That scraping noise on the floor...

M

mjjbecker

Joined
Sep 9, 1999
Messages
340
...is the sound of me pulling up a stool. Thought I'd wander in here since the other cantina is a bit too quiet, ( Just Walosi, Frank and me, and thats on a good day ).

Hello to all!

Michael

P.S. Walosi, got myself a pair of horn handled Stan Shaw pocket knives yesterday. Handmade by Stan, they have nickle silver bolsters and inlaid sheilds-just like they were made a 100 and more years ago in Sheffield. Perfect companions for my AK's.

While the rest of the ( knife ) world is going hi-tec, here I am buying Kuk's and pen knives.

Might go down the beach this afternoon and pick up some flint...
 
Welcome, khuks and slipjoints are my favorites too. You will find no Micarta, bead blasting or fancy stainless steels here. Not that those things are bad, they just lack character in my opinion.
 
Welcome to the cantina. I guess you can say we are into traditional and proven designs. It makes you wonder how many liner locks will be around in 3,000 years?

n2s
 
I blundered awake this morning and was going to post an invitation "over there" for you to come "over here", but figured you'd probably already lurked us out. This is now the "main bunch" but wear you gum boots until you know where to step :D As Rusty has said, this place could use a shovel :eek:
 
I'm not doing my job. I need to get over to the other forum more often -- but faced with what I've got to deal with most days I run out of time -- and gas!!!!
 
Thank 'y all.

There isnt much in the knife market that interests me these days. I am a child of the '70's and '80's, so I like slipjoints ( the celluliod slipjoints made by Richards of Sheffield were my first knife fascination, with their imitation pearl celluloid scales ) and micarta scaled folders a la Al Mar and Pacific Cutlery, though I couldnt afford them at the time.

Linerlocks? Nah, there wont be too many of them around in the future-their owners will not be able to keep hold them ( missing fingers from failed locks;) )

I like modern stainless steels-they're very pretty-but I am not going to spend 2 hours sharpening ANY knife. Life is Waaaaaayyyyy too short for that.

Nope, experience has taken me back to the tried and tested. It's obvious that the people here know how to use a knife and do use them. There are some strange wall hangers being made by some modern companies.

Hello Walosi, your talk of Skagel style bowie's finally twisted my arm past breaking point. That and I notice different people keep coming up with interesting new designs that threaten my credit card balance.

Uncle Bill, dont worry. We appreciate all the time you put into things as it is.

A quiet cantina is only good when you're buying the drinks;)
 
While I am a lover of proven designs and fine workmanship, I also think that some things improve with research and some tinkering. A good slip lock knife works fine for most things, but I still would like to have a lock on the blade when I use it at odd angles. Should know, because I have numberous stitches when and where the blade let go..

When was the last time you could carry a six inch fixed blade knife in your front pocket, concealed and comfortable?

As much as I love Khukuris, they can't do everything...though I have been pushing for a liner/lock version!!
 
I haven't seen a pic yet. Did a search and didn't come up with any either. I'll bet the dimentions are rather different than normal.


Heber Ellsworth
 
Shovel, no. Dozer - well, maybe two or three times a week. Incidentally, the boys up at the landfill admire my shop 2 20" Sirupati I keep strapped to the back of the truck seat.

And go for hip waders rather than gum boots. On this forum we have proven that when the fecal matter hits the oscillating device you'd better run like heck for high ground cause you don't want to be in the ravine when the fabled ( but true ) flash floods of b.s. come roaring thru.

BTW - welcome to the cantina.
 
Nothing against lock knives-I mentioned my Al Mar and Pacific Cutlery knives, ( got a couple of Moki's which are very nice ), before. Even have a couple of Benchmade Mel Pardue's, ( 330 and the one with ivory micarta scales ). I DO think liner locks are inherently weaker than lock backs-get a little grit or dirt in your liner lock and it will be unsafe. Lockbacks are not a great deal better, but I still think safer. Personal choice.

