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

[sitflyer]

First bloom, for those in colder parts of the country, spring is coming

 

[22-rimfire]

Attended the Spirit of Steel knife show in Dalton GA today. Two GEC dealers at the show with lots of product. I picked up another GEC #42 and a Schrade USA 250T.

Saw a Barry Wood (Colt knife) there which was very cool. It was unused in the box. Quite a few Russell barlows there. Quite a few old Randalls. Anyway, had a good time and anyone in the general area of Dalton GA who likes traditional knives, you may enjoy it. Queen was the only manufacturer there with tables. Tomorrow is the last day.

 

[pertinux]

Life is very funny. I have five children, and not one of them is as like me as the niece I met for the first time last Thanksgiving, my sister's daughter, just turned nine years old.

I was playing with using my tiny Leatherman Micra one day and thought of my niece. I just surprised her with a blue one like Andi's here, with her name engraved on it.

For those who aren't familiar with the wee Micra, it sports a firmly-springed, useful set of scissors as the main implement, supplemented by the various other tools one would expect on such a thing-- including a slim, well-executed chisel-ground clip blade.

My niece received her Micra in the mail yesterday. This is her response, as transcribed and sent to me by my sister (and no, no worries about "Show and Tell" at school -- those days are loooooong past):

"I wish we had show and tell so that I could bring my micro and go through all the parts and show everyone all the cool things it does. (Said very fast, first loud, and then under her breath). I'd tell everyone it's my micro and my Aunt Sarah gave it to me. I'm just whittling right now. I'm making scientifically whittled pencils to fit my hands. And I will just keep whittling. I'm not going d d d d d d d crazy, I'm being safe. I'm monitoring what I'm doing. I'm being safe. Not like dddddddddd. This way it's more thoughtful. I bet right now I could win a whittle contest. I bet most people would just go ddddd and not even thnk about how the knife is working. I'm doing this pretty quickly but I'm paying attention. The goal is just to get the yellow off first, then I work on the design of it. I bet you never thought I'd learn how to use a knife. I feel like I've had it forever. I bet that no one will steal it because it has my name on it. Unless they're named [name], but that's not likely. Also they might not like blue like I do. My fingers only hurt when I take them off the micro. Who knew I'd like whittling so much? I'm going to be doing this for the rest of my life."​

This is making my life, right about now, and I knew you guys would appreciate it as well.

Thanks for your good company.

~ P.

 

[Peregrin]

Life is very funny. I have five children, and not one of them is as like me as the niece I met for the first time last Thanksgiving, my sister's daughter, just turned nine years old.

I was playing with using my tiny Leatherman Micra one day and thought of my niece. I just surprised her with a blue one like Andi's here, with her name engraved on it.



For those who aren't familiar with the wee Micra, it sports a firmly-springed, useful set of scissors as the main implement, supplemented by the various other tools one would expect on such a thing-- including a slim, well-executed chisel-ground clip blade.

My niece received her Micra in the mail yesterday. This is her response, as transcribed and sent to me by my sister (and no, no worries about "Show and Tell" at school -- those days are loooooong past):

"I wish we had show and tell so that I could bring my micro and go through all the parts and show everyone all the cool things it does. (Said very fast, first loud, and then under her breath). I'd tell everyone it's my micro and my Aunt Sarah gave it to me. I'm just whittling right now. I'm making scientifically whittled pencils to fit my hands. And I will just keep whittling. I'm not going d d d d d d d crazy, I'm being safe. I'm monitoring what I'm doing. I'm being safe. Not like dddddddddd. This way it's more thoughtful. I bet right now I could win a whittle contest. I bet most people would just go ddddd and not even thnk about how the knife is working. I'm doing this pretty quickly but I'm paying attention. The goal is just to get the yellow off first, then I work on the design of it. I bet you never thought I'd learn how to use a knife. I feel like I've had it forever. I bet that no one will steal it because it has my name on it. Unless they're named [name], but that's not likely. Also they might not like blue like I do. My fingers only hurt when I take them off the micro. Who knew I'd like whittling so much? I'm going to be doing this for the rest of my life."​

This is making my life, right about now, and I knew you guys would appreciate it as well.

Thanks for your good company.

~ P.

That is wonderful, Sarah! It's really special to see a youngster so appreciative of a gift, particularly a sharp one. Nice goin'!

