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

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- Christian[/QUOTE]

A knife like that returns in my daydreams constantly. Very nice.
To find a item like that here in sweden or even through dealers on the internet that deliver here isnt easy.
Carbon steel. Bone. Bail. MUMS.
I have though a Scout jr from case that i like but the tools get a tiny to small to be the real thing for me. Naturally I have a few SAKs also but that is not quite the same for me. I have the traditional american gene within that like knifes to look that way to realy punch my hart.

Bosse
 
NirreBosse said:
A knife like that returns in my daydreams constantly. Very nice.
To find a item like that here in sweden or even through dealers on the internet that deliver here isnt easy.
Carbon steel. Bone. Bail. MUMS.
I have though a Scout jr from case that i like but the tools get a tiny to small to be the real thing for me. Naturally I have a few SAKs also but that is not quite the same for me. I have the traditional american gene within that like knifes to look that way to realy punch my hart.

Bosse
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I understand. I've owned a half-dozen SAKs through the years. I still have a couple. But I never warmed up to any of them the way I have to this knife, despite the fact that the SAKs are better made and superior tools. I find them too sterile for my tastes.

I used to daydream about this knife also. Reading Carl's stories of Mr. Van, I wanted one just like his. Carbon steel blades and bone scales, just the way a scout knife should look. It took me a while to find, I passed on several scouts with synthetic handles because they just didn't speak to me. But I knew this knife was special the moment I saw it.

I'm not a big collector so I don't have an extra one lying around. But should I find another with carbon steel blades, bone scales, and bail I'll pick it up for you.

- Christian
 
Childhood memories.

I guess I was always attracted to knives, and when I was a kid, I loved the TV show Jim Bowie and The Count Of MOnte Cristo. The Count Of Monte Cristo had as a character Nick Cravat, Burt Lancasters old circus acrobat partner. He played Jacobo, the counts side kick and knife man. Knife throwing, knife elimination of enemies, what ever. It was the only TV show I remember with the exception of the jim Bowie show that had a good guy who used a knife. Then there was the other shows, Paladin, Gunsmoke, where if a knife was needed, it just got pulled out and used to cut something, and put away with no big deal. I guess times have changed now.

Just the ramblings of an old fart.
 
jackknife said:
You're not gonna regret the decision to do this. I did it not long after my own retirement, and so far of all the guns, knives, tools, clothing, and other stuff I'd accumulated for decades, I haven't missed any of it. Okay, once in a while I'd have a thought of 'should I have kept the so-and-so?' but not much. Not enough to overcome the great feeling of liberation I had by trimming back to where I was when I was younger and more mobile. It even made my current life easier, as now when I go to find what ever I'm looking for, I can lay my hands right on it as I don't have that much stuff anymore. The wife did her own downsizing as well, and now the house is very neat, almost sparse, and organized. We talk about selling the house and going full time RV'ing or living on a houseboat in Florida on the gulf coast. Won't be room for a lot of stuff.

Carl.
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I'm starting to enjoy having less stuff, even though not that much has actually gone. It's just a relief to have fewer things to keep track of and to deal with. The hard part for me is the actual selling process. The less valuable stuff is easy - I just give it away or give it to Goodwill. For the stuff I actually sell, the process of taking pictures, listing, and trying to be patient until someone actually buys it while dealing with the low-ball offers that always show up is a bit taxing.

I have a couple of solo canoes I've been trying to sell for two years. The boats are in excellent condition and the prices are now well below what the boats are worth on the used market, but I don't seem to be catching anyone's attention. The situation has me scratching my head and wondering if there is something wrong with my approach. Same thing with knives - it's hard to believe there aren't a couple million people out there with the exact same taste as mine that aren't sitting at there computers just dying for a chance to buy my precious babies. However, the end result will be good and perhaps I'll develop a little more patience during the process.
 
popedandy said:
I have a couple of solo canoes I've been trying to sell for two years. The boats are in excellent condition and the prices are now well below what the boats are worth on the used market, but I don't seem to be catching anyone's attention. The situation has me scratching my head and wondering if there is something wrong with my approach. Same thing with knives - it's hard to believe there aren't a couple million people out there with the exact same taste as mine that aren't sitting at there computers just dying for a chance to buy my precious babies. However, the end result will be good and perhaps I'll develop a little more patience during the process.
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Have you tried to advertise them in a media that caters to the canoe crowd? I know several of the Washington Canoe Cruisers use solo canoes, and if they have a news letter that would be a good place to get a word out. Then there's the Monacacy River canoe club. What kind of canoes are these as far as make, model, materials?

Carl.
 
jackknife said:
Have you tried to advertise them in a media that caters to the canoe crowd? I know several of the Washington Canoe Cruisers use solo canoes, and if they have a news letter that would be a good place to get a word out. Then there's the Monacacy River canoe club. What kind of canoes are these as far as make, model, materials?

Carl.
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I haven't used the local club boards because a lot of them are whitewater oriented. I normally advertise on paddling.net and sometimes on e-bay. I had wondered about Craig's list but had not been particularly impressed with the quality of the boats I've seen there - boatwise it appears to cater more to the "one step away from the junkyard" crowd. The boats themselves are pretty nice boats. One is a Sawyer Solo 13 in the expedition kevlar layup. It's a nice general purpose boat. The other one is an Appleline Zoomer that I rebuilt. It was originally designed as a slalom race boat back in the '80s. It's composite as well, but a little heavier than folks seem to be expecting because of the rebuild work. Both are nice boats, but even when they sell we will still have three canoes and three kayaks, so it isn't like we will be boat poor.
 
