"Carl's Lounge" (Off-Topic Discussion, Traditional Knife "Tales & Vignettes")

@meako , I noticed you're fond of old sailing ships commandments.
Did you ever hear of a whole fleet captured by the Cavalry? This happened just two centuries ago!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capture_of_the_Dutch_fleet_at_Den_Helder

 

Trim Trio for the key-chain knife.

 

That must have been one embarrassed admiral.

 

I came across this photo I took a few years ago while walking the woods one winter day. I felt I was really lucky to happen on this confrontation between two Pileated Woodpeckers, and actually get a shot of it. I did startle them, although I was trying to be stealthy, and they bolted.

 

Very cool picture, it should be in a magazine somewhere.

 

[Apologies in advance for mentioning a non-traditional here.]
Back in my earlier knife days, a Boker Keycom was my key-ring choice. I even have one still new in box signed by designer Chad Los Banos himself, who is (was) a forum participant here and other places and is a very nice guy.

I found it worked great when clipped to a single-cell CR123 flashlight (Fenix E-15) rather than actually on the keys. The flashlight functioned as a fob for the little knife, and the knife (with it's pocket clip) functioned as a pocket dangler for the flashlight. That little combo saved me one night when I had to change a tire on the side of busy highway in an area with no street lights. I was able to clip it to my shirt and illuminate what I was doing (and myself).

My current key ring knife is a Victorinox Alox Mini Champ, but that doesn't fit your bill due to the scissors and nail files and such. However, it does fit the forum guidelines so perhaps I can be forgiven for mentioning the other one.

 

@Peregrin - that is such an awesome photo and you there with a camera too. Of course had they known the peregrin (sp) was near they would certainly have decided that it was in their best interest to team up with each other. Very cool!

Ray

 

Gary that is an unbelievable once in a lifetime photo. I find Pileated Woodpeckers to be the grandest of big timber denizens. I'd hang that one on the wall my friend.

 

Magnificent shot. Gary !! I agree...frame it.

My cat wanted in the window just now. She likes to watch the dove in the trees. Just then they all flew away. I looked for what spooked them. A magnificent red tail...not fast enough with the camera. I've seen him before...he will be back. Frame it...such a hard shot..magnificent !!!

 

Great photo, Gary, I love the pileated woodpeckers. We've had a pair in our backyard and I always feel blessed when I get a look at them. Yesterday my wife and I travelled up the Mississippi River to do some bald eagle watching, and we were not disappointed!

 

Thanks @Jolipapa that is an incredible story...fair dues though...the sea must have frozen quick to trap them in the ice.

 

Cool pictures of those eagles.
We have hawks and owls in our yard. The owls are fun to shine a light on at night, their glowing, blinking eyes make it look like a Christmas tree. And thanks to all the owls and hawks, our property is relatively snake free

 

Jeff those pictures are great.

 

Thanks Randy! My wife is a bird lover of the first order; we have multiple species feeders in both our front and back yards. She said she'd be happy to see one eagle, and we got the mother lode. It made the 100+ mile round trip well worth it.

 

Winter 1795 was one of the coldest ever in Western Europe (<-20°). Wolves were seen at Paris Gates and down South olive trees were frozen.

 

I was in the Royal Armouries museum today, and took a few pics of these Kuks for Christian @kamagong Thought you might all like to see them too

https://royalarmouries.org/venue/royal-armouries-museum/

 

Spectacular Khukuries, Jack!! Thanks for showing us!!

( edited - Thanks for the spelling lesson, Christian!!)

 

Sword? Hahaha... Khukuris are knives, although admittedly they lean towards the large side.

Those khukuris are all incredible. Any one of them would hold the place of honor in my bunch. Like old Sheffield pocketknives, they don't make 'em like they used to.

That ivory handled one though, the one with the jade accessory tools. Spectacular! The stuff dreams are made of.

 

The labelling in the museum can be very irritating. Possibly the most laughable is the card relating to a a Puma Automesser, described as a classic hunting knife, 'The Puma'

Here's the card for the the ivory-hilted khukuri

 

You should have started a thread on this Jack. These are after all, traditional fixed blades.