Hell In The Pacific

Kodiak PA

Kodiak PA

Gold Member
Joined
Dec 3, 1998
Messages
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Since Memorial day is on Monday I was reminded of this movie starring Lee Marvin about an American and a Japanese soilder that confront each other on a deserted island. This is a fantastic movie which I just bought on Ebay.

There is some really cool knife content in the movie too where they use a Ka Bar USMC (I believe) to help construct the raft that they use to try to leave the island.

What really impressed me was that the Japanese soilder would sharpen the knife on what appeared to be some type of natural stone. Anyone know what that was? He would even hand the knife back to his "enemy" after sharpening it. Lots of moral intrigue in this movie.

Who has seen this movie? I think it is one of the best WWII movies I have ever seen.

I hope everyone has a nice Memorial day this weekend. Remember the veterans that sacrificed for our country. May their spiritand gifts that they gave us live forever.

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~Greg Mete~
Kodiak Alaska
Buck Collectors Club-Lifetime Member
JKM-Chai
KnifeKnutt@aol.com

[This message has been edited by Kodiak PA (edited 05-26-2001).]
 
Greg,
You're right, that's a great movie! I watch that one every time I catch it on TV. I like that there is so little dialogue, but you know exactly what they are thinking and what's going on. They spend all that time trying to sabotage and/or kill each other, and then they realize that the real enemy is the island and nature. I'm glad you brought this one up.

Knife content-
I'm not sure what type of stone the Japanese soldier used. He definitely seemed like a survivor type (not the stupid show
wink.gif
).

Paul
 
Greg:

Howdy Amigo! Remember that old TV show, "Black Sheep Squadron"? I was at an airshow in San Diego about 15 years ago and met Pappy Boyington AND his Japanese arch enemy from the war, who is now his friend. Both signing books. I used to watch the show a lot (pilot thing) and it was really cool to spend an afternoon with those two guys. Hey, find me a flying job out of Kodiak! Something with a good heater!

Pete
 
Hey Greg,
Just about any flat rock will sharpen a knife in a pinch. I've seen guys collect real thin flat ones for just that purpose.

Remember those who gave their all for us!
POW/MIA Bring em home-or send us back.

Dave
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by farmer:
Howdy Amigo! Remember that old TV show, "Black Sheep Squadron"? I was at an airshow in San Diego about 15 years ago and met Pappy Boyington AND his Japanese arch enemy from the war, who is now his friend. Both signing books.
Pete</font>
Click to expand...

When I was a boy, my Father, A WW2 Marine Combat Vet, gave me a copy of Col. Gregory "Pappy" Boyington's book. Basically, because I loved the TV Show and he liked "Pappy."

Sadly, Col. Boyington died a few years back. I don't mourn the passing of Media Celebrities like some do, but people like Col. Boyington were heroes worthy of mourning.

It's Memorial Day weekend, seems fitting to think of them and let them have the weekend instead of cookouts.

Very cool that you were able to meet him.




------------------
"You are no more armed because you are wearing a pistol than you are a musician because you own a guitar." ~Jeff Cooper
And the same goes for a knife...
And, I'm a Usual Suspect.
Some of my Knives and other neat things
 
There is a good supply of sharpening stones that will serve as sharpening stones.

Perhaps the best source is a stream-bed that features smooth-surface stones that have been polished by many years of tumbling by turbulent flow.

Look for a relatively thin-section circular or oval shape, with sufficient surface area that it can be broken into two or more pieces. By breaking that stone, you can fashion an abrupt edge that can be used to sharpen the complete edge, right down to the choil.
 
Thanks for the replies guys.

This sharpening source was different than a stone, though.

It looked like some type of packed sand, like when a kid at the beach uses his mud pale. Fills it with sand and turns it upside down. Weird...I will study the film when I get it and report back.

I didn't know if it was a waterstone or not.

Greg
 
Sandstone works, but you wouldn't find that on a desert island ... except in Hollywood, of course....

You can use sharp sand as loose abrasive on a wood lap. Sand varies; some is nice and sharp and some is so rounded it's like little ball bearings.
 
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