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

Thanks again, all!

Butch is gettin' a head-start on his TC collection!

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Great pic of that wonderful boy. It is never too early to start a collection ;)

Thanks for sharing.
 
Philllll, a good investment for the college fund :)

Your life is forever changed, for the good...
 
Congrats, Philllll! :thumbup::thumbup:
He's a handsome, hairy little guy.
Seems like too many knives too soon wore him out, though. I always have to moderate my knife purchasing because the same thing happens to me.
Enjoy your new and better life! :D

- GT
 
Great Hair! Both of my kids were bald until they were about 8 months old! Congrats Phil, Enjoy the time, they grow way to fast!
 
Today is a sad day. I had a Blade forums first and added someone to my ignore list. It was only a matter of time, I suppose, before a rowdy new neighbour appeared on the porch. I hope this isn't a taste of things to come.

In other news; SWMBO is currently whirling around the house frantically sorting out the wains masses of stuff - we are about to embark on the epic two day trip, heading back to Belfast to see the family. Then two weeks with the in-laws before another two days travel home. She's calling it a holiday. I'm not so sure.
 
On mine too Paul, I feel bad that he's causing annoyance to other posters here, and extra work for Frank and Gary. We've have had a few idiots here before, but with this one, his sole intention seems to be insulting other members, and indeed the forum itself.

Have a good trip my friend, and I hope everyone else is having a very pleasant weekend. I've succumbed to census records trying to find out about a wee knife instead of going out! Disgraceful! :D :thumbup:
 
Jack Black said:
Thanks Gev, Photobucket seems to be running with all the speed of a drunken snail today, but here's some more pics. I'll edit in a few more as they upload :thumbup:













































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I am slowly discovering this long thread.

Happy birthday even if I am late here!

Beautiful pictures and thank you for sharing.

Cate
 
btmccutcheon said:
Recently, my shepherd, Scout, has been in bad health. Two times during the past week I thought we were going to have to put him down. Some of you may know I've been a professional dog trainer, and since I have no children, the past twelve years has been working on him. He is my masterpiece. He is my son. This week has been hard, but he seems to be improving. But it made me think of the future and how time is a thief. I had to do a little writing. I hope you will indulge me with what I wrote.