 

[22-rimfire]

That is very nice Pertinux. Sometimes it is the extended family that ends up with similar interests as their Aunts and Uncles. My Sister's daughter is working on her PhD in the field that I chose in college and that makes me feel good that she shares an interest of mine.

 

[r8shell]

"I wish we had show and tell so that I could bring my micro and go through all the parts and show everyone all the cool things it does. (Said very fast, first loud, and then under her breath). I'd tell everyone it's my micro and my Aunt Sarah gave it to me. I'm just whittling right now. I'm making scientifically whittled pencils to fit my hands. And I will just keep whittling. I'm not going d d d d d d d crazy, I'm being safe. I'm monitoring what I'm doing. I'm being safe. Not like dddddddddd. This way it's more thoughtful. I bet right now I could win a whittle contest. I bet most people would just go ddddd and not even thnk about how the knife is working. I'm doing this pretty quickly but I'm paying attention. The goal is just to get the yellow off first, then I work on the design of it. I bet you never thought I'd learn how to use a knife. I feel like I've had it forever. I bet that no one will steal it because it has my name on it. Unless they're named [name], but that's not likely. Also they might not like blue like I do. My fingers only hurt when I take them off the micro. Who knew I'd like whittling so much? I'm going to be doing this for the rest of my life."​

This is making my life, right about now, and I knew you guys would appreciate it as well.

Thanks for your good company.

~ P.

This really made me smile, love the youthful exuberance!

 

[jackknife]

Life is very funny. I have five children, and not one of them is as like me as the niece I met for the first time last Thanksgiving, my sister's daughter, just turned nine years old.

I was playing with using my tiny Leatherman Micra one day and thought of my niece. I just surprised her with a blue one like Andi's here, with her name engraved on it.



For those who aren't familiar with the wee Micra, it sports a firmly-springed, useful set of scissors as the main implement, supplemented by the various other tools one would expect on such a thing-- including a slim, well-executed chisel-ground clip blade.

My niece received her Micra in the mail yesterday. This is her response, as transcribed and sent to me by my sister (and no, no worries about "Show and Tell" at school -- those days are loooooong past):

"I wish we had show and tell so that I could bring my micro and go through all the parts and show everyone all the cool things it does. (Said very fast, first loud, and then under her breath). I'd tell everyone it's my micro and my Aunt Sarah gave it to me. I'm just whittling right now. I'm making scientifically whittled pencils to fit my hands. And I will just keep whittling. I'm not going d d d d d d d crazy, I'm being safe. I'm monitoring what I'm doing. I'm being safe. Not like dddddddddd. This way it's more thoughtful. I bet right now I could win a whittle contest. I bet most people would just go ddddd and not even thnk about how the knife is working. I'm doing this pretty quickly but I'm paying attention. The goal is just to get the yellow off first, then I work on the design of it. I bet you never thought I'd learn how to use a knife. I feel like I've had it forever. I bet that no one will steal it because it has my name on it. Unless they're named [name], but that's not likely. Also they might not like blue like I do. My fingers only hurt when I take them off the micro. Who knew I'd like whittling so much? I'm going to be doing this for the rest of my life."​

This is making my life, right about now, and I knew you guys would appreciate it as well.

Thanks for your good company.

~ P.

Sarah, Her enthusiasm is to be applauded!!

The Micra is a perfect tool for a young child, if you close up the tool with the blade out, it acts like a sort of lock/block on the blade. Plus it's wonderful to teach a kid that a knife is a tool, and it's sometimes attached to more tools that come in handy in life. :thumb up:

 

[Humppa]

Thanks for the great story, Sarah!

The Micra is a great tool, indeed.

 

[Old & In The Way]

Sarah - thanks for sharing that wonderful story! :thumbup:

 

[Jack Black]

Great story P, and another :thumbup: for the Micra, I have one with me everyday

 

[pmew]

I hope that one day my wee laddie has a similar experience. A truly lovely post.

 

[screened porch]

I hope we'll get to see one of those scientifically whittled pencils.

 

[r8shell]

I hope we'll get to see one of those scientifically whittled pencils.

^^ this ^^^

 

[clutchcarter]

^^ this ^^^

:thumbup:

 

[pertinux]

That is wonderful, Sarah! It's really special to see a youngster so appreciative of a gift, particularly a sharp one. Nice goin'!

