The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Work, of late, has been particularly demanding. Coupled with a growing boy (eight weeks now!!!), that means there hasn't been much "Michael time." Today was supposed to be my day off, but we've got some special stuff going on at church all week, so there goes that. Anyway, the Frau was kind enough to allow for a quick escape of a couple hours earlier in the day. After a couple weeks of "September" weather, today got us right back to the roaring hot-and-humid Kansas July. It was close, but I didn't actually wilt.
Anyway, I took the opportunity to go to one of my favorite close spots, which provides hunting, fishing, camping, and general outdoor recreation space. Given the heat had driven most everyone indoors or into the water somewhere else, I took the opportunity to follow a couple of the heavily-trafficed game trails. You know, practice moving quietly through the woods; identify wild edibles and water access; scout a bit for hunting season--you know, pretend to be a bushcrafting ninja for a while.
Unfortunately, I only had the camera on my cell, so there were lots of pictures I couldn't get: spiders in webs and other such where the phone tried to focus on the ground instead of the freakishly amazing spiderweb inches away from it. Grrrr!!!
Also unfortunate, in that I didn't really get to use the Bushcrafter for anything of note, but I certainly felt ready to do anything!
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Like I said, a WELL-USED game trail.
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This dude was really cool. The bottoms of its wings were bright yellow and orange. At a glance, it almost looked like a monarch in flight, but was completely camouflaged once stationary on a tree.
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Something lives here, but it didn't look like anyone was home.
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These guys were everywhere. They seemed to love the sun much more than I do.
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And I even caught a fish.
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Best escape I've had in weeks, even if it was only two hours.
Michael
Atchison State Lake. It's pretty small in terms of a wildlife area, but they allow hunting, fishing, camping, etc., and I can be there in 7 minutes door-to-door, so to speak. That makes it perfect for these quick getaways.
Funny enough, I was thinking about you the other day and wondering about a "Middle America Fiddleback Gathering." 😄
Michael
Thanks, Will! It's a joy to work with, really. I feel like I'm getting a much better handle on the knife's strengths and weaknesses. The biggest lesson I'm learning is simply to let the knife do the work. I forget I don't have to muscle a Fiddleback. The whole package just comes together.
Michael
Traveled out to see some friends and their 4 year old asked 'Uncle' Luke to do some carving with him. So I started what I hope someday will be my first spoon. I put my Bushraptor to good use. It did develop a hotspot on my hand, maybe I need a Bear Paw!
Fine looking knife, Jonny, love the pin pattern. Who made your sheath? I like it. :thumbup:
Took my stainless bushfinger out to the woods .
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For Mist: Here's the in-hand shot of a Hiking Buddy.![]()
Got your pictures mixed up. That's the Runt, isn't it? 
Michael
Did you say Runt?
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Sorry, it's the end of a really long week.
But my son successfully tested for his next belt and I'm taking my wife to PF Changs to celebrate our anniversary so it's starting to look up.
Did you say Runt?
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Sorry, it's the end of a really long week.
But my son successfully tested for his next belt and I'm taking my wife to PF Changs to celebrate our anniversary so it's starting to look up.