Free Okapi And Opinel Contest

[DaddyDett]

I think the Okapi would serve me well, scraping the err prose around here from my boots.



DaddyDett

 

[TomFetter]

I live in a happy place, but it's a bit cramped with you in it.

Jake

That's a keeper.

 

[Bladite]

Ahem... bookmanship indeed
In my defense, my goal was never to pull at the heartstrings or grapple a tear from the cantina. I simply wanted to spread the word about this horrilbe disease. A disease that could strike your next pet. It was never about the knives, just the info. Now, if Steve wants to award me with a small knife. That's fine. I will appreciate it, cherrish it, and gift it to these sick animals. And if the depression becomes too much for the animals, and they take their own life, then I will pry it from their adorable stiff paws, save it and gift it to my son. It will probably be haunted from all the dead puppies and kittens, but i think it will be a character builder for the young man. Any of you guys that want to give your kids a haunted knife are just sick. Steve knows that. My son doesn't exist yet, so a haunted knife will not bother him in the least. That is why I deserve one of these knives to protect my fellow Cantina members from the restlessly damned (although melt-your-heart cute) spirits of puppies, kitties, birdies, and all other things that were once fluffy and are now quite lumpy. So remember, unless you want a haunted knife to bring 100 years of nightmares to your children's children's children, then you'll let Steve send me and my imaginary son from the future the knives to do battle with these poor, although probably bloodthirty, ghosts of the knives so that you don't have to.
I have but one thing left to say:

Wook at da widdle porkypines!


If you have understood any of this, i seriously suggest that you go get a CAT scan. I live in a happy place, but it's a bit cramped with you in it.

Jake

if I get the knives, not only will they won't be haunted, but we can ensure that a kukri of Jake's WILL be haunted, as he'll use that to let the kitties and the porcunes (sic hedgehogs) fall on their swords, as it were. yes. knives for roses, not knives for kitties. even if they are cute kitties, remember, underneat all that cute and fur is a tiger, with built in knives, that wants nothing more than your kukris. plus kitties are not French in heritage and don't need no knives, just tiger kukris; since Jake has those, he's all set, and I SHOULD GET THEM THAR KNIVES. hahahahhaha. cramped in here indeed.

bladite

 

[soupah]

Okay, so here goes. No appeals to emotion, no flowerly language, no rhetoric.

I deserve these knives because I would use them. Everyday. This was exactly their intended function- to be utilized as tools, and appreciated for their functional as well as esthetic beauty.

For me, no item is intrinsically beautiful. Beauty comes about throught the expression of an item's purpose. For instance, a vintage wooden crate might have been built with time-worn, deep glossy wood and expert craftmanship, but its beauty is still not fully realized (to me) unless it's still actively performing an intended function, such as holding a cord of freshly-split pine, or a heap of coiled rope.

I would use the Opinel and Opaki as pocket knives. I would carry them and need them every day. I would use them for everything from cardboard to apples to difficult shoelace knots. I would look at them when I use them and think, "THAT is a Beautiful Thing." A vintage knife still built in the modern day, still performing its function as it was designed to do. Not sitting on a shelf, or in a closet, or behind glass, but something viable and "alive." A tool.

That's what I can offer, plus the pictures you requested.

-Jay

 

[TomFetter]

[whine on] NOOOO FAIRRR! Jay says he'll USE the knives. Cut things. Can he do that??! [whine off]

 

[jmings]

<snipski>
Wook at da widdle porkypines!

<WACK>
Jake

As I often told my daughter: "I understand they're delicious".
Appetizer Recipie Cook Book
Porcupine Recipies
Porcupine Soup

Porcupine Soup by Greenbird...

Porcupine represents the qualities of innocence and humility, and carries the medicine of trust and faith. By nature, he is a quiet and gentle neighbor, only causing harm when trust has been broken. A porcupine foot is sometimes carried as an amulet to help the carrier embody these qualities. Because it can be easily caught, some Alaskan native cultures consider the porcupine a starvation food, and only harvest this creature during times of need.

To make this recipe you need to find a plump, young porcupine and someone who can get past those soft brown eyes and sharp quills to bonk it on the head. (Remember to thank the porcupine's spirit for giving itself for your nourishment.) Older porcupines can be tougher, and may be spruce-y tasting depending on the time of the year it is harvested. Also of note, porcupines which have been feeding on dry wall and tires, probably won't have a very tasty flavor either.

Some people recommend scorching or searing the fur and quills off of the carcass before skinning and gutting. I find that when you scorch any type of game you run the risk of imparting a burnt flavor to the dish. I recommend carefully skinning the porcupine, starting from the belly, before gutting. Retain the liver. Remove the head and tail if you prefer, but these can be used in the soup as well. Gently wash the carcass and remove any pieces of fur remaining. Save the quills and strands of the long silky fur for projects. Discard any unused remains in a respectful manner.

