Here is another good story about an inherited knife I have.
This knife was given to me by my father. He said this knife was from his uncle and was in WWII. He said it was one of the last things to get off an aircraft carrier before she sunk. He did not have much other information.
I researched my great uncle George and found out he served on the USS Hornet (same ship that successfully launched Doolittle's raid over Tokyo). Anyway, after the raid the Hornet CV-8 was struck by enemy bomb and sunk. My great uncle worked for the Purser and was in charge of the money onboard and the safe. He did not know whether to try to carry the safe to a lifeboat or let her go down with the ship. The latter was the eventual decision but he did not leave his post until he was sure no one else could remove the safe. So he was probably one of the last to abandon ship. He was rescued after some time and reassigned to the USS Princeton which saw battle all over the PTO.
Then, I had to research this knife and see if it was from the correct era. There was "plastic" on the handle pommel so I had my doubts. Turns out it is a WWII era knife that was popular with the soldiers to carry! It is a boot knife version Western knife (has RANGER on the blade) with Rosewood scales. The plastic was "Bakelite" and indeed vintage. I believe that the stories and the artifact match up so I am convinced I have a piece of history. Think of the stories this knife could tell as I am sure it was carried all over the Pacific in many following battles...when you jump ship you don't get to take much with you...but this knife made it!
Cool huh? I have not hunted with it yet but I made a dandy neck sheath for it.