Of Dogs and Knives

Mac was lost in his own thoughts whittling on a piece of wood there on the front porch of his home when the blue-eyed Australian Shepherd at his feet snapped his head up to see who was coming up the path. Mac smiled at the ever alert dog, already seeing the visitor was a boy named Ross who was a neighbor.
Ross and his mother had moved into the area a couple of years ago and Mac knew it was just the two of them trying to make it together in a strange town. The old man tried to help whenever they needed it and hated that the boy didn’t have a whole lot of male guidance. It felt good to lend a little since he had no children of his own.
The dog’s ears relaxed and his butt started to wiggle as though trying to furiously wag a tail that wasn’t there. The dog liked that boy. He knew just how to scratch that right spot just behind the ears.
“Hey, Mr. Mac!” the boy called out as he approached the porch.
“Stop calling me that, boy. It’s just Mac,” said the old man.
“Mom insists,” replied the Ross.
“Fine. When you’re talking to her you can call me that, but when you’re talking to me it’s just Mac. I feel old enough without you putting any emphasis on it.”
The boy smiled and nodded in agreement as he continued, “And, she asked me to bring you this,” as he held out a freshly baked pecan pie.
“What’s this for?”
“You fixed the leaky faucet in the bathroom, the sink pipe in the kitchen, and that sticking closet door”.
The old man smiled and said “Since you helped, I suppose you get to share in the spoils. C’mon in and let’s carve up that pie”.
Mac looked down and could see the dog was nearly beside himself with excitement because of the visitor. He smiled and told the dog “Go on, Barlow. Say hi”. The dog sprang to greet boy who knelt down to scratch that perfect spot behind the ears.
Inside as Mac retrieved a couple of plates and glasses, the boy looked in fascination at a few displays the old man had of antique pocket knives. He then heard the old man issue a command to the dog.
“Barlow. Milk.”
The boy watched as the dog walked to the refrigerator, tugged on a dishtowel looped through the handle opening the refrigerator. The dog then grabbed a plastic pint bottle of milk and took it to the old man.
“Another. Milk.”
The boy watched in fascination as the dog retrieved another bottle, then went back to push the door to the refrigerator closed again. When he was done, he found his way to his bed close to the hearth.
“Wow. Just wow. That was amazing Mac. I knew Barlow was smart but I had no idea he could that. How did you teach that?”
“I used to be a professional trainer a long time ago. It all started with that one,” Mac said pointing to the mantle.
Ross looked and saw three individual framed photographs of three different dogs on mantle behind three small boxes. Two had a pocket knife in front of their box.
“Which one, Mac?”
“The one in the middle. The big black shepherd.”Mac motioned again.
Ross looked at the picture in the middle of the mantle. It was of a black German Shepherd Dog that had longer than average hair, which with the golden eyes, gave the dog a wolf like appearance. Even though Ross could imagine that this beautifully striking dog could appear terrifyingly intimidating, the image captured a face with what the boy could only describe as a happy smiling face. In front of the photograph was a wooden box, and in front of that was an old pocket knife with “Scout” inscribed on the shield of the knife.
Ross looked at the knife, then to the sleeping dog next to the hearth, then back to the knife. Ross remembered one of Mac’s small displays of antique pocket knives, and how several of those had “Barlow” inscribed on them.
“Is Barlow named after a knife?”
“Yes, he is actually. I felt it was an appropriate name for him since he’s not too big, very unassuming, strong, sturdy, and as you’ve seen, pretty useful.”
“So this dog on the mantle was named Scout? After a knife?”
Mac smiled. “Yes, his name was Scout, but he wasn’t named after a knife. That just happened to be an interesting and appropriate coincidence. He was named Scout because I got him to be a Search and Rescue dog. His job was to scout for people who were lost. He was fantastic at it if it was me he was trying to find. Anyone else, and they shouldn’t have been out there.”
“So the knife?” asked Ross.
“The knife is what a lot of people call a camp or scout pattern. Used to be if you had one of those there wasn’t anything you couldn’t do. Open cans, bottles, slice, cut, bore, punch, turn screws, you name it. When I had Scout I felt like he could do anything too. He went with me to school when I went off to learn to be a trainer. I trained him in obedience, tracking, agility, scent discrimination, and protection. He was amazing and taught me a lot.”
Ross saw the old man’s chin quiver and his eyes get misty.
“He was with me through some of the best and worst times of my life.” The old man reached up and put his hand on the box.
“He’s still with me.”
Ross realized the box held the ashes of the big black shepherd. He also realized the other two dogs on the mantle were in the boxes that were there too.
Mac gathered himself, wiped his eyes, and continued.
“Whit here was a mixed stray that wandered up one day and stayed. He showed up with a stick in his mouth and loved to just lay around chewing on them, whittling them down to stubs. So, I named him Whit as in whittler,” Mac said showing Ross the whittler pattern knife in front of the box.
“And, what about this one?” Ross asked. “He has no knife.”
“That’s Bay,” said Mac pointing to the picture of the black and red face of a very intimidating looking dog. “Bay was a Beauceron, a French herding breed that was also used as a military and police dog in France. He was the guardian of the house for a while during a time when I felt we needed it. He was named after the city of Bayonne, France, birthplace of the Bayonet,”
Mac pointed toward a plaque on the wall that had an M-9 bayonet mounted to it and the insignia of the 7thID, Mac’s old Army unit “The Bayonet Division”.
“That’s his.”
“So Barlow?” The boy trailed off.
“I wouldn’t worry about him too much. He’s only two, and will probably outlast me, much like these old Barlows outlasted all of their owners,” Mac said motioning to a small case of displayed antique Barlow knives.
“But…”the boy trailed off.
“I’ll have to find someone who I know and can trust to take care of him. Someone who has the knowledge and heart,” replied Mac, knowing where the boy was going.
“Dogs and knives have a lot in common in that different breeds were bred for specific jobs, just like knives are designed in different patterns for specific jobs. They are also alike in the fact that they are often the best friend a man or boy could have.”
“Will you teach me about dogs and knives, Mac?” asked the boy.
The old man smiled, knowing he had planted a seed. “Absolutely! How about we get started over a slice of your mom’s pecan pie?”
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Beautiful story and very touching!

