This is a great place

Yosemite Sam

Yosemite Sam

Joined
Dec 17, 2001
Messages
1,055
I just wanted to pop a note in here and express my appreciation for such a great community of knife nuts. Thanks to everyone here for creating a nice haven of pleasant discourse on the Internet.

I've had reason to view and participate in a few discussions on other boards lately, most not even knife related. The conversations almost invariably turn nasty, and no real information is transferred. Trying to hold an intelligent conversation on some boards is just an exercise in futility.

Here, people ask questions, they get answered. Some good natured ribbing takes place, but for the most part everybody gets along. We've got resident experts, storytellers, and fresh-eyed new guys. I realize even some other forums on this board get a little contentious at times, so even more kudos go to this one.

Good work, gents! Let's keep it up.

-- Sam
 
Sam

I agree. The main reason is from what we see in the "real world" knife community.
For the most part things are done with values we seldom see anymore in other areas.
We still shake hands on deals and it means something.
Our reps are on the line anytime we do something.

Most importantly: The friendships that have developed over the years to me are some of my most "valuable possessions". Without a doubt, they are much more valuable to me than the knives.
 
It's also kind of a refuge for reprobates and reprobates in training. :D Nice to have when coming in from the mad, crazy world.
 
Sam is right. As well as the rest of you fellows in the thread thus far. I am a member in half-a-dozen knife nut forums none of which are even half as satisfying as this one..... And I believe I know why!. Good honest folks giving a true free-thinking flow of ides.! This could not ever happen unless it was in a great forum like the "Traditional Fixed & Folding Forum" of BladeForums.com
 
Totally agree with all the above, never a dull moment from knife related stories to questions and answers, always learning, along with the never ending aspects that knife collecting seems to have no bounds. Keep up the good work everybody.

Rusty1
 
Bastid said:
Sam

I agree. The main reason is from what we see in the "real world" knife community.
For the most part things are done with values we seldom see anymore in other areas.
We still shake hands on deals and it means something.
Our reps are on the line anytime we do something.

Most importantly: The friendships that have developed over the years to me are some of my most "valuable possessions". Without a doubt, they are much more valuable to me than the knives.
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Is that not the main draw to any of the traditional things?

The kind of person who will cherish an old English jack, or a Russell barlow, or a fine old double shotgun, is someone who does appreatiate the old values. Once upon a time in this country a ranch could be sold with the bill of sale written out on a piece of brown paper and pencil, and you took the mans word that there were 10,000 head of cattle and the ranch went from the big creek to the foothills. Now you can't sell a suburban townhouse without a lawyer on each side and an hour of paperwork to go through at settlement.

Alot of values have fallen by the wayside since those days.

Now we live in a plastic throw away world, and some of those values have been tossed as well. Craftsmenship has been replaced by "high tech" and there is no pride in that.

Look at the old knives, and you will see a product that was reflective of the people of the time. Pins and rivits set by the hand of a man who took pride in the finished product. And the product itself, made not just to do a job, but to have some style and grace while doing so.

For those of us who will still look you in the eye while shaking your hand at the end of a deal, molded plastic and stamped bead blasted blades will never replace something that has pride of ownership, weather knife or otherwise. I think people of values recognize something with "a soul".

The people on this forum are those people of values. Some of us are old enough to have come by them by upbringing in another era. Some are younger, but are wanting to learn because they may sense something missing from the modern stuff of life. But they are all here because for whatever reason, they love the old patterns. A nice old stockman or harness jack makes thier heart beat a little bit faster, or that old jigged bone whitler reminds them of a long gone grandfather. In the end it matters not what brought them, but that when they got here, they found people of very like minds. I think that some things are on a gut level. An emotional response from some early memory.

They say birds of a feather, flock together. I think that may be much of the case here. The kind of people who love an old trapper would have fond memories or thoughts of long ago fishing trips, campouts, and fry cooking with old cast iron skillets.
 
I currently am or have been the admin of a number of web sites, including some that have had pretty high traffic forums included, and I have to say that this about the most civil one I have ever run across, and probably requires less moderation than most of this size.

I'd bet Gus would agree that being the admin or even moderator of a reasonable size forum sometimes makes you feel sorry for humanity in general, but this one is a gem.
 
As I sit here looking at the old Boker Copperhead that my departed father carried for many years, it dawns on me that what you are saying is very true. I gravitate to this place because many of you recognize the importance of the same things I do, and I don't mean just knives.

I don't find allot of people in my daily work life that share my values, or they are afraid to express them. In the mad rush of everyday business the term "It's just business" is the mantra used as an excuse for doing just about whatever you want to do, to trample the old values. As long as it isn't against company policy and doesn't break the law, it's ok. Gotta keep the stockholders happy.

I guess I'm at that mid 50s age when I'm kind of looking forward to being able to pick the folks I associate with everyday. I'm tired of the BS.

Anyway ... as I look at my dads old Boker I notice that the tip of the main blade is bent. I wonder what dad was prying at?

Thanks Jackknife.
 
I'm only 34 years old, but for some reason I'm drawn to this specific page almost daily. I had the benefit of spending a lot of time with my grandfather in a very small town in Oklahoma (Poteau to be exact, bet you've never heard of that town). I'm in a big town now, but have fond memories of woodworking in his shop, planting and harvesting in his garden, climbing into the top of his granny smith tree to throw down the biggest apples for fresh apple pie, shooting my air rifle and learning to drive a stickshift at around 10 year of age. I could go on for days about all of the things I learned from him. He passed away several years ago and I'm the proud owner of his knife collection and what were left of his guns. I think I enjoy this forum so much because many of you older men remind me of him. I appreciate the values you share and look forward to many more good times on the Traditional forum!
 
I have not been here long, but I really agree with this thread. I have not visited many other parts of this forum but I really get great satisfaction from sitting on the couch late at night with my laptop and reading the "Traditional folders and fixed blades" part of the forum.

Not that I think that the other parts of the forum are bad, because I don't. It just seems that there are a really great group of folks in this particular subforum.

You all treat each other very well. I enjoy being here.
 
I forgot to mention that I used to spend a lot of time in several folders here. As Bungwrench said, they aren't bad. But, I've pretty much settled on this folder as the place I pop into. I only rarely to the the other areas. This is simply the old country store and bullswappin area where fellas go to relax, swap tales, and show off knives. Oh, and learn something now and then if you ain't careful.
 
Amos Iron Wolf said:
Well, I don't know about stoves, but I bet we can find some pot bellies around here. I know I'm not alone on that. :eek: :D
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It really is fun to read a lot of the posts, I wish that the old country hardware store with all the Case knives and old guys just whittling were still around.:D
 
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