Ingredients:

1 small to medium porcupine with liver
Flour
Bacon grease or shortening
Onion
Carrots
Potatoes
Celery
Mushrooms
Bay leaf
Garlic
Juniper berries
Rosemary
Parsley
Salt & Pepper to taste

The amounts used in this recipe should be based on what you have available; feel free to add or delete items as your vegetable bin and taste directs.

Chop up the porcupine into fry sizes pieces. (Do not fry the liver, keep aside in a cool place.) Make a fry mixture of flour, salt and pepper.

Dredge pieces in the fry mixture and brown in a hot skillet with a tablespoon or so of grease. Put browned pieces into a large soup pot and cover with water. Add a teaspoon of salt.

Bring water to a boil and then simmer for several hours or more, partially covered. Skim any impurities or foam from the surface. Add a bay leaf. When meat is starting to come off the bones, using a slotted spoon remove the meat from the pot and place on a plate to cool slightly. Separate the bones from the meat and return the meat to the pot.

Keeping the pot simmering, add celery, carrots, onions, mushrooms, potatoes, and a clove of garlic. Add a few whole juniper berries, parsley and rosemary. Chop the liver into bite size pieces and add to the soup. Taste the broth after a while and adjust seasonings accordingly. Soup is done when the vegetables are soft and the flavors have blended. Remove the bay leaf and juniper berries, if you can find them. If desired, thicken soup with a flour or cornstarch paste 10 minutes before serving. Fresh baked whole-wheat bread or corn bread is a wonderful accompaniment.

 

[Kazeryu]

All right, here's my shameless bid for free stuff:

I think I deserve one of the knives since I am pretty new to folders. I've been trying to learn about the various styles of grind, blade shape, lock, opening method, etc. by buying very different styles of knives. I would be interested to try out a twist-lock or a ring-lock, as they both seem pretty unique. (So far I've examined linerlock, framelock, lockback, and piston lock) The Opinel in particular interests me since I've never used that sort of blade shape (Clip-point, without belly).
I also have a taste for the unique and the antique - and both the Okapi and the Opinel fit this bill. Both of these knives look quite distinctive IMO, and I would be glad to own either one.

I also have a penchant for wood, and these are the first production folders I've encountered which come with a wood handle. :thumbup: Wood isn't the most pratical handle material, but boy does it look and feel nice.

I would definitely use the knife - There's a strong chance it would become my EDC since wood is more gentlemanly and soothing than blacktical or SS - I'm not exactly surrounded by knife people most of the day.

So, in conclusion, give me free stuff. Please?

 

[cavetech]

Yvsa, you sure do have your work cut out for judging this contest. What great reasons there are to win these knives!

I understand why you have remained silent. Spending much of your time sifting through these many fine posts. Carefully placing all entries in a database and carefully weighing the pros and cons of entrants prose. Hours of soul searching and meditation.

You must be feeling great stress as you consider all entries.

PS: Jake, put those Sea Urchins back in the water!

 

[jmings]

 

[cavetech]

TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY!

6:00PM is the deadline to get your entries in.

The winner will be announced right here tomorrow evening!!

I bet Yvsa will be awake all night picking winners.

 

[Yvsa]

TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY!

6:00PM is the deadline to get your entries in.

The winner will be announced right here tomorrow evening!!

I bet Yvsa will be awake all night picking winners.

Gee Steve, can't we wait until Saturday evening anyway?
There's so much to sort through and it'll be too hard to decide.
Actually what I think I'll do is just put everyone's name into a pot, shake it up and let Barbie draw two names, probably the fairest way.:thumbup:

 

[Kismet]

FAIR?

What's with "fair" all of a sudden?

I tell you it is a sure sign of the end of days when judges start introducing "fair" to a liar's contest.


Repent.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

FAIR?

What's with "fair" all of a sudden?

I tell you it is a sure sign of the end of days when judges start introducing "fair" to a liar's contest.


Repent.

Now Kis, it was never about the knives. It was a fun contest, and I'll back whatever Yvsa decides to do. After all, my sales season is going to kick into high gear in about 3 weeks. It was a good chance to hone some rusty skills Actually, for as much shameless BS I have posted in this thread, I think I should remove myself from the pot. Steve is a good enough guy to not only give the knives away, but ship them as well. All of my posts have been for the fun of it
So that said, Yvsa if it is going to be a luck of the draw, then I humbly bow out so that some of these other fellas get a good chance to win. If it is to be judged on honest merit, well then I never had a fighting chance to be with. If it be based on the tallest of tales, well then I'm sure there are characters more full of it than myself. Congrats to all that participated It was a lot of fun
Still....
























I dunno what I'm going to tell this guy if I don't win. He had his heart set on it.

