to pass your blades onto another enthusiast. If you’ve ever received one after the death of a friend or family member, you know the powerful feelings that come with those blades. For many people, it’s how they came to appreciate knives in the first place. If you don’t know of any enthusiasts in your area, you might consider willing them to a knife or weapons museum — particularly if they’re old or rare. Search on the Internet for suitable homes, or visit manufacturer’s sites to see if they have a knife museum. For starters, there’s the Zippo/Case Vistors Center and Museum in Bradford, Penn., for Case knives. There’s the Museum of Weapons and Early American History for old knives in St. Augustine, Fla. And there’s the recently-reopened National Knife Museum in Sevierville, Tenn., which takes donations and displays its collections for free. Chances are, if the knife meant something to you, it’s going to mean something to someone else, too. You just have make sure it finds its way into the right hands.
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