What "Traditional Knife" are ya totin' today?

[JTB_5]

Shortly after graduating highschool in 1974, was 18 years old and luckily got hired as a laborer on the Rock Island railroad. Worked mostly in the roundhouse, hostler helper, getting locomotives ready to hit the rails filling the fuel and sand tanks, operating the turntable, putting them in the correct order with the lead engine headed forward, spotting them in the dog house for grease, power testing, spotting them in the roundhouse for repair, whatever. Also worked grueling hours on the wash rack cleaning out a hundred plus boxcars a day, refilled carts with brake shoes that weigh about 20 lbs each. Hard work but almost $5 an hour! Married a highschool hottie, worked side-by-side with folks who had college degrees, railroad was the best job in town. Life was great, or so I thought. Wasn't long until I was laid off and had to go back to work at the truck stop for $1.70 an hour ... pumping ethyl and fixing 18 wheeler flats. The Rock Island continued to weaken and more layoffs were occurring, my chances of getting back on was slim to none … went in the Air Force. Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher said there are four reasons people enter the military, one of those reasons is "need a job". Newlywed with no prospects in sight, I needed a job. While I was in my first hitch, Union contract stipulated they have to offer my job back as long as apply within 45 days and issued me this AFL-CIO Military Withdrawal card. Must be rare, never seen another. Thought with that much seniority I would never get laid off again. Wrong. Rock Island went bankrupt, it was no longer a "mighty fine line", helped make my decision to make a career out of the Air Force. Even in hindsight, best decision I ever made. Wasn't easy.

Dad was a conductor / brakeman, so am naturally attracted to GEC conductors, but only the two blade version. This is the only lantern I can remember him ever carrying, probably traveled over a million miles.

Very cool, Chief! Those conductors look very nice, and I bet they feel good in hand, too. What is the shield on that green one?

 

[JTB_5]

Totin two fifteens again

 

[tmd_87]

These two for work around my property. Got it done before it got to hot today!

 

[Chief]

Chief Life actually leads you in strange places, some call it fate of course but I think chance is powerful thing we don't have control over, just being lucky to make the best of what we can

Conductor is the best 2 blade GEC has made, I pine for another run but it seems like a mirage! Always wanted the micarta and Ivory Bone versions but I'm lucky to have 2 great stainless and a very tidy Tortoiseshell carbon. You get a decent long blade on this frame too and that's not always the case with a smaller knife.

Regards, Will

Was in the right place at the wrong time or something like that several times! Love the conductor main and given a choice would choose a coping secondary every time over a pen. Smooth opening, halfstop not missed. I too pine for more.

Very cool, Chief! Those conductors look very nice, and I bet they feel good in hand, too. What is the shield on that green one?

Kansas state outline, Kansas Knife Collector's Club knife in 2011. Pulled alerts in Titan II missile silos throughout Kansas from 1981 to 1986 and my wife is a Kansas native.

They fit nice in any pocket, lots of blade for the OAL, swell center feels good in hand. "Bond … James Bond." Have several #007 Microtechs too but only pics aren't trad forum safe pics. LOL

 

[Jordan@DLT]

Just picked this guy up as my new pocket mate.

 

[kenspen]

kenspen Great stuff that green, like Old School Cell without the dangers Plus it looks very at home on the 35 frame.

Thanks, Will

Thanks Will. I agree that hummingbird acrylic looks great on the 35 frame but it is a challenge to capture the depth of color.

Finally, a suitable perch for that acrylic! Well done, I really like the pic.

Thanks @Spaten. Appreciate the comments!

 

[toto07]

 

[Lift link]

Just can't keep my eyes off the swedge!

 

[tmd_87]

Mid day switcheroo! Went a lil lighter while I'm wearing athletic shorts at practice.

 

[L. Richard]

Bush Baby Meerkat

 

[r8shell]

The coolest box cutter I've ever used.

 

[JohnDF]

Dad was a conductor / brakeman, so am naturally attracted to GEC conductors, but only the two blade version. This is the only lantern I can remember him ever carrying, probably traveled over a million miles.

Beautiful knives, great stories, and priceless lantern. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Amir Fleschwund]

Today is a new to me (my first and what took me so long I’ll never know ) Tidioute 43 with Frontier Bone and a Camillus #51 Barlow with Sawcut Bone!

You’re going to like the Oregon Trapper!
Nice choice of scales, too.
Any idea when Camillus switched to delrin on the 51?