As for slip joints, I always hold one when in use in a way that if the blade folds, my hands are clear, ( I also have scars, curtesy of Victorinox, amongst others ). My Stan Shaw pocket knives are for the collection rather than use. For a carry lockback, I use my Katz Cheeta, ivory micarta scales, ( G10=UGLY ).

Folding Kuk? Blackjack did one of them in their Mamba range a few years back. You could always try making one like the old folding bowie knives, ( the handle folded over to cover only a portion of the blade ).

Thanks for the advice on suitable footware and tactical positioning ;)
 
I naturally assumed that the scraping noise was Tsimi renovating the cave...;) :D


Welcome to the Cantina Michael! I think you fit in already:)
 
Ah yes, the bat guano from Tsimi's cave keeps the bulldozer busy the other four days of the week.
 
You did good, real good. Came right in and made yourself right at home.:)
I see you've snagged your first UBDOTD as well. Congrats!!!!:D

You will like the Bowie. I don't believe it's too big for you and if the handles doesn't fit quite right the judicious use of a wood rasp, smooth file and some sandpaper will bring it right down to your preference.
I took part in a small knife test quite some time ago and used a vice spread wide enough to get the Bowie's blade and a 5/16" carriage bolt in the jaws and then cut the bolt in two by cranking the vice handle.
The edge impacted just a bit and with the careful use of a chakma I had in my pocket it didn't take long to bring it back to razor sharp with no sign of it ever being abused that way.:D

And as to the Scagel Bowie Model I have worked on it a bit, got the blade thickness about right with a nice distal taper and Moran edge shape on it to the edge with no transitions in the smooth curve.
I have to sand the clip down to the Moran edge which shouldn't take long when I can get back to it.
The guard has been cut from a piece of Sycamore which has a multi direction grain that's not easily broken from any particular direction like straight grained woods are.
One of my fears is that the easily broken along grain lines found on most woods would break off leaving the guard incomplete as a
model.
I believe the Sycamore has corrected that possible problem.:)
The kamis are very visual in that what they see is what you get.
The point broke off the 3 cornered awl model I made for the YCS and ever since Uncle Bill has been getting the awls with a blunt point.:rolleyes: :)
I would hate to see the Scagel Bowie come in with a blunt point or a flat grind.:(
I'm hoping I will have it done soon as I'm as anxious for it as everyone else.:)
Somehow I think it will be a better chopper than the AK Bowie, just not as hell bent for leather strong although it won't be a wimp either.;)
 
The day Yvsa designs ANYTHING wimpy is the day I trade my khuks in for knitting needles. And even then, they'll be recurved, with Saatisal handles :cool:
 
Thank y'kindly.

I've always had a soft spot for a good bowie knife. I had one of those big Gerber one's , but I didn't have much faith in the rubber handle, ( I worked a Benchmade Delta Raider's handle loose some years ago-chopped through about 15 inches of wind damaged split tree trunk: fine blade design, poor handle material ).

I'm sure the AK handle will be fine, but I will follow your tips if I need to make some modification. I am not surprised about the toughness of the blade. If someone had told me a couple of years ago that I would be able to pick up some of the best knives in the world at these sort of prices I would have laughed at them. Amazing.

Oooh. Scagel bowie, ( picture me sitting over my keyboard like Homer Simpson thinking about a Duff beer ). It looks like you have put a great deal of effort into the prototype. Let me thank you for your efforts on behalf of those who will be ordering one once the kami start getting them made. 'Tis greatly appreciated! It might even inspire me into trying to knock up a classic Sheffield pattern spear point Bowie model-ooo, I would love one of them, ( been reading up lately on the old Sheffield knife companies and their products. How the mighty have fallen :( ). Spanish bowies are nice too, ( my credit card just let out a scream and started running off down the road ;) ).

Of course, once I have one of them Scagel bowie's I am going to need a 'coon hat, leather tassled bag and a Hawkins .50 caliber. I must go and put 'Jerimiah Johnson' on the VCR again ;)
 
Now I have an image of an old woman sitting knitting a sweater with khuk handled knitting needles, cackle cackle.
 
"but first you must cut down the mightiest tree in the forest WITHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh a knitting needle!!!":D NEEEE!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top