Thanks, Gary. I have created (exactly the right kind of) mon-stah.

Although, all I did was throw the switch. Gratifying, and then some.

That is very nice Pertinux. Sometimes it is the extended family that ends up with similar interests as their Aunts and Uncles. My Sister's daughter is working on her PhD in the field that I chose in college and that makes me feel good that she shares an interest of mine.

It has me wrecked, honestly. I've been battening down hatches for some time now, wondering what form the road from here on out might take, with no plans on loving anything or anyone else. Reducing that which needs me. Which shows what I know, once again. I'm bowled over.

This really made me smile, love the youthful exuberance!

She's evidently sleeping with the Micra, and continues to whittle her waking hours away. My sister did a good job transcribing her effusiveness, including the "dddddddddd" (say each 'd' as its sound, in a row, just like that) of having too much excitement to properly form words.

Sarah, Her enthusiasm is to be applauded!!

The Micra is a perfect tool for a young child, if you close up the tool with the blade out, it acts like a sort of lock/block on the blade. Plus it's wonderful to teach a kid that a knife is a tool, and it's sometimes attached to more tools that come in handy in life. :thumb up:

Yup! I walked her through that configuration on the phone, but will reinforce it in person the next time we're together.

I had no idea she'd glom onto the blade first and most of all, out of all the other cool tools. Silly me. (She says she did use the tweezers to remove something from her father's foot or hand, she couldn't remember which. Funny, funny kid.)

Thanks for the great story, Sarah!

The Micra is a great tool, indeed.

You're welcome. Your picture was a revelation, spurring me to seek out "Blue." (My own Micra is stainless steel, as in Jackknife's picture above.)

Sarah - thanks for sharing that wonderful story! :thumbup:

Great story P, and another :thumbup: for the Micra, I have one with me everyday

I hope that one day my wee laddie has a similar experience. A truly lovely post.

You're welcome, guys. I knew you'd "get it," and being able to share this among like hearts makes it all the sweeter to me.

I hope we'll get to see one of those scientifically whittled pencils.

^^ this ^^^

Tell me about it! As you can gather, she's a stitch. I hope to see her in a few weeks, with more revelations to come!

~ P.

 

[jackknife]

Sarah, since she did indeed 'glom' onto the blade above all else, maybe a small jack or pen knife may be in the offering in the near future?

 

[pertinux]

Sarah, since she did indeed 'glom' onto the blade above all else, maybe a small jack or pen knife may be in the offering in the near future?

Absolutely! For now, we're going to soak in the goodness of current discoveries (including, I'm going to practice sharpening my own chisel-ground Micra blade-- I sense hers might need a touch-up!). But, we will be perusing my collection selection of knives together soon enough, and I shall take note.

We have a lot to look forward to.

~ P.

 

[waynorth]

For a knife collecting parent, it must be like enjoying a bit of heaven.
The next two generations after me could care less!
I'm happy for you, Sarah, and envious as heck!!

 

[22-rimfire]

One of your Charlows might be a wonderful new addition. I'd choose one with pretty scales. I have the yellow one which I find to be rather unusual and cool. But I know they may be rather precious to you.

 

[pertinux]

For a knife collecting parent, it must be like enjoying a bit of heaven.
The next two generations after me could care less!
I'm happy for you, Sarah, and envious as heck!!

Thanks.

One of your Charlows might be a wonderful new addition. I'd choose one with pretty scales. I have the yellow one which I find to be rather unusual and cool. But I know they may be rather precious to you.

I'm going to endeavor to take things really slowly, and not tempt her too soon with "If you like this knife, the next one might be EVEN BETTER!" You know how it can go.

One of her nicknames is "Scout," so one of my #15s is earmarked for her for sure-- but not yet. I intend to enjoy it for a good many years first, and with its sheepsfoot/caplifter, it's not ideal for tiny whittlin' hands anyway.

Beyond that? The adventure continues. I think it's going to be a matter of, which one(s) not to give her?! A good problem to have.

-- I told my sister that "my knife guys and I"* are eager to see these "scientifically whittled pencils." Her response, just in:

"The whittled pencils that are scientifically designed to fit the hand of the writer look as though they've been chewed by dogs, so your knife guys may have to wait for a breakthrough. It's a lot of talk and a lot of fun so far. "



~ P.


*r8shell, should there be any doubt? You and I are "knife guys" too.