Interesting subject Dave, it resonates with me, let me explain ...
I wish I still had my Dad's knife
He lent it to me when I was a Boy Scout for a stay away at a 'camp' - and I lost it!
... somewhere in the long grass, in the dark (of course), we spent a good while looking for it the following day, to no avail.
I have
still never forgiven myself for losing it, he never added to my self inflicted sadness for the lack of care, I think he knew had badly I felt. I believe it had travelled the world with him, likely through WWII service in many European and African countries - I knew it must have meant a lot to him and he entrusted it to my 'care' - and I let him down.
Of course, giving a fairly large blade to a not quite (or just) teenager these days would be frowned upon (to put it lightly), but we were all so much more innocent in those days and it was intended for use on vegetation only.