Seax, having never travelled to Europe, I can only imagine what kind of big cutlery is stylish in Norway. There are many artworks portraying Norsemen with axes, but are the old style axes still commonly in use? Are there "politically correct" prejudices against folks who use axes and big knives in public? Is there a legal trend toward disarming the public?
There are lots of misconceptions about our American West...like the fiddle was actually the instrument of the cowboy intead of the guitar.
While I don't consider myself to have eclectic musical tastes, I always return to bluegrass from venturing out. (most of the stuff doesn't suit me, but there is some great music that 5% or so that's unknown to the public) Lots of Scot (Bill Monroe), Irish, and Swedish tunes are the same as those in American "old time" music (pre-bluegrass) but have different names. I once knew a fellow in New York who studied classical violin, but got interested such folk music and played a wonderful Hardanger fiddle that had been passed down through the generations. I don't know of a source here for such instruments, and doubt I could afford one. Anyway, I keep bumping into elegant music, from Norteno (Tex-Mex; Flaco Jiminez playing a Viennese accordion), to eastern European (fiddle, viola playing triple-stops, and a small 3-stringed bowed bass), to southern Gospel.
To me, the knife and shooting worlds are also like this; one good thing leading to another. Someday I'll have nice Puukko to go along with a few Green River knives. It's all good, but to me they take a seat in the back of the bus in comparison to the khukuri.
Be well....Dan
