Weekend Open Thread: December 32nd Edition

H. Clay Aalders
AG Russell Knives
·20 Comments··4 views

Happy New Year Everyone.

I never get super into New Year’s, as I always found it somewhat artificial in nature. I am as happy as anyone to be done with 2020, but nothing has really changed. Our night was typically low-key, though we did take the kids out to Qdoba for dinner. Our somewhat strange family tradition has been to watch Die Hard on NYE, starting at an age where it was certainly inappropriate. But the violence is tame by today’s standards, and we aren’t terribly concerned about the language. It isn’t like the kids haven’t heard the words before. Parenting teaches them to speak respectfully and be disciplined when speaking with adults. Sexual content is our bigger concern, which isn’t an issue in Die Hard.

It certainly was a heck of a year. There were plenty of high moments, but they seemed to have taken twice as much effort, and the lows well, we all know how that went. As a wise HVAC Technician once said, “It can always be worse than the crawl space you are in.”

It has been a golden era for memes at least. I can’t remember if I shared this already or not. It really sums up 2020 for me.

“Survive and Advance” as Coach V. used to say. But never say it can’t get worse.

SPAM isn’t that bad. I am sure our favorite Navy vet Hocky has a SPAM story to share.

 

I drew Stuart B. for the AG Russell Ti-FIST, and this week we will be giving away the anodized black and G10 version of the FIST. It is a little heavier than the titanium, and the blade is 8Cr13MoV instead of D2, but the action is crisp and ergos are solid. Which steel do you prefer? D2 is “takes a mediocre edge and holds it forever”, while 8Cr is softer but truly stainless and easy to sharpen.

As usual, Stuart will have to sit out the drawing this week, though he is free to comment away. The rest of you can have 5 comments/replies count as entries. If you are new to the blog, your first comment will be held in moderation, but if you allow cookies your future comments will post automatically.

My wife sent me this meme, because she knew I was collecting New Year’s memes. She works in IT and a coworker sent it to her.

The news feed might be a bit sparse in early in the week. Wednesday is February Press Day and I am waaay behind. I have an article on SMKW’s Custom Shop in addition to my usual Knife News column. So my work is cut out for me.

 

Well, that is about all I have for now. Away we go everyone…

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H. Clay Aalders

H. Clay Aalders is a lifelong edged tool user. He spent the past 20 years as a woodworker and fishing guide in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, and Tennessee. While guiding in Idaho, Clay worked part-time writing for a local newspaper, and upon moving to Tennessee began writing for the blog The Truth About Knives - spending his last 5 years there as Managing Editor. His background is in fixed-blade hunting and bushcraft knives, but has jumped into the world of vintage slipjoint collecting with both feet since coming to work at Knife Magazine. Clay’s primary role is as Digital Editor, curating and creating new content for our website and blog, as well as maintaining the Knife Magazine social media accounts (FB/IG: @theknifemag, Twitter: @knifemagazine). He is also a contributor and Associate Editor of the print magazine.

20 Responses

  1. Just got back from 4 days over the New Year camping out by the Colorado River, stepped into AZ to taste freedom, a nice way to avoid both the fear mongering and the disappointment that comes from not being in a crowd at New Year (my best was fireworks across St Marks square in Venice one year)! Great surprise to get back to a fancy knife giveaway, many thanks. “takes a mediocre edge and holds it forever” I remember that quote from the TTAK days, though I have to say I’ll take D2 over 8cr any day. Fried spam, eggs and noodles was a Hong Kong favorite, though I was always more of a corned beef fan as a youth, but I was raised with the Python Viking song ringing in my ears, so “Spam, spam, spam, spam, Spam, spam, spam, spam, wonderful spam, wonderful spam …….” and I’m out.

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  2. 2021 brings official retirement! On the resolution list is to get back to whittling. Hopefully, the gym will open soon-my weight loss resolution is directly tied to when I can st back to working out!
    My mother preferred Treat to SPAM-couldn’t tell you why. Fried with a little brown sugar glaze was the best! had a collection of those keys as a kid. Unwrapping them usually needed more than one bandaid!

