walk on the farm with some knives

riz_aaroni · Mar 29, 2010

grunt soldier said:
beautiful sir. glad someone gets to enjoy all that. also a quick heads up you might want to make her more than your girlfriend if her people own property like that lol

Lol, he better!!!

fishshooter · Mar 30, 2010

Really amazing pics buddy! Thanks for taking the time to post them.

marthinus · Mar 30, 2010

Thanks for the kind words guys. I am working towards making her much more then just my GF.

PB Wilson said:
What can you tell us about the Burger folder? Looks like a nice, straightforward knife design.

For an in depth look at the knife here is a thread I made http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=689188

It really is just a simple working knife. Nothing fancy but a great user. :thumbup:

JCK · Mar 30, 2010

Thos are some really nice pictures, and a very nice farm. This may be a stupid question, as you said it was a hunting farm, but do you do much hunting on it?

JasonSCarter · Mar 30, 2010

Hope ya snagged that warthog Ivory!

Jason

marthinus · Mar 31, 2010

JCK said:
Thos are some really nice pictures, and a very nice farm. This may be a stupid question, as you said it was a hunting farm, but do you do much hunting on it?

The family only hunt when meat is required. PRofessional hunters (usually Germans) hunt throughout the year.

Mistwalker · Mar 31, 2010

Awesome photos! What a great place to explore, thanks for sharing!

What kind of snake is that?

marthinus · Apr 1, 2010

mistwalker said:
Awesome photos! What a great place to explore, thanks for sharing!

What kind of snake is that?

That is a Gaboon Adder/ Gaboon Viper (Bitis gabonica). The local name is puff-adder. It is a very dangerous snake that is the cause of many deaths in Africa. People commonly think that due to its 'fatty' look it is slow but its attack is very fast but it is a lazy snake. Normally snakes will move away when you walk closer, this one just lays there and then one steps on them.

Mistwalker · Apr 1, 2010

marthinus said:
That is a Gaboon Adder/ Gaboon Viper (Bitis gabonica). The local name is puff-adder. It is a very dangerous snake that is the cause of many deaths in Africa. People commonly think that due to its 'fatty' look it is slow but its attack is very fast but it is a lazy snake. Normally snakes will move away when you walk closer, this one just lays there and then one steps on them.

Thank you, I thought that's what that was, I've heard tell of how dangerous they are. In shape they remind me of the Timber Rattlers we have here. They use a similar tactic and aren't so quick to warn like other rattlers.

marthinus · Nov 4, 2010

Giraffe

Horses (not used this time)

Outline of impala

Nature shots

marthinus · Nov 4, 2010

Grass was still wet

Area to make fire and dry my clothes and boots

The attempt
[youtube]PctLYp3oPTE[/youtube]

The results

dboles · Nov 5, 2010

Nice pictures Thanks for sharing
Nice mag fire
Interesting country Ive read a bit of the history
Dan'l

DennisStrickland · Nov 5, 2010

a fantastic excursion that i appreciate so much since it took lots of effort & time to make all the pics. i figured that was an adder but did'nt know it was related to the gaboon viper. the gaboon viper is one scary snake , i understand the fangs actually approach 2 in. in length. the extreme depth of the venom implantation means little chance for survival.burger knives received good reviews on the forum. they represent good value but be ready for expensive postage.
dennis

banana-clip · Nov 5, 2010

Great pics.

Is that a picture of a Oryx on page 1? Those are beautiful animals. I seen one in New Mexico near white sands missle range years ago...they are very big.

THE PUNISHER · Nov 5, 2010

neat,does it get cool at night or are the temps hot.....

marthinus · Nov 5, 2010

DennisStrickland said:
a fantastic excursion that i appreciate so much since it took lots of effort & time to make all the pics. i figured that was an adder but did'nt know it was related to the gaboon viper. the gaboon viper is one scary snake , i understand the fangs actually approach 2 in. in length. the extreme depth of the venom implantation means little chance for survival.burger knives received good reviews on the forum. they represent good value but be ready for expensive postage.
dennis

If I remember correctly (I can be wrong) through years of evolution a viper's fangs are one solid piece as it comes out the jaw, and the adder still has a joint line (like a glass bottle where the two pieces are fitted) around the inner venom tube. Or its the other way around....I cant remember right now.....but it was an interesting fact, the species that is younger has the solid fangs.

Any way...I generally do not like Wikipedia references, but it actually had some good info
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitis_gabonica

One thing we were thought was to NEVER grab a adder with your index finger around the neck and the thumb on the head, the fangs are so long they will actually bite through their lower jaw into your index finger! Pinch the head along the sides.

Some more info:
http://www.seanthomas.net/oldsite/skulls.html

But if you are serious about learning more contact one of these institutes or a zoology department of one of our or your local universities (I have a friend that did zoology so I run to her with all my questions).

http://www.zssa.co.za/
http://www.crepinstitute.co.za/

banana-clip said:
Great pics.

Is that a picture of a Oryx on page 1? Those are beautiful animals. I seen one in New Mexico near white sands missle range years ago...they are very big.

Yes that is an Oryx. Wonderful creatures. A local legend is that when you kill an Oryx you will have to explain to God why you needed to kill it as the legend states the Oryx was one of the first creatures God made.

The Average weight is 485 pounds. The other picture where I state there is Eland.....this is an eland......

Not my pictures:

15305-eland-tswalu-kalahari-reserve-kalahari-reserve-south-africa.jpg

Approximate weight 1653 pounds (Heavier then your average African Buffalo) Height 1.7M. This is the average size. A family member shot one while hunting that they could not move with a 1ton pickup, they fetched the 'John Deere' with trailer and when it was hung from the sealing of the barn (not really a barn we call them 'slag pale' 'slaughter poles? in a outside building) approximate height of the poles were 3m from the ground the neck, front shoulders and head was still touching the floor.......so you do get your abnormal size!

THE PUNISHER said:
neat,does it get cool at night or are the temps hot.....

January Avg Low: 20° Avg High: 36° Avg precip: 0.45 cm
February Avg Low: 21° Avg High: 37° Avg precip: 1.54 cm
March Avg Low: 20° Avg High: 35° Avg precip: 1.15 cm
April Avg Low: 16° Avg High: 30° Avg precip: 2.38 cm
May Avg Low: 11° Avg High: 25° Avg precip: 0.39 cm
June Avg Low: 7° Avg High: 22° Avg precip: 0.16 cm
July Avg Low: 7° Avg High: 21° Avg precip: 0.12 cm
August Avg Low: 8° Avg High: 22° Avg precip: 0.7 cm
September Avg Low: 10° Avg High: 26° Avg precip: 0.18 cm
October Avg Low: 15° Avg High: 31° Avg precip: 2 cm
November Avg Low: 17° Avg High: 33° Avg precip: 0.09 cm
December Avg Low: 19° Avg High: 35° Avg precip: 0.33 cm

These are the averages from MSN.

This year winter reached temperatures of close to freezing, combined that with what we call 'swart ryp', a very thin layer 5mm or so of water that freezes in winter. This is a killer of plants and it can become dangerous in winter months if you think you can sleep out side under the stars. Wind chill factor can also influence temperatures in the area but that is not taken into account in climate forecasts here.

Summers it can also easily reach above 40 degrees Celsius, great camping times then, just take enough water and mosquito repellent. Even the wind is warm so not even that brings some relief from the heat. Then we get what is know as 'dou', also a light layer of water vapor and you can see the results of that on my clothes.

Thanks for all the kind words eveyone! I will post more as I get opportunities.