A Short Return Visit To Prentice Cooper & Two New Fiddlebacks

[Mistwalker]

I have been really busy lately, lots and lots of work to do, both professionally, and with the new place tending the garden and orchard....and four acre yard. But on the way back from Blade I stopped by Prentice Cooper to work on a project I am doing, I took a few personal photos and thought I'd share them.


Misty rainy spring days in the hills there, is on of the very few things I miss after the move.

Seeing the wildlife there again was like seeing old friends.

The wild grapes are coming on

Lots of colorful insects among the wet leaves. I hope Joezill pops in and tells me what the red thingy on the spider leg is...hopefully it's a good enough shot, trying to focus on red dot on the leg of a moving grand daddy long legs is not the easiest thing to do...

These two guys were playing a pretty intense game of hide and seek

The Solomon's Seal is bearing fruit.

As were the May Apples.

And as you can see in this shot, lots of garilic...I spent a lot of time contemplating garlic roasted turkey for some reason...

After that, it was back to twelve hours of freeway driving, but man I enjoyed the break.

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[Mistwalker]

Just to throw it out there, if you haven't checked out Fiddleback forge knives in a while, maybe you should. The table at Blade was amazing. Andy's designs and workmanship just keep getting better. This one I picked up at Blade is an Asp, 5/32 spalted O-1 with Arizona desert ironwood. Nice little bushcraft knife with some attitude

And then I picked u this Kephart two weeks after Blade. It is 1/8 O-1 with a tapered tang, and Eucalyptus burl handle scales. It is just stunning.

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[Bladenoobie1]

Damn...I really like that FF asp. One of my favorite woods and an attractive knife to boot. If I land a part time job I'm trying to get this summer I'll definitely be watching the Fiddleback Friday thread for something for me to snatch up.

 

[prom52]

Hey Mist

What an incredible way to start off the day.......these are some awesome shots that made for a great story. Thanks for sharing !

Peter

 

[Bamboo]

Beautiful stuff Mist. I'm curious what that red ball on the spider is too.... Thanks for posting, looks like a welcomed detour on your way home.

 

[Mistwalker]

Damn...I really like that FF asp. One of my favorite woods and an attractive knife to boot. If I land a part time job I'm trying to get this summer I'll definitely be watching the Fiddleback Friday thread for something for me to snatch up.

I really like the Asp a lot myself, like ZI said it is a great little bushcraft knife with some attitude. Because of that attitude I think the next one I get will be the same steel, grind, and thickness, (all of which I love), but with a synthetic handle, and it will be my back up knife when I work deeper in the swamps here. I may even go for the Fiddletextured CPM 154, for the all weather capability.

I've even used it in the kitchen some. Not a perfect food prep knife no, but it handled the work well enough

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Hey Mist

What an incredible way to start off the day.......these are some awesome shots that made for a great story. Thanks for sharing !

Peter

Thanks Peter, I'm glad you enjoyed the post, and that it started your day on a good note!

Brian

Beautiful stuff Mist. I'm curious what that red ball on the spider is too.... Thanks for posting, looks like a welcomed detour on your way home.

Thank man, and yeah I've seen that before, and I'm just really curious what it is.

Yeah, that particular patch of woods, a handful of people, stopping by RMJ, and one coffee shop are the only things I miss from before the move.

 

[22-rimfire]

I would miss the hikes in the TN hills myself. The Ozarks aren't bad however and much closer to MI. Nothing really like that in MI. But you do have a good population of Lady Slipper orchids and I would love to find one of the Showy Lady Slippers (pink and white ones) that are more common to MI. Nice pictures and thread. I have been ignoring the Fiddleback knives for the most part. Maybe I need to take a look at them again.

 

[Mistwalker]

I would miss the hikes in the TN hills myself. The Ozarks aren't bad however and much closer to MI. Nothing really like that in MI. But you do have a good population of Lady Slipper orchids and I would love to find one of the Showy Lady Slippers (pink and white ones) that are more common to MI. Nice pictures and thread. I have been ignoring the Fiddleback knives for the most part. Maybe I need to take a look at them again.

Yeah, I miss the woods there, but as for Chattanooga, only minute portions and a hand full of people...the nuclear power plants and Oak Ridge none at all. I need to visit the Ozarks again, it has been many years since I've been there.

Fiddelback Forge has stepped up their game very much from a few years ago. They are putting out some VERY nice stuff these days.

 

[22-rimfire]

My sister and hubby were just visiting Cades Cove (Smokey Mt NP) over the weekend and saw 12 black bears in one day. I believe that is the dominant reason they came down and they were successful. One group was a mama bear with two cubs up a tree. Cool Kodak moment.

 

[Mistwalker]

Some cool bear shots to be gotten in the smokies. There was one I was afraid was dead the way it was just laying over a log not too far off a highway. I thought maybe it had been hit by a truck and wandered till it couldn't. Then as I got closer I saw it breathing. I crept a little closer and listened and heard it snoring. Knowing how grumpy I can be when I am suddenly awakened by a stranger I just slowly backed away, snapped a few pics, and went on. Cades Cove is pretty awesome.

 

[Woods Walker]

Really great knives and outing pics.

 

[velosa]

Awesome pics as always Mist! This is this second knife I've seen from Andy (recently) with some sort of hardwood over nat can with blue liners. Loving that combo.

 

[Mistwalker]

Really great knives and outing pics.

Thanks man, I'm glad you liked the post

Awesome pics as always Mist! This is this second knife I've seen from Andy (recently) with some sort of hardwood over nat can with blue liners. Loving that combo.

Thank you! Yeah, Andy is good at coming up with handle configurations I like but would have never thought of. I also like the blackwood over natural with the lime green pin stripe. I want one in black G10 or natural with a lime green pin stripe too I think, for more all-weather capabilities.

 

[captainclemmys]

Prentice Cooper and the TN River Gorge are some spectacular scenery. PC and the TRG have a lot to offer and most locals don't realize what is in their own backyard. Great knives and pictures...thanks for sharing.
CC

 

[Mistwalker]

I agree, it's one of my favorite spots in the South East US, but I'm glad many do not know it is there

 

[coaldigger]

Wow...great pics as usual Mist ! Those are some killer looking knives !

 

[Mistwalker]

Wow...great pics as usual Mist ! Those are some killer looking knives !

Thanks man! And yeah, Fiddleback Forge turns out some beautiful work!

 

[WILLIAM.M]

Sweet Bro

Just oh so SWEET

 

[Farnsrocket]

Great shots! One day I will get a Fiddleback!!!!!

I hope Joezill pops in and tells me what the red thingy on the spider leg is

Pretty sure it's a mite!

 

[Brisket]

I always enjoy your posts, mistwalker, as they have great visuals and content. Those are certainly two of the best looking Fiddleback's I have seen. I have a Kephart which I love and was particularly interested in your Asp photos and comments as I have been on the fence between an Asp and a Sneaky Pete.

Thanks for sharing.