His name is Spooky and he has a heart condition and is 17 years old. "17 years old!?!?" You say. "Yes" I say.
"Wha' chu talkin' 'bout?"
"Willis' Disease"
Willis Disease makes an animal chronicly cute and fluffy. They never grow visably older, thus they are never taken seriously. They still have all the thoughts, feelings, functions, and sickness of an older animal. However, people around them refuse to give them any rest. Can you imagine being an old, old man. Only wanting to sleep a little, to rest your tired eyes. Then to have the &^*& rubber ball thrown for the 9 millionth time? "Get the ball, Spooky! Com'on puppy". What a degrading life.
Poor little Spooky.
So, when you make your choice, Yvsa. Think of lil' Spooky and his last fleeting days.

Think about Gary Coleman who suffers from this every day

And finally, think about Mr. T. because he is cool, and ask yourself WWMTD?

Mr. T. would of course show pitty on a little dog, and not listen to any other suckas' runaround. Then he would shake his head slowly, kick down a door, and drive off in a cool van talking about not "havin' no time fo' no jibba jabba". What does that mean? I dunno, but i think it fits the situation, if you'll pardon the pun, to a T.

Thank You
Jacob R. Kelley

 

[DaddyDett]

Ok, it's like this, see.....

I have decided to go into business. I have 21 tall oaks on my 1/2 acre lot,
along with this 1480 sq ft ranch style 3 bdrm. house.
Most of these trees have issues, mostly dead tops and lousy dirt, I guess.
My back yard is an acorn farm, and if anyone needs Bonsai moss just let me know.
Anyways, I figger that if I am gonna cut down at least half of these big old trees to make toothpicks, I am gonna need a serious whittlin' knife or two.
Custom toothpick whittlin' is serious business. I figger that by the time my 6 yr old is outta school, he will be able to pay his college expenses with the proceeds of my next 12 yrs work.
I am thinkin' that khukuri shaped tooth picks will be all the new rage by then.
I figger to start with an AK shape and go to a sirupati to expand the line.
Who know's, maybe with the right tools, and the quality product they produce, I might even win a contract with the British Army.

So, you see, you can contribute to my son's education, to tradition, and to the forwarding of the khukuri as a household object here and abroad.

Now where is my garden hose, it's gettin squishy between my toes.


DaddyDett

 

[Kevin the grey]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have decided to make an effort towards winnig the Opinel for several reasons . I appreciate the simple complexity of its design . I am not a fan of folders due to safety concerns . Most , except for high end models have a pivot joint more wobbly than the knees of a drunkard . Aside from the affront this gives my sensibilities it just stands to reason that something loose like that can fail easier than something held in place by more than the strength of its pivot pin and its moorings . The Opinels twist ring retainer/lock is a master of elegance and simplicity of design . I have always preferred carbon steel blades for ease of sharpening . The edge may not hold up quite as well as some of the newer metals . I think that for the dressing of animals and other relatively non-abusive tasks the superiority of the carbon blade wins out . To me it seems to loan itself to a keen thin edge well suited to the aforementioned tasks .

On a separate note . I am from New France which of course dealt heavily in trade items and had a great need for simple strong tools . I sometmes feel like the last Irishman left in a sea of French speaking individuals . I find when I go to black powder shoots and other gatherings that an appreciation for the other fellows wares is a good ice-breaker . I am a trader at heart . I find that showing that I hold some of the same values as those I trade with breaks down any barriers different languages may put up .

 

[Sylvrfalcn]

Gee Steve, can't we wait until Saturday evening anyway?
There's so much to sort through and it'll be too hard to decide.
Actually what I think I'll do is just put everyone's name into a pot, shake it up and let Barbie draw two names, probably the fairest way.:thumbup:

Please leave my name out of the pot Yvsa, I'm already well equipped with Okapi and Opinel knives. It's been fun slinging bull with the rest of the gang, but when it comes down to it, I'd prefer to see the knives go to someone that doesn't have one and is genuinely interested in giving 'em a try. Thanks.

Sarge

 

[Nasty]

I'm not in either...these are great cheap knives, but have a few already. Send them to whoever the Spirits say to...

Thanks to Steve for sparking the thread though.

 

[cavetech]

Hi All:

I'm sorry to be logging on after the contest deadline of 6:00PM. I had to work late.

I have absolutly enjoyed this contest and each and every contestant post. You guys are great!

But now the big moment is here. Yvsa should be the very next post as he proudly announces the names of the two winners. Yvsa, be sure to say which winner wins which knife.

Will the lucky winners please contact me privately with their name and mailing address so I can ship their coveted knives.

YVSA, PLEASE TAKE IT FROM HERE!

 

[Yvsa]

Sorry for being so late, kinda had a rough day later this evening and I had to lay down.

You guys made it damned hard to pick a winner but here they are...
Astrodada is the proud winner of the Opinel and Steely_Gunz is the proud winner of the Okapi.:thumbup:

As Steve said, "Please contact him with your addresses so he can get your knives out to you."

 

[Astrodada]

What ?? I won !??