- Joined
- Jul 21, 2001
- Messages
- 2,869
Years ago a man who ran cows on the same BLM ground we ran on. Three of his hands were taking a cow out to pasture, she was turbulent to say the least and being hauled alone got worse. They decided to unload her short of the usual unloading bank. She panicked, tried to jump over the side of the truck, got a hind leg caught in the stock rack and broke her leg. They did not have a knife, had to kill her with a rock! They then had to drive about 8 miles back to the ranch and get a knife, it was a very rough road and it took them a couple hours for the round trip. They drove back and cut her throat and gut her out.They loaded the carcass up and hauled her back, skinned her and hung her in the cooler. The meat was not bled out, the temperature over 100 degrees f.
The deal was that they got paid $500 a month along with a place to live and one beef. The rancher had them cut up the beef they had killed and gave them that meat, they had to eat it all winter. They were used to prime beef, this was a lot lacking!
There was no way they could cook the meat to make it remotely pleasant to eat. They complained bitterly - his response was that next time they would drive the extra distance to the unloading bank as they were told to do and in the future be prepared for wrecks with a knife. Two quit one had to eat the meat on his own. His dogs enjoyed the winter's feed, he did not.
A good lesson learned!
I demand all hands carry a knife at all times. When looks to have promise I teach them how to make a knife and scabbard. They are usually very proud of that knife and carry them at all times. If one is not able to make his own knife I make one for them and coach them through making a handle they like. These knives are marked with the hands name on one side, mine or the ranch brand on the other.
I consider folders a little better than nothing, but tolerate them. When they have a knife that is strong and handy in an emergency I feel better in that their lives and the lives of the animals and others who are working with them stand a better chance of survival when the man is prepared.
I do not feel that you can beat a well designed package - knife & scabbard
that are handy to get to and to put the knife back in the scabbard effortlessly an absolute necessity for safety and convenience. The scabbard never goes in a saddle bag, when you lose a horse you are without a knife. The saddle bags are OK for specialized knives like skinners, but not for your #1 knife.
I cut a rope only as a last resort as they are as paramount to doing your job well as the horse and knife.
More later, we are in a bad flood and got to go sand bag the bridge.
The deal was that they got paid $500 a month along with a place to live and one beef. The rancher had them cut up the beef they had killed and gave them that meat, they had to eat it all winter. They were used to prime beef, this was a lot lacking!
There was no way they could cook the meat to make it remotely pleasant to eat. They complained bitterly - his response was that next time they would drive the extra distance to the unloading bank as they were told to do and in the future be prepared for wrecks with a knife. Two quit one had to eat the meat on his own. His dogs enjoyed the winter's feed, he did not.
A good lesson learned!
I demand all hands carry a knife at all times. When looks to have promise I teach them how to make a knife and scabbard. They are usually very proud of that knife and carry them at all times. If one is not able to make his own knife I make one for them and coach them through making a handle they like. These knives are marked with the hands name on one side, mine or the ranch brand on the other.
I consider folders a little better than nothing, but tolerate them. When they have a knife that is strong and handy in an emergency I feel better in that their lives and the lives of the animals and others who are working with them stand a better chance of survival when the man is prepared.
I do not feel that you can beat a well designed package - knife & scabbard
that are handy to get to and to put the knife back in the scabbard effortlessly an absolute necessity for safety and convenience. The scabbard never goes in a saddle bag, when you lose a horse you are without a knife. The saddle bags are OK for specialized knives like skinners, but not for your #1 knife.
I cut a rope only as a last resort as they are as paramount to doing your job well as the horse and knife.
More later, we are in a bad flood and got to go sand bag the bridge.
)and yet it doesn't interfere with movement or represent significant danger to the wearer.Sitting down for a rest or to drive a car whilst wearing one is no problem at all, most conventional sheath knives give you a painful dig in the ribs.
(yes, I've been there quite a few times). Unless it has a very secure and strong sheath, I wouldn't carry a sheath knife on my belt while riding. Just my personal opinion, others' experiences may differ from mine.