Round Yorkshire With A Knife: The Wizard’s Quest Part 5

Jack Black said:
I was reminded that charity shops, the ubiquitous feature of every British high street, to whom people donate their unwanted treasures, and those of their deceased loved-ones, throw any pocket knives they find in the bin or otherwise have them destroyed, so gradually depleting the number of old knives available.
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You have only to look at the transparent amnesty bins in airports to fill your heart with woe.

Jack, I'm sure I remember my old man preaching in Ripon (although not in the cathedral, in a little Methodist church nearby) when I was young. We lived in Hull at the time. Dad had three churches, one in Wawne, one in Bransholme and one in Sutton-on-hull where we lived. I have no idea why he might have been preaching miles away in Ripon, but I'm sure he did.

If you happen to visit 'ull (I can understand why you might miss it out) on your quest, take a little trip to paragon square and see if there is still a gunsmiths there. I think it was called Duncan's. A mate and I used to spend hours staring through the window at the pocket knives, guns, catapults, crossbows and other lethal what-not when I was a lad. I got my first SAK from there when I was ten, a waiter, which I still have.

Great write up, great read, great quest.

Paul
 
I was hoping the weekend you mentioned in another thread would be another knife hunt.

I like your exploding Buddhas metaphor. It's bad enough if the cultelloclasts destroy knives out of fear, but if they imagine they're being virtuous...
Maybe someone should offer the charity shops tuppence a blade to take over the dreadful responsibility of selling their knives. Maybe I should try that around here.
 
pmew said:
You have only to look at the transparent amnesty bins in airports to fill your heart with woe.
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It's true Paul, though I think in the US, the knives in the amnesty bins are eventually sold off rather than being destroyed. Not the case here though. There's a whole display about it at the Royal Armouries (of all places) here in Leeds, and there's a few decent-looking old knives in the amnesty selection they have on show. Such a shame.

I do know that the police here DO sell off some of the items that fall into their hands because I know the retired police officer who values them for the local force. He was telling me they recently brought him a sword-stick for evaluation, and he had to point out that it was a totally prohibited article! :D

pmew said:
Jack, I'm sure I remember my old man preaching in Ripon (although not in the cathedral, in a little Methodist church nearby) when I was young. We lived in Hull at the time. Dad had three churches, one in Wawne, one in Bransholme and one in Sutton-on-hull where we lived. I have no idea why he might have been preaching miles away in Ripon, but I'm sure he did.

If you happen to visit 'ull (I can understand why you might miss it out) on your quest, take a little trip to paragon square and see if there is still a gunsmiths there. I think it was called Duncan's. A mate and I used to spend hours staring through the window at the pocket knives, guns, catapults, crossbows and other lethal what-not when I was a lad. I got my first SAK from there when I was ten, a waiter, which I still have.

Great write up, great read, great quest.

Paul
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Thanks Paul. Yes, I can well remember having my nose pressed against the windows of such shops! :D The days are a bit short to get over to Hull at the moment, but maybe I'll go over in the summer, been a while since I was last there. Perhaps have a trip to Brid! :D

scrteened porch said:
I was hoping the weekend you mentioned in another thread would be another knife hunt.

I like your exploding Buddhas metaphor. It's bad enough if the cultelloclasts destroy knives out of fear, but if they imagine they're being virtuous...
Maybe someone should offer the charity shops tuppence a blade to take over the dreadful responsibility of selling their knives. Maybe I should try that around here.
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Give it go Jer :thumbup: I'm not sure what they'd make of that sort of approach here though :(
 
scrteened porch said:
I was hoping the weekend you mentioned in another thread would be another knife hunt.

I like your exploding Buddhas metaphor. It's bad enough if the cultelloclasts destroy knives out of fear, but if they imagine they're being virtuous...
Maybe someone should offer the charity shops tuppence a blade to take over the dreadful responsibility of selling their knives. Maybe I should try that around here.
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They could send them to Texas :D
 
Jack, I wonder what one would have to do, to become the fellow who "disposes of" all those dangerous, evil pocket knives from all the old estates. Your gramps left all this stuff behind, including these nefarious items? Oh, not to worry, I'll rid you of them. ;)
 
puukkoman said:
Jack, I wonder what one would have to do, to become the fellow who "disposes of" all those dangerous, evil pocket knives from all the old estates. Your gramps left all this stuff behind, including these nefarious items? Oh, not to worry, I'll rid you of them. ;)
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They are probably destroyed under the utmost security Alex, just in case one of the evil things jumped out of the furnace or crusher! :(
 
Jack, I am somewhat surprised how such an everyday common item has become so vilified, especially considering your countries rich cutlery history.
 
sitflyer said:
Jack, I am somewhat surprised how such an everyday common item has become so vilified, especially considering your countries rich cutlery history.
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Indeed Duane, but look what happened to the longbow! :eek:
 
Sad to hear the trip was a bit of a wash out for the Wizard again Jack. I'm sure that elusive something shall appear one of these days....when you are least expecting it.

I'm glad you were able to find a suitable location to drink away the bitter taste of disappointment old bean ;)
 
scruffuk said:
Sad to hear the trip was a bit of a wash out for the Wizard again Jack. I'm sure that elusive something shall appear one of these days....when you are least expecting it.

I'm glad you were able to find a suitable location to drink away the bitter taste of disappointment old bean ;)
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Thanks pal :thumbup:
 
puukkoman said:
...what DID happen to the longbow?? :eek:
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They also had a rich history, but then someone said, "Hey you'll have someone's eye out with that!" Then they all got burned!:eek: ;) :D



(A very effective weapon (and a democratic one), but which required skill and practice. They were still in use (on a small scale) during the English Civil War, having a vastly superior range and rate of fire to the firearms of the time. Guns however were ISSUED, and primitive as they were, the use of them required relatively little training.)
 
What a shame... I can't think of a more British weapon than the longbow, and a a long-time archery enthusiast, it's one of my favorites! :/
 
puukkoman said:
What a shame... I can't think of a more British weapon than the longbow, and a a long-time archery enthusiast, it's one of my favorites! :/
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A shame indeed. Even by the time of the English Civil War there were relatively few skilled English archers remaining. King Charles had a longbow regiment, but their relatively small numbers meant that they were targeted and killed by the opposing Parliamentarian forces.

It's a skill I've always meant to learn :)

 
There's even an ordinance against firing a slingshot (catapult) in our city limits.
I've never shot in a longbow, but I have a couple of nice old 45-50 lb recurves. Longbows were more like 100 lbs pull, I believe.
 
I know a guy who shoots longbows at a very high standard, he's not a big guy at all, but he's been doing it 30-odd years.
 
How does one stay connected to their heritage if all the artifacts and history is destroyed? A rhetorical question. I need pint now after this leg of the quest.
 
Yes, I've also heard historical reports of archers standing 5'9" tall and drawing 125# bows. :eek:
 
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