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

I stoppped in Cabelas and talked with the guy in charge of the knife counter. Showed him a few Gossman customs, we talked about a knife shop about two hours south of Cabelas and I told him about the various slipjoint groups on Facebook and the Traditional forum here. He was a big fan of all kinds of quality knives, but liked old timey knives. His fellow associate produced a sodbuster with a really nice forced patina, CV of course. He looked to be about my age or younger, same for his buddy. The other kid there, who I had seen when the store opened last year, was interested in the slipjoints I had with me too. I didn't get any knives, just a pair of Merrell slip ons. The following day I saw the new Mad Max movie. If I can get my pics uploaded, I'll show you the pics from hiking Turkey Point in North East MD.
 
Will Power said:
I was wondering what's happened to Humppa?:confused:

Andi is usually a very keen poster on the Forum but he has fallen silent. I've sent him a PM some time back but I've yet to hear, I hope our friend is alright.

Thanks, Will
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Jack Black said:
Me too Will. I was thinking of sending him a PM. Hope he's OK and will be back with us soon :thumbup:
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5K Qs said:
Thanks for posting this, Will. All week I've considered asking the same question here in the lounge. Please let us know if he responds to your PM.

- GT
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Thanks for asking, guys.

I was offline for some weeks as I needed a break. I was a daily poster for the last four years and I really love the forum. It is the best place in the whole internet, if you ask me. A lot of great guys I actually call friends even if I never met them in person nor I will ever do - propably. This is my most visited place in the internet by far. So please don´t see this as an offense or arrogance on my side.
But the forum changed somehow in last few months.
It became more a challenge of who is getting which knife / item and not the discussion about it. I remember years ago we had discussions about steels, handle scales, bolster materials that went over pages and pages. They were a great source of knowledge and wisdom here. There the tales and stories of experiences with knives and such. And not to forget the great threads about the kindness / selflessness of the members on the one hand and the gratefullness of the recievers on the other hand. Be it a knife or a medal or a coin or whatever. This makes this place so special. But I missed it somehow during the last few months.

So I decided to get a step back and take a deep breath. Well, I´m back from the break. ;)
I hope you guys don´t get me wrong - but the break seemed to be necessary. You are great great fellows, each of you.

Just my thoughts - thanks for reading!
 
Like Andi, I've not been around much either. I've had far more important things to attend to...





I hope Andi's reasons for absence have been as happy as mine...
 
Humppa said:
Thanks for asking, guys.
It became more a challenge of who is getting which knife / item and not the discussion about it. I remember years ago we had discussions about steels, handle scales, bolster materials that went over pages and pages. They were a great source of knowledge and wisdom here. There the tales and stories of experiences with knives and such. And not to forget the great threads about the kindness / selflessness of the members on the one hand and the gratefullness of the recievers on the other hand. Be it a knife or a medal or a coin or whatever. This makes this place so special. But I missed it somehow during the last few months.
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Interestingly I had this exact discussion with a fellow forumite just the other day.
 
Andi, it's great to see you post. You are far from the only poster to be saying the exact same things about the forum in recent months :thumbup:

Paul, what a wee smasher! I am chuckling out loud here! :D Great pics, Rory is growing up fast mate :) :thumbup:
 
Humppa said:
Thanks for asking, guys.

I was offline for some weeks as I needed a break. I was a daily poster for the last four years and I really love the forum. It is the best place in the whole internet, if you ask me. A lot of great guys I actually call friends even if I never met them in person nor I will ever do - propably. This is my most visited place in the internet by far. So please don´t see this as an offense or arrogance on my side.
But the forum changed somehow in last few months.
It became more a challenge of who is getting which knife / item and not the discussion about it. I remember years ago we had discussions about steels, handle scales, bolster materials that went over pages and pages. They were a great source of knowledge and wisdom here. There the tales and stories of experiences with knives and such. And not to forget the great threads about the kindness / selflessness of the members on the one hand and the gratefullness of the recievers on the other hand. Be it a knife or a medal or a coin or whatever. This makes this place so special. But I missed it somehow during the last few months.

So I decided to get a step back and take a deep breath. Well, I´m back from the break. ;)
I hope you guys don´t get me wrong - but the break seemed to be necessary. You are great great fellows, each of you.

Just my thoughts - thanks for reading!
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Andi, a lot of what you say rings true with me also. Once I reached the point of being very content with the few knives I had cut back to, I was very much less interested in accumulation, vs still high interest in the history and appeal of the old time patterns. Maybe even the romance of who may have carried what pattern, or finding an old knife and wondering what stories it could tell. But this place and the people who make it work are still so special to me, it's where I spend most all of my internet time. To me, this place is family. I've never ever felt that about any other online site.
 
