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- Jan 1, 2009
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Or
The Law of Unintended Consequences.
I find it amusing how life ebbs and flows into and out of different places. Always moving, always changing. Yet sometimes remaining quite the same as well.
This thread sort of stemmed from the generosity of one BalsamFur. He sent me a Buck Selkirk to try for a bit. I have used it, I like it. And I will most likely work out some kind of deal with him so it remains here. It has been a low pressure thing and I am quite enjoying it.
I make no secret, I like Buck Knives. The Selkirk had me checking out other Bucks. I noticed they now have a 117 Small Special. It should slot nicely between my Buck 119 Special, and my 102 Woodsman. Hopefully replacing the fat wood in this picture.
That 102 above, has been with me for a long time. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 years. (Crap, I'm getting old).
Before I got infected by the Knife/Bushcraft bug. That little knife did everything that needed doing in the woods. And guess what? I didn't die. Not only didn't I die. I lived quite comfortably. Roughing it smoothly comes to mind.
In today's world. The little Buck Woodsman hardly gets a second look. Folks Poo Poo the 420C Stainless. They mock the lack of a full exposed tang. They chuckle at the hollow grind. And just generally mock knives of this type.
Preferring instead, the latest full tang prybar, conceived in the latest super steel. That's OK, I am guilty of it myself sometimes. It's hard not to get swept up in all the hype. And besides, It's fun to try new designs from new or established makers.
But every once in a while. The law I mentioned above, crops up to help remind me of where I started. And that I did ok back them with my little Buck knife.
Last night the wife wanted to watch The Last Samurai. A CD movie in a box full of them sent to us by her brother. Another act of kindness.
You see, my wife was down sized a few weeks ago in a most dishonorable way. After almost 7 years of excellent reviews saying "We couldn't do this without You" and winning the Employee of the quarter for April-June.
She was uncerimoniously let go a few Mondays ago. She went into work after a 90 minute drive, and was promptly told she could finish out the day. But she was no longer needed. No advance warning, no explanation, just bye. Her immediate supervisor didn't even make eye contact.
Her brother sent the movies so she could occupy some time and get her mind off this mess. Since we have no Television. TLS was viewed on a Mac.
I am not a Tom Cruise fan. But I have been a student of Japanese Culture since high school. And a follower of Bushido almost as long.
The movie hit home. It speaks volumes about how you can live your life with honor. Make all the right choices, and still end up on the wrong side of history. And eventually get your self killed for your beliefs.
Where is all this leading? At the end of the movie. The young Emperor came to the conclusion. You can embrace new things. But you should always remember your past and honor your history.
When I comes to knives. The Buck Woodsman is my history. Given to me many years ago, by my wife. It has seen more use than all my other knives put together. I need to be reminded of that sometimes.
Sure that hollow ground blade slices meat extremely well. But it can produce some great feather sticks as well.
Spend some time here, and the value of feather sticks above just making curls becomes immediatly obvious. The wind sweeps the curls away faster than one can make them.
If anyone has read some of my ramblings here. You should know, I am a huge fan of twine. Twine is the Swiss Army Knife of cordage. Just so many uses. And it is easily affordable.
Here is my Woodsman this morning. Chasing out some pine resin from a nearby tree, the tiny sharp point, allows me to harvest some without unnecessary damage to the tree. The twine being extremely absorbant, soaks up the softer resin directly.
Between the more moist resin, and the waxy chunks I smashed into the twine. I have a firey little bundle of goodness for fire starting.
I had planned on a small outing this morning for a contribution to the "Knives and Coffee" thread. It was clear as a bell at 04:00, when I emptied my aging bladder. But around 05:30 when I was searching a cold fire from last night, for active coals the skies opened up. It rained for a couple hours. Nothing wild. But it but an end to starting a morning fire from last night's coals.
So the 102 and I broke down some twigs, ripped off a batch of feathers. Added some inner Poplar bark, and some birch bark to add the needed heat to the wet wood. An of course the resin soaked twine.
A couple swipes of the steel, and we're off and running.
Twigs, feather sticks, pine resin, and Poplar bark all sourced nicely by the humble Buck Woodsman 102.
A lot of work just for a cup of coffee.
But well worth the effort to spend some time with and old and trusted friend!