Be careful with Craigslist. Stop at REI in Timonium, there is a pegboard in the back near the shoes section. Also, I'll ask a buddy of mine, he belongs to a couple local clubs. See if he knows any sites. Good luck.
 
Since this is the "non-knife" thread, I guessed it would be fine to post here. After all, traditions are not just about knives.
So today, here in Northern Sardinia, is the day of the annual parade named "Cavalcata sarda". Born as a horse and horsemen parade, it became more a walking parade of folklore and local traditional dresses from many village all over the island that gather for the occasion. This year, I wanted to make some sort of photo reportage to share it with you, unfortunately, due to the pouring rain, the parade was drastically reduced, so I'm posting "official" pictures of the past two years' editions, to show you some samples of traditional Sardinian dresses (although every village has a different and unique one), and some of our masks too (some are very old masks - belonging to ancient rituals and traditions - that eventually merged into a carnival-like spirit). I hope you enjoy seeing some.

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Fausto
:cool:
 
kamagong said:
I understand. I've owned a half-dozen SAKs through the years. I still have a couple. But I never warmed up to any of them the way I have to this knife, despite the fact that the SAKs are better made and superior tools. I find them too sterile for my tastes.

I used to daydream about this knife also. Reading Carl's stories of Mr. Van, I wanted one just like his. Carbon steel blades and bone scales, just the way a scout knife should look. It took me a while to find, I passed on several scouts with synthetic handles because they just didn't speak to me. But I knew this knife was special the moment I saw it.

I'm not a big collector so I don't have an extra one lying around. But should I find another with carbon steel blades, bone scales, and bail I'll pick it up for you.

- Christian
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If this opportunity is given to you I would be happy to cower all your expences. Thank you for the kind thought.

Bosse
 
Fausto, you always have very interesting posts from another cultures standpoint. What is the significance of the bulls head mask?

Carl.
 
kamagong said:
I understand. I've owned a half-dozen SAKs through the years. I still have a couple. But I never warmed up to any of them the way I have to this knife, despite the fact that the SAKs are better made and superior tools. I find them too sterile for my tastes.
- Christian
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Thats the way I have always felt about sak's myself. I've had and used them, and I never found them lacking in being able to do anything Ineeded to do with a pocket knife. The tools proved handy, and the fit and finish from knife to knife has always been a benchmark for me in Q.A. Heck, I could drop a tinker in my pocket and be good for the rest of my life.

But...

They have always been too sterile for me. I think sterile is a good way to put it. They are efficient but lacking in character the way a carbon steel and bone or stag or even wood is. One some level, they just don't hold the memories like the old traditionals.

Carl.
 
popedandy said:
Fausto, you made me want to be there in person. Great post!
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jackknife said:
Fausto, you always have very interesting posts from another cultures standpoint. What is the significance of the bulls head mask?

Carl.
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I hoped someone would be interested in this. The boes e merdules are typical carnival figures from Ottana, a village in the inner part of my island, and they picture a very common agropastoral scene.
The bulls head mask figures are named boes (boe meaning ox in our language), and they walk along with another figure, dressed similarly but plainly "human", named merdules. In many Mediterranean cultures, the bull symbolizes the strength of nature, its vital force, and its will to act in a rebel way. Here, the bull is kept (and hit) with a stick or whiplash by the merdule. Typically, as they walk around, you will see the boe acting frenzied until the merdule hits him to calm it down and make him obey. Here are a couple more pics to entertain you.

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Fausto
:cool:
 
Great pictures, Fausto! I love these peeks into other cultures. Thanks for posting them.
 
black mamba said:
You don't happen to have her number, do you!?! :D
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No, but it would be pretty easy to find out. Every dress is unique for each village, and most villages here have less than 2000/3000 people, so it could be relatively easy...or, you could travel around here next year, and see the whole thing live :)

Peregrin said:
Great pictures, Fausto! I love these peeks into other cultures. Thanks for posting them.
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Gary, that's exactly what I wanted to do, share a bit of my place and traditions with you guys. I understand that the place I come from is pretty distant (not just in geographic terms) from the US, and I know that some people here enjoy taking those peeks into different cultures and traditions.
Next Sardinian contribution will be in August, so stay tuned :rolleyes:

Fausto
:cool:
 
quattromori said:
... that's exactly what I wanted to do, share a bit of my place and traditions with you guys. I understand that the place I come from is pretty distant (not just in geographic terms) from the US, and I know that some people here enjoy taking those peeks into different cultures and traditions.
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Fausto,

Thanks! This is one of the things I love about this forum, the glimpses into life and culture and perspective from other places. That can't happen without actual men (and sometimes women) taking the time to post their thoughts, pictures, and sometimes inadvertent backgrounds or objects that lead to new discussion, etc. ("Hey-- what's that?!").

I'm grateful that you and so many others contribute what you do, through and through.

~ P.
 
P and Kevin,
you are welcome. Of course, it would be better if you could come over here and get real contact with our traditions, but meanwhile I'm glad you appreciate my reports. Your positive feedbacks were enough to convince me to do more (it wasn't that hard to convince me anyway :D) so stay tuned for the next event (mid August), and, of course, I'll be glad to answer any questions in the meantime :)
And, by the way...I know I'm pretty much at the end of the spectrum here, but I'm sure that many of you could relate about local traditions as well, and I think this is a good place to do it :)

Fausto
:cool:
 
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