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

That may only be slightly worse than Gonzo going MJF. They should have left him in the shed.
 
Thanks for the words of solidarity folks, greatly appreciated :thumbup:

I found this a particularly good piece among the early reports: https://www.theguardian.com/comment...er-attack-bravery-humanity-jonathan-freedland

Yet if those who denounce Westminster had only seen it today. The speed with which the police and the emergency services ran towards danger when every human instinct would propel most of us away from it. The help ordinary people gave other ordinary people when they saw them lying hurt on Westminster Bridge. The security officers who brought a tray of tea to the police officers standing guard, watching over them. The visitors herded to safety, including a mother pushing a baby in a buggy. And the group of schoolchildren who reportedly decided to cheer up all those in lockdown in parliament’s Central Lobby with a spontaneous singsong.
Click to expand...
 
I just want say how much it upsets me that yet another coward has attacked innocent people this time in London. Though I try never to use profanity the only way I can express my feelings is to say it makes me mad as Hell when these idiots target and kill innocent people. I stand in solidarity with all of you that are in in opposition to these crazy people that commit such acts. To our UK neighbors I am so sorry you folks lost a brave and heroic police officer as well as the others that were either killed or injured at the hands of a complete nut case.
 
Prayers for our brothers and sisters across the pond.

There are two things I am a firm believer in that the omnipotent center of the universe hates.

Those doing evil deeds in It's name and those deeds;

And hurting those that are defenseless (children, elderly, pets).
 
Hit up the Badger Knife Club Show today. Many great knife makers were there. It was probably the best showing I've seen in the last three years. The highlights of the slipjoint makers were Rick Nowland and Ken Erickson. Ken said that he's getting back in the shop and he had a couple of newly finished knives on his table. i was really happy to see him back after his recent hiatus. No Ken Coats today, he's usually a regular. Queen was there showing off their new autos. Those are some seriously cool knives, but a bit too big for me. I didn't get any pictures as I had my three kids with me and had my hands full keeping them out of trouble while squeezing in some conversations with the various makers.
 
Thanks for the report, Cory! Glad you enjoyed the show, and I am very happy to hear Ken Erickson is back at it!
 
It's almost dusk here and I had to go out for some tinfoil. As I came around a steep curve on Ben Lippen Mtn. I saw a young cat in the road and a big wild hen turkey absolutely beating the fire out of that cat. The cat must have had a lapse in judgement and decided to attack that old hen just to discovered that was not a very wise move. It didn't take long for the cat to get away and go scrambling down the road with the turkey right behind it looking for a little more action. No doubt it will be quite sometime before that cat tackles another turkey. I'm still laughing, man can try but will never be able to provide as good of entertainment as nature can that was one for the archives.
 
r redden said:
It's almost dusk here and I had to go out for some tinfoil. As I came around a steep curve on Ben Lippen Mtn. I saw a young cat in the road and a big wild hen turkey absolutely beating the fire out of that cat. The cat must have had a lapse in judgement and decided to attack that old hen just to discovered that was not a very wise move. It didn't take long for the cat to get away and go scrambling down the road with the turkey right behind it looking for a little more action. No doubt it will be quite sometime before that cat tackles another turkey. I'm still laughing, man can try but will never be able to provide as good of entertainment as nature can that was one for the archives.
Click to expand...

awww man poor cat! i just pictured this happening and the thought is hilarious!
 
Randy, thank you sharing that story. I've now got this delightful cartoon version of it playing in my head. :)

Come to think if it, there may be a Tom & Jerry episode where Jerry convinces a big hen that he's one of her chicks and she protects him from Tom. I'll have to see if I can find it....
 
You are right Randy, to those that look for it, nature can provide quite a bit of amusement.
 
Going to go on a bit of a rant here. Technically it isn't "off-topic", but I didn't want to trouble anyone with my frustration in a thread all its own.

I do not frequent antique stores too often but when I do go on occasion, I usually enjoy myself quite a bit as it is akin to perusing a museum of sorts where everything is for sale. I had the opportunity to go to a few antique stores with a good friend of mine this last weekend and though I came away with a few nice finds, I left with an overall sense of frustration and bewilderment. I usually limit myself to my specific interests when I go and so I look out for old knives, tools, books, and tobacciana.

Though I understand the notions of supply and demand and the necessary markups that dealers must place on their finds, it is still frustrating to find a beat up, rusted hatchet head with no handle going for $55. Or a screwdriver with a rotted wood handle going for $60! And that is just a brief example of what I was experiencing. I think the icing on the cake for me was finding a couple of cases with an assortment of vintage knives displayed. After fetching the kind lady to assist me with the viewing, I proceeded to examine the knives I was interested in.

The first one that caught my eye was a Japanese made Barlow with smooth bone covers. I was dismayed to find the spear point blade to have been sharpened so much that it was now a "recurve", also the spring was so shot that I could practically flop the blade in and out with little to no movement. Not worth the obscene price that it was being listed for... That proved to be the case for most of the other knives as well: A couple of Camillus knives with broken blades and worn springs, a number of Remington knives with celluloid covers, in good condition but showing signs of outgassing and listed for around 3 Benjamins each, and a hodge podge of others. All in rather terrible or questionable condition. All with prices that were unbelievably ridiculous, in my opinion, at least.

That all being said, I did find a mint Case Barlow with stag covers that I really wanted to walk away with. It just happened to be too rich for my blood at that time, as I have money tied up in other knives right now. I may regret not picking that one up.

When all was said and done though, I walked away from our antique jaunts with a beautiful leather bound edition of Victor Hugo's Les Miserables and a 1898 edition of Longfellow's Hiawatha (a special book to me). So though I had no knives or tools to show for my searching, I still did not leave empty handed. I am still amazed though at whatever justification there is for pricing items so highly when the condition simply does not warrant it. But then again, it could just be me being rather ignorant or naive of the antique market in general.

Apologies for the long winded rant...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top