Thank you.

Cate
 
Catherine_Montana said:
I am slowly discovering this long thread.

Happy birthday even if I am late here!

Beautiful pictures and thank you for sharing.

Cate
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Thanks Cate, not everyone comes to the Lounge, but I think of it as the heart of the forum :) :thumbup:

Jack
 
pmew said:
Today is a sad day. I had a Blade forums first and added someone to my ignore list. It was only a matter of time, I suppose, before a rowdy new neighbour appeared on the porch. I hope this isn't a taste of things to come.

In other news; SWMBO is currently whirling around the house frantically sorting out the wains masses of stuff - we are about to embark on the epic two day trip, heading back to Belfast to see the family. Then two weeks with the in-laws before another two days travel home. She's calling it a holiday. I'm not so sure.
Click to expand...

My ignore list is small, but it did increase by one recently as well. I anticipate it will be a short lived requirement. The porch sweepers have good brooms.

Cate: I don't post in this thread much but I read it regularly. Makes me feel like I am a world traveler without leaving my desk. Plus I get to learn proper English rather than the American which I normally speak. ;)
 
pmew said:
Today is a sad day. I had a Blade forums first and added someone to my ignore list. It was only a matter of time, I suppose, before a rowdy new neighbour appeared on the porch. I hope this isn't a taste of things to come.

In other news; SWMBO is currently whirling around the house frantically sorting out the wains masses of stuff - we are about to embark on the epic two day trip, heading back to Belfast to see the family. Then two weeks with the in-laws before another two days travel home. She's calling it a holiday. I'm not so sure.
Click to expand...

We have an 'ignore' feature? I had no idea, but to be honest, until now I wouldn't have had reason to give it any thought.

I can relate to your thoughts on your holiday. My in-laws are staying at our home for the next week or so as our kids are out of school for Spring Break. Not much of a 'break' for me I'm afraid. ;)
 
Old & In The Way said:
I can relate to your thoughts on your holiday. My in-laws are staying at our home for the next week or so as our kids are out of school for Spring Break. Not much of a 'break' for me I'm afraid. ;)
Click to expand...

Hope you fair well my friend :) :thumbup: I've had in-laws who were more like outlaws! :D ;)
 
I thought some of you folks might like to see this

Johnny Stout Baron, Jerry Rados turkish twist blade, proud fit presentation mammoth ivory, Robert Eggerling damascus bolsters engraved by Master engraver Alice Carter, file worked damascus backspacer and liners, multi colored anodized ti liners, jeweled liners. This is my first high end knife and I am quite pleased. Johnny's work is incredible. I had Caleb Royer take professional pictures that I will post when they are ready. Thanks for looking

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That is almost a piece of art, Kris! Congratz on that wonderful folder!! :) I can´t wait to see more of that knife.

Well today was a misty, rainy and windy day. No good day. So I did what I sometimes do and digged in the dungeons and abandoned areas of the Traditional Forum. Well, so roundabout five years back. There were threads I´ve read when I was a newbie here and did not know anything about the whole topic. Well and I read names of members, honorable member of our crowd that I haven´t heard of for a rather long time, even years.
Like the members Blues, Doug Add, Johnny Twoshoes, sunnyd, Vanguard (Tom), stockman242,yablanowitz etc etc just to name a few. There are many other names that come in mind when reading longer. What may have happened to them? I mean, they had great collections and not just chimed in for interesst in a GEC folder for sunday-church-carry. I hope they are all well and in good health and happy with whatever they do.

Just wanted to share some random thoughts...
Many of them helped me a lot in the past; so eventually some of our regular members here
 
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