How many of you guys have old hand tools you have had so long that you think of them as old friends? I have several tools like that, in perticular my old rasp (60's) In my hands that thing becomes alive as it shapes a riser or a limb and I watch in amazment like an old friend you would trust completely. Some of my younger tools I have to watch carefully, they will mess up from time to time.

James.................

A lot of my new tools are 30 years old.. Just don't start thinking of old friends as tools, and all will be well.

I'm in my mid to late 60s and I inherited a lot of tools from my wife's grandfather so they are very old.

When I carved decoys I used a variety of very old small drawknife, modern drawknife, modern spokeshave, modern carving knives, old hatchet, modern files.  Sometimes you can't beat the Germans for producing some nice edged tools.

I inherited a bunch of the old...  I am talking pre 1955 Stanley woodworking stuff from my Grandfather.  I have about 12 planes including three rabbit planes, several fine cabnet type hand saws and a bunch of other stuff.

Honestly, when I work with them I can see and feel my Grandfather watching and telling me what to do....  good memories.  I am about 65 and this means alot to me.  Those tools are both my friends and my family...

I am in my late 60's and I have fond memories of my Dad piddling around his little shop and me helping as a kid, he was a carpenter by trade. He even built a few bows back then although he was never into archery. Most of his personal hand tools were lost to the family upon his death. Thankfully I still have good memories of the days spent in the little shop.

James..................