Glad to see both Paul and Andi posting here, glad all is well. Paul you have bruiser there, will make a great rugby player in a few! Andi, agreed, there is much to be learned and often it seems to be about the conquest. the break was likely a great idea also a little selective ignoring helps.
Been out at the range a bit with my daughter (12) getting her ready for the Quigley Rifle match in Montana over the father's day weekend. She shoots a 40-65 Highwall and I shoot a 45-90 Sharps. she may beat me!
Anyway welcome back both of you! Steven
 
Glad to see Andi and Paul are back. :thumbup: It's very understandable the need to get away from somethings, anythings, everythings for everybody.:cool: Be nice to take time off from oneself sometimes:D:D Compulsive Knife Posting Syndrome:eek::thumbup:

Thanks, Will
 
oldrifleman said:
Glad to see both Paul and Andi posting here, glad all is well. Paul you have bruiser there, will make a great rugby player in a few! Andi, agreed, there is much to be learned and often it seems to be about the conquest. the break was likely a great idea also a little selective ignoring helps.
Been out at the range a bit with my daughter (12) getting her ready for the Quigley Rifle match in Montana over the father's day weekend. She shoots a 40-65 Highwall and I shoot a 45-90 Sharps. she may beat me!
Anyway welcome back both of you! Steven
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Steven, sounds rather interessting. But I can´t find any info on the 40-65 Highwall. Sounds like an older US-caliber. Like 30-30 or 45-70. You shot 45-90 did you use a smokeless powder or black powder load? I´m also into shooting lately.
I bought myself a .22lr Anschütz bolt action repeating gun one week ago, with a nice small scope. A highly accurate gun this little rifle. I shot a group of 5 rounds at 100 metres and I nearly could clear it up with just one patch :D
I used to shoot military surplus rifles some time ago. I love the K98 in 8x57IS - but the semi auto M1 in .30-06 is also great and accurate gun to shoot. The 6.5x55 SE is a wonderful accurate gun. Never shot anything comparable - on military surplus rifles.
 
The daughter's rifle is a C Sharps replica of a Winchester Highwall chambered for the 40-65 Winchester round. I am loading it with a 405 grain bullet and 63 grains of Swiss black powder. I had the stock cut for a 12.5 LOP to fit my daughter ( and son in a couple of years). I am also shooting Black Powder in my 45-90 (530 grain bullet and 86 grains of powder). The Anshutz rifles are very nice, some what more expensive over here (a 1712 will cost around $1900). I also love the M1 great rifles! I have ever shot any of the European military rifles ( except an HK 91 many, many years ago).
 
Wanted to let folks know that I contacted the San Marcos, TX PD and Hays County Sheriff's office today to see if they could help me track down Jerry Halfrich who I had been unable to contact since the flooding in Texas devastated his area.

They were supremely professional and kind enough to go out and find Jerry on my behalf, (whose home and belongings (including knife making equipment) have been damaged, ravaged or destroyed), and have him reach out to me. He and Janice are safe and sound after escaping their home through a window and making their way to the roof. Tragically, Jerry lost his longtime companion "Bandit", his beloved Jack Russell terrier to the catastrophe. And their parrot was also lost to the ravages of the flood.

Jerry's cellphone was washed into the raging torrents due to the rotor wash of a rescue helicopter so he can't be reached and there is no longer a land line...but I told him I'd let folks know that he and Janice are alive and being well provided for by family and friends locally.

Please keep them and all that find themselves in such straits in your thoughts and prayers.
 
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Oh, no.

I'm so sorry to hear of this. I'm glad they are physically safe themselves, but... at such great loss.

Thank you for your efforts to reach Jerry, and for letting us know.

~ P.
 
thanks for the news -- good to hear they're physically OK.
sad about Bandit, though.
 
Thanks for letting us know, Elliott. I'm sure Jerry and Janice appreciated your concern and support, sorry to hear about his companions. His little "Jack Russell" fixed blade is one of my favorites. It now has the nickname of Bandit in memory of his loss. I hope they can recover from the disaster soon.
 
Our Niece lives in Houston, and her home is mostly okay, but her Honda fit was flooded out. She just made the last payment a few months ago. I guess she'll find out how good Allstate is.
 
Sad news Elliott. Prayers are up for the Halfrichs and the whole community. The pictures on television have been horrible.
 
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