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[Horsewright]

Wow - I don't even really know what else to say! You are blessed sir! And that old Bisley is very cool.

Was doing some reading on Tom Threepersons. Interestingly, according to Wikipedia anyhoo, his first verifiable interaction with history, was his meeting with General Pershing, during The Punitive Expedition into Mexico. This kinda sparked my interest as my maternal Grandfather was along on that ride. He was actually part of Pershing’s staff. He referred to himself as the General’s “horse boy.” He rode the General’s horses when Blackjack wasn’t on them to keep them trained and legged up. Who knows, he could of been standing in the background when the General met Threepersons.

My grandfather and grandmother upon his return from Europe at the end of WW1.

I don’t know if they were married yet at this time or not. My mother told me that he was exercising one of the General’s horses in a park when he saw a “hot chick” out for a walk. He started showing off on the horse, putting it through its paces. Worked. He passed away in 1972 before I was old enough to ask smart questions. Quien sabe?

 

[AKAT_MIKE]

Was doing some reading on Tom Threepersons. Interestingly, according to Wikipedia anyhoo, his first verifiable interaction with history, was his meeting with General Pershing, during The Punitive Expedition into Mexico. This kinda sparked my interest as my maternal Grandfather was along on that ride. He was actually part of Pershing’s staff. He referred to himself as the General’s “horse boy.” He rode the General’s horses when Blackjack wasn’t on them to keep them trained and legged up. Who knows, he could of been standing in the background when the General met Threepersons.

My grandfather and grandmother upon his return from Europe at the end of WW1.

I don’t know if they were married yet at this time or not. My mother told me that he was exercising one of the General’s horses in a park when he saw a “hot chick” out for a walk. He started showing off on the horse, putting it through its paces. Worked. He passed away in 1972 before I was old enough to ask smart questions. Quien sabe?

Again - thank you for sharing your story! More than anything else in life I'm a history buff (no degree so cannot claim historian) and my experience has been that the most interesting historical information comes via shared stories. There is not only a wealth of knowledge here on the forum, but also interesting folks I might never have conversed with otherwise.

I hear you on that last part - my grandfather was born in 1911 in Laredo TX, raised by his uncle on a small cattle ranch, and told me a story about seeing Pancho Villa when he was a kid. He passed away when I was in my late 20's and I wasn't old enough to ask smart questions. Very cool that you have the photo of your grandparents - truly a treasure.

 

[Horsewright]

Yes sir!

 

[AKAT_MIKE]

By the way, I mentioned that I would let you all know when the YouTube video of the knife break test was posted and it is now here:

AKAT Co Entertainment

Welcome to the Forge! I'm Mike, and I am a knifemaker currently building my business. If you're interested in knifemaking, I post educational videos as well as videos about my journey with AKAT. Check out my other socials: abetterknifeandtoolco.com facebook.com/akatcollc...

www.youtube.com

Brand new to YouTube; the plan is to document the journey from "here" to "there"...

Also want to mention that I will be doing a follow up video next week based on the feedback received from Mr. McPherson and Mr. Apelt.

 

[Linus Knives]

By the way, I mentioned that I would let you all know when the YouTube video of the knife break test was posted and it is now here:

AKAT Co Entertainment

Welcome to the Forge! I'm Mike, and I am a knifemaker currently building my business. If you're interested in knifemaking, I post educational videos as well as videos about my journey with AKAT. Check out my other socials: abetterknifeandtoolco.com facebook.com/akatcollc...

www.youtube.com

Brand new to YouTube; the plan is to document the journey from "here" to "there"...

Also want to mention that I will be doing a follow up video next week based on the feedback received from Mr. McPherson and Mr. Apelt.

Nice job! I subscribed- Looking forward to more content!

 

[AKAT_MIKE]

Nice job! I subscribed- Looking forward to more content!

Thank you!

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Nice video, Mike.
Suggestions:
1) When doing a bend test it may help to slip a 24" piece of pipe over the handle. It increases leverage and decrease injury risk. Kudos on wearing a face shield.
2) Bend the blade toward the anvil side of your vise on your setup. It will greatly increase stability and decrease the chance of you tumbling backwards if the blade snaps suddenly while bending hard.


Dave - I was lucky enough to "interview" three of my grandparents and write down or memorize their stories of growing up in the 1880's thru 1950. We take things for granted today that did not exist to them. For instance, my maternal grandmother on the mule farm never saw a light bulb or car until she went to St. Louis to attend nursing school.
I also befriended a former slave as a child and would prompt her to tell me what she had seen in her over 100 years of life. I wrote all that down, too.
My interest in learning history from people who lived it was part of why I was made a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, thus my postnominals FSAScot. There are currently only 2800 of us worldwide.

 

[Horsewright]

Nice video, Mike.
Suggestions:
1) When doing a bend test it may help to slip a 24" piece of pipe over the handle. It increases leverage and decrease injury risk. Kudos on wearing a face shield.
2) Bend the blade toward the anvil side of your vise on your setup. It will greatly increase stability and decrease the chance of you tumbling backwards if the blade snaps suddenly while bending hard.


Dave - I was lucky enough to "interview" three of my grandparents and write down or memorize their stories of growing up in the 1880's thru 1950. We take things for granted today that did not exist to them. For instance, my maternal grandmother on the mule farm never saw a light bulb or car until she went to St. Louis to attend nursing school.
I also befriended a former slave as a child and would prompt her to tell me what she had seen in her over 100 years of life. I wrote all that down, too.
My interest in learning history from people who lived it was part of why I was made a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, thus my postnominals FSAScot. There are currently only 2800 of us worldwide.

That's cool Stacy! I was in Scotland in 72 when my grandfather passed.

Had a class in college on Verbal History. We were to search out folks and talk to them, get their story and then write a paper on the deal. Found a lady at the church I attended that had, a s a small girl, come across the plains in a wagon train

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Yup, those stories die with the teller unless someone gets them to repeat it and keeps it alive. My German grandmother could name every relative, their occupation, location, and other details for about six generations back. In Germany/Austria/Prussia, oral history was the norm in most families.

 

[DanF]

I deleted my response, did not want to derail the OP’s thread.
(Enjoyed the video, by the way)

 

[AKAT_MIKE]

Nice video, Mike.
Suggestions:
1) When doing a bend test it may help to slip a 24" piece of pipe over the handle. It increases leverage and decrease injury risk. Kudos on wearing a face shield.
2) Bend the blade toward the anvil side of your vise on your setup. It will greatly increase stability and decrease the chance of you tumbling backwards if the blade snaps suddenly while bending hard.


Dave - I was lucky enough to "interview" three of my grandparents and write down or memorize their stories of growing up in the 1880's thru 1950. We take things for granted today that did not exist to them. For instance, my maternal grandmother on the mule farm never saw a light bulb or car until she went to St. Louis to attend nursing school.
I also befriended a former slave as a child and would prompt her to tell me what she had seen in her over 100 years of life. I wrote all that down, too.
My interest in learning history from people who lived it was part of why I was made a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, thus my postnominals FSAScot. There are currently only 2800 of us worldwide.

Good advice that I will follow on my next destructive test video. Thanks!