The Law of Unintended Consequences.
I find it amusing how life ebbs and flows into and out of different places. Always moving, always changing. Yet sometimes remaining quite the same as well.
This thread sort of stemmed from the generosity of one BalsamFur. He sent me a Buck Selkirk to try for a bit. I have used it, I like it. And I will most likely work out some kind of deal with him so it remains here. It has been a low pressure thing and I am quite enjoying it.
I make no secret, I like Buck Knives. The Selkirk had me checking out other Bucks. I noticed they now have a 117 Small Special. It should slot nicely between my Buck 119 Special, and my 102 Woodsman. Hopefully replacing the fat wood in this picture.
That 102 above, has been with me for a long time. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 years. (Crap, I'm getting old).
Before I got infected by the Knife/Bushcraft bug. That little knife did everything that needed doing in the woods. And guess what? I didn't die. Not only didn't I die. I lived quite comfortably. Roughing it smoothly comes to mind.
In today's world. The little Buck Woodsman hardly gets a second look. Folks Poo Poo the 420C Stainless. They mock the lack of a full exposed tang. They chuckle at the hollow grind. And just generally mock knives of this type.
Preferring instead, the latest full tang prybar, conceived in the latest super steel. That's OK, I am guilty of it myself sometimes. It's hard not to get swept up in all the hype. And besides, It's fun to try new designs from new or established makers.
But every once in a while. The law I mentioned above, crops up to help remind me of where I started. And that I did ok back them with my little Buck knife.
Last night the wife wanted to watch The Last Samurai. A CD movie in a box full of them sent to us by her brother. Another act of kindness.
You see, my wife was down sized a few weeks ago in a most dishonorable way. After almost 7 years of excellent reviews saying "We couldn't do this without You" and winning the Employee of the quarter for April-June.
She was uncerimoniously let go a few Mondays ago. She went into work after a 90 minute drive, and was promptly told she could finish out the day. But she was no longer needed. No advance warning, no explanation, just bye. Her immediate supervisor didn't even make eye contact.
Her brother sent the movies so she could occupy some time and get her mind off this mess. Since we have no Television. TLS was viewed on a Mac.
I am not a Tom Cruise fan. But I have been a student of Japanese Culture since high school. And a follower of Bushido almost as long.
The movie hit home. It speaks volumes about how you can live your life with honor. Make all the right choices, and still end up on the wrong side of history. And eventually get your self killed for your beliefs.
Where is all this leading? At the end of the movie. The young Emperor came to the conclusion. You can embrace new things. But you should always remember your past and honor your history.
When I comes to knives. The Buck Woodsman is my history. Given to me many years ago, by my wife. It has seen more use than all my other knives put together. I need to be reminded of that sometimes.
Sure that hollow ground blade slices meat extremely well. But it can produce some great feather sticks as well.
Spend some time here, and the value of feather sticks above just making curls becomes immediatly obvious. The wind sweeps the curls away faster than one can make them.
If anyone has read some of my ramblings here. You should know, I am a huge fan of twine. Twine is the Swiss Army Knife of cordage. Just so many uses. And it is easily affordable.
Here is my Woodsman this morning. Chasing out some pine resin from a nearby tree, the tiny sharp point, allows me to harvest some without unnecessary damage to the tree. The twine being extremely absorbant, soaks up the softer resin directly.
Between the more moist resin, and the waxy chunks I smashed into the twine. I have a firey little bundle of goodness for fire starting.
I had planned on a small outing this morning for a contribution to the "Knives and Coffee" thread. It was clear as a bell at 04:00, when I emptied my aging bladder. But around 05:30 when I was searching a cold fire from last night, for active coals the skies opened up. It rained for a couple hours. Nothing wild. But it but an end to starting a morning fire from last night's coals.
So the 102 and I broke down some twigs, ripped off a batch of feathers. Added some inner Poplar bark, and some birch bark to add the needed heat to the wet wood. An of course the resin soaked twine.
A couple swipes of the steel, and we're off and running.
Twigs, feather sticks, pine resin, and Poplar bark all sourced nicely by the humble Buck Woodsman 102.
A lot of work just for a cup of coffee.
But well worth the effort to spend some time with and old and trusted friend!