 

[paulhilborn]

I haven't been this excited for a knife arrival as much as I have with this one in sometime I had a Fiddleback Forge Bushboot that I carried for about two yrs in a back pocket sheath. Loved the knife and regret selling it, the back pocket carry system was more work than I cared for. Then the urge to replace the Bushboot finally became to much to bare

Ordered this one last week along with the Diomedes pocket carry sheath...LOVE IT!!! simply put, can't be much happier than I am right now arrived in this mornings mail and carried from the point I broke it free of it's cardboard box shackles

 

[jwb01]

Keep meaning to throw my new Case/ Bose premium stockman in my pocket.... it just hasn’t happened....... yet.

 

[Half/Stop]

You’re going to like the Oregon Trapper!
Nice choice of scales, too.
Any idea when Camillus switched to delrin on the 51?

Jeff, I can tell I’m going to like the 43. I got to examine Old Engineer Harry’s two 43’s a couple of months back when they spent the night in our home town. Harry and his wife and me and my wife had a very enjoyable visit. We’re looking forward to seeing them again soon at the Rendezvous. I really don’t know why I haven’t pulled the trigger on one before now. The Frontier Bone on this one is very nice. I was able to pick it up from the exchange so it is a user and that suits me just fine.

I don’t know when Camillus switched to Delrin on their 51 Barlow’s. I’m going to say it was probably in the seventies. I do know that all the Delrin models I have seen also have smooth unlined bolsters.

 

[J0LLY71M3]

Big Bertha in the pocket today.

 

[deltaboy]

Case Yellar Nut , #10 Opinel

 

[Old Engineer]

Have had these 2 from the early 2015 run in my pockets all day .




Harry

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks in return, Jack. Stay cool.

Thanks Stuart Our heatwave continues here, but I bumped into a guy from Phoenix who was enjoying the cooler weather

View attachment 933946
Just returned home from Texas to find this black linen 15 in the mail. It looks great, has flawless fit and finish (no gaps at all, no rough spots), and though the action isn't as crisp as my navy lambsfoot, I think after a flush and some working it will get better. This is a fabulous little knife!

Looks good Joshua, and nicely paired there

There aren't many other knives I enjoy seeing more than this one GT

Shortly after graduating highschool in 1974, was 18 years old and luckily got hired as a laborer on the Rock Island railroad. Worked mostly in the roundhouse, hostler helper, getting locomotives ready to hit the rails filling the fuel and sand tanks, operating the turntable, putting them in the correct order with the lead engine headed forward, spotting them in the dog house for grease, power testing, spotting them in the roundhouse for repair, whatever. Also worked grueling hours on the wash rack cleaning out a hundred plus boxcars a day, refilled carts with brake shoes that weigh about 20 lbs each. Hard work but almost $5 an hour! Married a highschool hottie, worked side-by-side with folks who had college degrees, railroad was the best job in town. Life was great, or so I thought. Wasn't long until I was laid off and had to go back to work at the truck stop for $1.70 an hour ... pumping ethyl and fixing 18 wheeler flats. The Rock Island continued to weaken and more layoffs were occurring, my chances of getting back on was slim to none … went in the Air Force. Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher said there are four reasons people enter the military, one of those reasons is "need a job". Newlywed with no prospects in sight, I needed a job. While I was in my first hitch, Union contract stipulated they have to offer my job back as long as apply within 45 days and issued me this AFL-CIO Military Withdrawal card. Must be rare, never seen another. Thought with that much seniority I would never get laid off again. Wrong. Rock Island went bankrupt, it was no longer a "mighty fine line", helped make my decision to make a career out of the Air Force. Even in hindsight, best decision I ever made. Wasn't easy.

Dad was a conductor / brakeman, so am naturally attracted to GEC conductors, but only the two blade version. This is the only lantern I can remember him ever carrying, probably traveled over a million miles.

Excellent post and pic John $5 an hour?! My first job in 1977 paid £18 a week (40 hours)!

Cool pic Ken

I haven't been this excited for a knife arrival as much as I have with this one in sometime I had a Fiddleback Forge Bushboot that I carried for about two yrs in a back pocket sheath. Loved the knife and regret selling it, the back pocket carry system was more work than I cared for. Then the urge to replace the Bushboot finally became to much to bare

Ordered this one last week along with the Diomedes pocket carry sheath...LOVE IT!!! simply put, can't be much happier than I am right now arrived in this mornings mail and carried from the point I broke it free of it's cardboard box shackles

Nice set-up Paul

Got these two with me today