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

I think I'm going to pick up an old hobby and get back into orienteering.

Yesterday, looking for an old Silva Ranger my mentor gave me when I worked for him in Army, I found a compass Dad gave me more than 40 years ago. A Silva Type 5. First compass I had using the Silva System, and at the time the most basic compass Silva made for the Silva System (but truly all you need since land navigation is a mental skill not truly improved with gadgetry beyond the basics). Today's Silva 1-2-3 is the current equivalent to the old Type 5, and it's really a great compass especially considering you can get one for less than 10 bucks. The biggest thing the 1-2-3 has over the Type 5 is the needle bearing. The needle on the 1-2-3 dampens much more quickly than the needle on the Type 5.

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While a good lensatic compass proves more precise, it is slower for orienteering. It proved much better for the many Army land navigation tests I took, but those tests were much more difficult than most orienteering courses. Outside of Army land navigation tests, I mostly used a Silva to navigate in the wilds. I just picked up this lensatic compass up at the Fort Belvior MCSS as a gift for my son.

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Fantastic pics Will :thumbup:

Good luck with the orienteering Leghog, it's always struck me as a good way to keep fit and practice navigation. I have the same Silva 4 I've had since I bought it in 1982, covered a lot of miles with that thing :)
 
Will Power said:
The Lounge is a good place to share different perspectives, voice concern, be irreverent, share details about the grim and the beautiful. On the latter and lighter point this beautiful European Red Squirrel has been visiting the country place. She has a drey nearby and prominent nipples meaning either pregnant or nursing some kits, she certainly has a huge appetite and Red Squirrels generally only feed twice a day, she seems to be feeding constantly! Hungry mouths to feed...

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She is not alone, this pair of fine Bullfinches were busy earlier this month and I think there are about 5 pairs visiting regularly with nests very close by.

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Enjoy the coming week everybody, Will
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That’s a bullfinch?

I don’t understand the English.

What’s the challenge in jumping a horse over that? :D
 
scrteened porch said:
All right, all right, I won't post my latest finds from the $3 bin.
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Heh. I hope you know of what we are speaking. If everyone and their brother is scrambling around looking to get their hands on, and going on and on about who has them and where to get them, then please don't post your next $3 bin knife. :D
 
Peregrin said:
Heh. I hope you know of what we are speaking. If everyone and their brother is scrambling around looking to get their hands on, and going on and on about who has them and where to get them, then please don't post your next $3 bin knife. :D
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:D :thumbup:
 
Raymond1000 said:
That’s a bullfinch?

I don’t understand the English.

What’s the challenge in jumping a horse over that? :D
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Ha ha! Mystified by that, had to look it up :thumbup: Actually you'd need Pegasus to get over that pollarded Birch tree where their feeder is:D:D

You don't have that type of finch (pyrrhula pyrrhula) in N.America?

Thanks, Will
 
Will Power said:
Ha ha! Mystified by that, had to look it up :thumbup: Actually you'd need Pegasus to get over that pollarded Birch tree where their feeder is:D:D

You don't have that type of finch (pyrrhula pyrrhula) in N.America?

Thanks, Will
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Actually, we don’t. We have Loxigilla portoricensis, and several others of the Loxigilla ilk. Different birds, but they resemble the Old World bullfinch. So New World bullfinches they became.

The challenge is to keep the bullfinch on the eventing field. If I was a bird being charged by a horse, :eek: I’d go AWOL, ASAP. :D
 
Jim Todd spoke with slipjoint maker Jerry Halfrich and asked me to provide a status here. This is verbatim from Jim. Thank you everyone, please send up prayers/smoke/good thoughts for everyone caught in the flooding in Texas and Oklahoma.

Just chatted with Jerry Halfrich, he and family are okay, he did call in a helicopter rescue, but for his elderly neighbors. By the time the copter got there the waters were already receding and they did not take the copter rescue. The wash from the copter blew his birds off the roof in their cages and he lost them all. The rest of family and pets are fine. He has had lots of family and friends to help getting his house restored. The water levels were up to 52" on the inside walls. Most of the sheetrock and insulation are now out, his shop also took a big hit. He has AC and dehumidifiers going full blast in the house and shop to try to save what he can. He will not be making Blade this year due to the flood. He thanks everyone concerned and will be in touch when computer equipment is replaced. Thanked us for our concern and I told him we will be praying for his family and the restoration of home and shop.
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Prayers sent from Texas! My family and I are blessed to have avoided the flooding, but it hit all around us.
 
Didn't know where else to put this...

Here's something that will give the Cult of Peanut and other small knife enthusiasts the stuff of nightmares:D:D:D

Bigger is better, and these men are not Lilliputians or dwarves, far from it! It is a photo of an exhibition puukko held in the Iisakki Järvenpää Puukko Works in Kauhava, Finland. The knife itself is there too. Jarkko Haukkala very kindly sent me the photo on request together with details: It was very much a collective effort. The older man left, is likely Emil Ekman who forged the blade and tang. Others such as Veino and Jussi Mäenpää were involved in the assembly, sharpening and polishing Jussi and Erkki Alanen. Horse head casting&fittings, Sanfrid Tuurihalme, coat of arms Kustaa Rämäkko . He states the year is 1952 but I have a feeling it was pre-war. I will be going to the annual Kauhava Puukko Festival in just under two weeks time, not been before but looking forward to it (if only the rain and storms will stop!!):eek:

Regards, Will

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I ask the LORD that he be merciful to protect this man in and the afflicted in Texas in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the scripture reads that he is near unto the broken hearted and they that be of a contrite spirit, and his name is a strong tower; the righteous runneth in and are safe. To God be the glory, amen.
 
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