Fred.Rowe
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- May 2, 2004
- Messages
- 6,848
What good fortune, has come our way.
:banana: :banana: :happy14: :happy25: On my last post, Moon and I were deep in thought; studying our options, on how to get the large burl into our possession. Legally. I have only met the gentleman, who owns the land, in question, a time or two and we did not hit it off, then, if I remember correctly. I told Moon, " I might give Mark Lawrence a call; he hunts with those folks and might be able to intervene on our behalf". I stopped down Sunday morning and had a cup of coffee with Mark; I asked if he thought Tim Wing might let us haul that big burl off the ridgetop and cut it up for handle material. Mark replied, " I have permission to cut any of the dead wood on the place" "I've got a key to the gate, we can drive the big Case
tractor up there and pick it up" "Drop it off at your shop" That would be great, Mark. Give me a call when you want to do that. See you later.
I headed back to the forge and gave Moon a call, telling him of our good fortune.
Around three that afternoon, I heard a big tractor coming along Bethel Ridge.
I new it was my neighbor by how fast he was taking the gravel road. A ridge runner at heart.
I looked for some gloves and a large pry bar that I keep around for just such occasions. We were going to do it today. Thats a real friend.
As Mark went past the end of the drive I noticed the big carrier hanging on the three point hitch at the rear of the big Case tractor. It was already carrying a load. That big beautiful burl was there, about to be delivered to a couple of very happy knife makers.
" I drove the Case up next to it, sawed both ends off it and wrestled it onto the carrier. I figure it weighs around 550 or so. It wasn't to bad."
Not much you can say in such a situation except; thanks neighbor anytime I can return the favor, just holler.
So here it is; 34 inches at the center and 20 inches thick through the main knot.
I want to get some information on the best ways to cut it before proceeding further.
A day with a lot of good fortune for Bethel Ridge Forge, Fred
:banana: :banana: :happy14: :happy25: On my last post, Moon and I were deep in thought; studying our options, on how to get the large burl into our possession. Legally. I have only met the gentleman, who owns the land, in question, a time or two and we did not hit it off, then, if I remember correctly. I told Moon, " I might give Mark Lawrence a call; he hunts with those folks and might be able to intervene on our behalf". I stopped down Sunday morning and had a cup of coffee with Mark; I asked if he thought Tim Wing might let us haul that big burl off the ridgetop and cut it up for handle material. Mark replied, " I have permission to cut any of the dead wood on the place" "I've got a key to the gate, we can drive the big Casetractor up there and pick it up" "Drop it off at your shop" That would be great, Mark. Give me a call when you want to do that. See you later.
I headed back to the forge and gave Moon a call, telling him of our good fortune.
Around three that afternoon, I heard a big tractor coming along Bethel Ridge.
I new it was my neighbor by how fast he was taking the gravel road. A ridge runner at heart.
I looked for some gloves and a large pry bar that I keep around for just such occasions. We were going to do it today. Thats a real friend.
As Mark went past the end of the drive I noticed the big carrier hanging on the three point hitch at the rear of the big Case tractor. It was already carrying a load. That big beautiful burl was there, about to be delivered to a couple of very happy knife makers.
" I drove the Case up next to it, sawed both ends off it and wrestled it onto the carrier. I figure it weighs around 550 or so. It wasn't to bad."
Not much you can say in such a situation except; thanks neighbor anytime I can return the favor, just holler.
So here it is; 34 inches at the center and 20 inches thick through the main knot.
I want to get some information on the best ways to cut it before proceeding further.
A day with a lot of good fortune for Bethel Ridge Forge, Fred
Great score. Thanks again for teaching me some stuff on saturday. I can't wait to get back down there.
I thought you were maybe exaggerating a little about the size in part 1. Scratch that. Its every bit as big as you said and more. We should be seeing bits & pieces of that burl for many years to come. 
