While in Jr. High, my folks bought me a high end trombone. I played all through high school and passed it to my son who also played it through high school. After he was finished,I had it reconditioned and played in a swing band for a number of years. It’s collected dust for the last 20 years but I think about pulling it out to join a local community band. The horn is about 65 years old.

As an 18-year-old kid struggling to make a living repairing cars, my girlfriend at the time and her mother went to Sears and bought a Craftsman 10 drawer roller cabinet for her to give to me as a Christmas gift. Mind you, this was a grey box with red drawers, back when they were made out of real metal. That box is still in use today in my garage at home. The girlfriend? I've been fortunate to call her my wife for 47 years now.

Two parents to the end, and the understanding that my parents gave me everything they could.

As for a physical gift for a son turning 18, I might suggest a tool set. He won't always live with you. But he will own that tool set to the very end. Not much lasts a lifetime anymore. Wrenches and sockets probably would (Harbor Freight need not apply). A man should own some tools.

My parents gave me a gold chain for my high school graduation and later a gold coin from Germany, from which they both immigrated, for my college graduation.

We did the same for our daughter as such a gift reminds one of both your parents and your ancestral beginnings.

Back in the early 70's when I first started driving clunkers and learning how to keep them rolling, my dad went to Monkey Wards and purchased a basic tool kit for me. Used it alot until metrics came into vogue. Now it is Snap-On and early Craftsmen that is being used. Still have the socket set he bought me.

If he uses a wallet, then a quality wallet made with an ‘exotic’ animal skin, like alligator, Eel or ostrich, etc., which will last for MANY years, would be a nice gift.

You could get his name or initials embossed on it too.

Find out if he prefers a bifold or a trifold style.

He will see it, hold it, and use it daily, which will remind him of you.

I graduated college as what was called a “non-traditional student,” I was married and had two kids. My dad wanted to buy me a class ring, but I had no interest. I asked for a pair of custom made cowboy boots. I went down to Nogales and Paul Bond himself measured my feet for the boots. They were pretty special, french waxed calf foot with 16” canary yellow tops, and a riding heel. A class ring would be sitting in a drawer somewhere; I wore the boots out. I’ve got a second pair of Paul Bond riding boots now. Maybe one of my kids will want to display my saddle like I do, then they might sit at the foot of the saddle stand for many years to come.

Stuff isn't important, and most of it will be obsolete or forgotten before long. The kind of gift you're seeking will be something he won't fully appreciate for decades. Keep in mind he is 18, which means whatever you give will need to travel with him both physically and over time.

I have a few tools from my father, and some from my grandfather and great-grandfather. But the heirlooms, which are still very useful today, would not have been meaningful to me at 18. So, I think a high quality basic tool kit might be a good choice, keeping in mind it will be utilitarian and not necessarily kept intact over time.

I would caution against anything of substantial value that could be a theft risk, like a Rolex.

I still have, and play, a nice guitar my parents bought me when I was 13 years old. If your son has a long continued hobby interest, perhaps something nice in that category. It would be more meaningful than a purely utilitarian gift, even though the utilitarian is practical.

Is there a trip or activity he would enjoy doing with you? e.g. driving super cars in Las Vegas, or a long weekend fishing trip?

A good starter set of hand tools .

12 years old, Gramps gave me a Marble's match safe for kitchen matches. Its been 50 years, losing it would really upset me.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
This will sound corny to many, and probably won't apply to most on here, and of course, I was too young to realize it at the time, but mine is freedom, in April 1975. As to any material gifts I received as a youngster, I can't even remember them, let alone still appreciate.

It would be hard to beat that gift.

There’s a lot of different ideas.

One, would be charge him “rent,” and put it aside for him, without telling him, as a nest egg for when he moves out.

Another, if he’s moving out soon, would be a good mattress.

As far as mementos, I still have my watch my father gave me - wearing it today, actually, but it has to be one which can be worn without any apologies.

A stainless Rolex, when I was young, was such a watch for a young g man. Now, maybe a Sinn/one of SEL instruments new field watches (I think their dive watches are a bit over the top.), or an MRG Square. Heck, a Stainless screw back resin square works, if the budget is tight.

It needs to be something which a man who can afford Blancpain, Cartier, etc still would wear.

This probably applies to tools, fly rods, reels, etc. No grown man wants to use “kids stuff.”

How is he about keeping things? Somehow, I lose pocket knives all the time, now. As a young man, I did not. A GEC knife is a good, gentleman’s knife.

If he’s going to travel, bags are a good choice. I still have my old Dopp kit, somewhere - and I have a Pelican case which has been dragged all over.

Nothing can beat Q's gift; but I still have my baseball glove given to me at Christmas, 1972. It got me through two seasons of Summer baseball (never made the high school teams though) and some softball play time up to the early '90s. I put it under the tree every season. My first real glove wandered off with a "friend" in Jr. High, and this one took its place.

quote:

Originally posted by cooger:
A shotgun I used when I went hunting with my dad as a kid. Mossberg 12g, older than I am and has been shot a ton. My dad was selling it and my wife bought it for me for Christmas one year. Knowing my dad he gave it to her for next to nothing.

Came to say shotgun as well. A nice one will last him a lifetime.

quote:

Originally posted by Powers77:

quote:

Originally posted by cooger:
A shotgun I used when I went hunting with my dad as a kid. Mossberg 12g, older than I am and has been shot a ton. My dad was selling it and my wife bought it for me for Christmas one year. Knowing my dad he gave it to her for next to nothing.

Came to say shotgun as well. A nice one will last him a lifetime.

I'll also vote for a shotgun. On my 14th birthday I was gifted with a 20 ga. SxS shottie in advance of a duck-hunting excursion. Nothing fancy, a Kawaguchita (Japanese) clone of a Browning model of the time. I still have it. The most important thing to me was that my dad trusted me to use and care for it responsibly, a true sign of maturity. That it wasn't of the finest quality was unimportant, it was the thought that counted.

My work ethic and firearms experience.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
This will sound corny to many, and probably won't apply to most on here, and of course, I was too young to realize it at the time, but mine is freedom, in April 1975. As to any material gifts I received as a youngster, I can't even remember them, let alone still appreciate.

January of 1990 for me!

Echo saddle back

I received an original leatherman 26 years ago as part of a wedding party had it, lost it, found it, used it 1,000’s of times.

My son graduated high school and is leaving for college soon. I’m getting him a seiko
The limited edition “Krantz” release, but we talked about a watch and he had input.

https://www.seikowatches.com/u...ducts/5sports/srpl91

My dad once bought me a multitool, but a really tiny one, like 1/4 the size of a regular one. It's been in the glove box of my previous car as well as my current one. The tool has helped me out many times, such as opening packages, clipping threads and torn cloth, tightening screws, and pulling stuck parking garage tickets out of machines. Dad died in 2001—I hadn't realized I've had that tool for that long.

I received a Remington Nylon 66 when I was about 12 for my Birthday. Still have it,always will.