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    2. Mark: Once, the “spam ribbon blade” cost me 7 stitches in an index finger. I remember “TREAT”. Don’t remember eating it. Ravens in the playoffs! Hocky

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        1. Those “ribbons”, back in the day of “tin cans made of steel”, were “wicked”! ! Nowadays, the SPAM can is aluminum. The “pull tab on top” can be fashioned into a usable blade (Fold into layers. . .). I recommend duct tape on the spine for getting a good grip to avoid cuts while slicing the “loaf”. Hocky

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  3. Oh SPAM, you and pickled beets fueled my childhood. If you’re ever near Austin, MN, the SPAM museum is a must. Then there’s the Waikiki Spam Jam complete with SPAM carving contests, no need to sharpen your blades for this one. I sure could have used some SPAM Loco Moco yesterday, guaranteed to ease your NYE hangover. Hocky, I think it might be easier to list what’s NOT in the Jelly, and those keys can be used as a key bump with practice. Congrats Stuart, that looks to be a decent knife you’ve won there. No new knives here, put together a dangler set up for my Gerber Terracraft, feels like carrying a new knife. Hoping everyone has a better calendar year. -Jason, your resident SPAMbassador.

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      2. Hocky, that depends on who you ask. Not referring to the key bump you’d find in the bathroom of a dance club, but the lock picking technique for opening a pin tumbler lock.

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        1. OH! A burglar tool. . . Yes!

          Jason K: You are making me nuts, “Key bump in the bathroom of a dance club”? Please clarify ( : : :

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  4. the “spam key” made for a humorous interlude in the original “dawn of the dead.” i’ve never eaten it but i had a can of “potted meat product” once, which was not great. armour put a lot of protein into meat deficient bellies around the world. and they sent me some high quality sweats thirty years ago. the shirt is still going strong, old lady gave the pants away out of spite/ jealousy. long story.
    “near stainless” d2 is close enough for me, it barely misses the standard. i’ve had far superior sharpening results after reprofiling the edge to 20 degrees, actually feels bitey now (bk24…). i have a d2 mini grip that i’ll try the same on but i have one in 154 so sharp i just carry that one.
    happy ’21, keep fightin’ the good fight.

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    1. CMEAT: I thought for sure that you would relate “SPAM” to “CMEAT”. Is there a connection there? I am cool with 154CM or the modern CPM154. Quite popular with the ‘stock removal’ knife makers. I think Loveless liked it. Hocky

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      1. one might draw “canned meat” as a possible; it has to do with motorbikeys and middle names.
        it’s well that you mention the powdered versions of those steels. the crucible version has finer carbides. i don’t think my 555 or bk24 have that, but my laminated leek does.

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  6. Firstly, SPAM is NOT AN ACRONYM. I think SPAM is AWESOME! I survived on grilled SPAM & VELVEETA sandwiches during my swinging D _ _ _ sailor days. Throw in a Claussen dill, some dijon or brown mustard, open a beer and enjoy! (Note: SPAM has a shelf-life of 10-20 years when it is stored in a cool, dark place.) Who remembers when the can of SPAM had a “key” that “unwound” the thin ribbon of metal to open it? Do you know what is in the “SPAM jelly”?

    Clay, I am hoping my Spyderco shirt and January issue of “Knife” arrives today. I may have to do laundry and read “Master of the Forge” for the 2nd time this year.

    Congratulations, Stuart B., I am a bit envious of your A.G. Russell TI-FAST. D2 is good steel when treated well.

    Clay (Again): When is the launch of Version 2.0 of “Knifemagazine.com”?

    That’s it on a Saturday morning in Hagerstown, MD, USA Hocky

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    1. I thought SPAM was an acronym! For St. Paul And Minneapolis.
      Or Shoulder Pork Austin Minnesota
      I think it’s meaning is much like the recipe for Come-known only to a few who are sworn to silence!

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        1. I found this on the internet, so it must be true: “According to the company’s Spam Museum, Ken Digneau, the brother of a Hormel executive, came up with the name — a portmanteau word for “spiced ham” — in a naming contest and got $100 as a reward.” Close, but no cigary!

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          1. STUARTB: “Portmanteau” . . . are you a crossword solver? I had to get out my Webster’s the first time I saw it as a “clue”. Spicey ham? Just knock out the “icey and h”. SPAM will always be “hog loaf in a can” to me.

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