Weekend Open Thread: New Year, New Meme Edition

H. Clay Aalders
Weekend Open Thread
·29 Comments··65 views

Season’s Greetings People of the Knife…

I hope that y’all had a wonderful Christmas, anyone get any steel?

None of my friends or family bought me any knives, though WE sent me a Christmas package with a Civivi Elementum with KNIFE Magazine etched on the blade.

It came with a card, in a wrapped box, and there were other items including an EDC Pocket organizer which will be our giveaway prize, but more on that later.

They also sent me a Synergy 3, but that was in a separate package, and at the request of Jim O’Young, the knife’s designer. Jim is also a competitive shooter, sponsored by Hogue, WE, and as it turns out Nanuk Cases.

 

He had them send me this knife case, which I will write more about after I put it through some tests. My first impression though is incredibly positive. This thing is extremely robust. The latches in particular are pretty fantastic.

I bought a pair of antique Remington EZ open folders. He had bought them as part of a lot, but they were not the object of his purchase. They fit right into my collection though. The larger one is in pretty fantastic shape, and will go into the roll. The smaller Electricians model has a small repair in one of the handle scales, and the primary is a bit dinged and scratched up from being “restored”, but it sharpened to a hair popping edge and has wonderful walk and talk, and it has entered my carry rotation.

I’d say that you came here for the memes, not come here to talk about knives, but…well…y’all are sorta here to talk about knives too.

That would be unfortunate.

Or you could be lucky like this kid…

Or forge or something.

There aren’t any knife shows this weekend, but be sure to keep an eye on the Events Calendar to keep up with the latest.

It isn’t Knife Show time, it is time to pack away Mariah Carey until next year.

 

There are a whole bunch of these before we move on to New Years memes.

This is the best…

This was me this week…

Other than watching my Buckeyes lose tomorrow night, I don’t have many plans.

I will be there. With a necklace of Buckeyes on. Preparing to be depressed for the next 8 months.

Related…

I am not down for that crap.

Making it to next New Year reasonably intact will be enough for me.

This sounds fun though…

Speaking of celebrating…

Jason K. wins the QSP Penguin. Really solid and functional import EDC with a bit of style to it.

This next week’s prize is an EDC pocket organizer from 1791 Leather. It is a similar configuration to the canvas one I use (PNW Bushcraft) with two pockets on one side, and a single, larger back pocket. Works as a substitute for a wallet as well.  You don’t win the D-Rocket Serpentine Slipjoint or the pen that Cmeat gave me a couple of years ago, those are just for demonstration purposes. I carry them myself.

Usual rules apply… 5 comments or replies are your entries. If you are new to the blog, your comments may be held in moderation at first, but once I clear the first batch you will be able to post at will provided you have cookies on.

No back to the non-themed memes of the week…

Frightening.

Trust the Science.

It really is their fault.

One of the best action sequences of the original trilogy.

Stick to Dihydrogen-Monoxide.

Looks right to me.

Dad joke.

Bonus Dad joke.

Boom.

I’m not coming.

Looks like a dope party.

Letting God be your Co-pilot > Letting Jesus take the wheel.

Facts.

Go Aunt Linda.

Y’all have a good one. Be safe Saturday night, and best wishes for a wonderful 2023. Hopefully we are all here joking around next New Years, with the country and the world in a better place.  In the mean time, I will keep the memes coming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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.

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29 Responses

  1. “D-Rocket Serpentine Slipjoint” . . . Clay mentions that this knife IS NOT part of the “WOT” contest this week. Neither is the “pen**” in the “1791 GunLeather” pocket organizer.

    So, I wondered “why” the “D-Rocket” was excluded from the contest. I had never heard of this brand of knife. Of course, I do not “know” everything. So, I googled “D-Rocket”, AND, I now “know” why Clay made this caveat.

    This knife is real decent in the dimensions which I consider for most knives: OAL-6.625″ with a 2.25″ M390 flat-grind wharncliffe blade. Carbon Fiber scales. Weight-1.19 oz.! WOW!

    “D-Rocket” is the brainchild of Darriel Caston.

    Q: Did your knife come with the “1 inch wharnie blade” that can replace the bottle opener?

    **”The pen” – Is it a tactical pen? Other?

    Hocky

    Reply

    1. Cmeat can explain the pen. He gave it to me a long while back. I really like it but I can’t remember the story.

      As for the D-Rocket…Yeah, it is mine personally. And yes, it does have a swap-innable secondary blade.

      Reply

      1. Thanks Clay! I will be looking for a “D-Rocket” Serpentine Slip-joint in 2023. “Wharnies” are my favorite blade. On the “light” side of EDC, the “1.19 oz.” spec is amazing to me. I do not have any knife under “2 oz.”*** The “CF” scales and thin blade, 1/10 in., are primary factors to this parameter, obviously.

        ***My “Nobu Yamamoto” friction folder almost breaks the “2 oz.”

        Reply

        1. Hocky – the SAKs and Opinels get down towards 1oz utilizing new fangled wood or plastic scales, and under $20

          Reply

    2. the pen is a zebra, “x-pands” i think they were called. uses the standard zebra refill, but collapses down to just under four inches. solid brass, enameled different colors. it’s a counter inmtuitive action that causes the ball point to expose when it’s expanded telescopically.
      they were discontinued and replaced with a flimsy version with a similar action that utilized a proprietary, shorty refill. shame. so i went on fleabay and ordered a box of a dozen. i’ve broken one over the years and the enamel rubs off exposing the brass. very convenient as they are so short.
      this is currently the only one on fleabay in the united states, there are also some in united kingdom and hong kong.
      https://www.ebay.com/itm/304489521217?hash=item46e4fd6041:g:n-IAAOSwSohigRMH&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoNR1aiI3OeZAN6%2BDNSlbpJ7a7EFvEbWqbfMC%2B8IBV47%2F6ncrPlFGEj%2BgeDlQOqvu1mwZ8jfY7gYamrwC%2BhvLUwKh8D3BFWPjm6mTyoOv9IcSoHBDqZBKoyerj3wK0Tp1hMD7Y0zJcnNuIszgLKox%2BrSv0wln%2FNfXWMsdI%2FP62AJGyXd%2F9%2Bgng06%2FcvxsCI29KBpRcQcWMOSYAbo5b6PtKJQ%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-aXn7OwYQ

      Reply

      1. CMEAT, . . . “You had me interested at telescopically!”. I like everything that can be “x-panded”; e.g. retrieving magnets, inspection mirrors. A favorite “expander” is the Crawford “Survival Stick”. David McCarty posted that he was gifted a Cold Steel “Crawford No. 1”. Wes & Pat Crawford (Crawford Knives, Arkansas) create/design a wide array of “tools”. The “Survival Stick” morphs into various lengths (. . .not telescopically) from walking staff to kubaton! Knife spear, blowgun . . .

        Regarding pens, I collect and use vintage and antique pens and pencils. My EDCs include a Fisher ‘Space Pen’, a mechanical pencil (. . . No.2 pencils are in the “go bags” in the F150s) and, often, a 6-inch steel rule w/clip. Yeah, I carry this in a “pocket protector” on my breast pocket. Nerd!!!!

        Recent thrift store finds: ACME “Thunder” whistle ($0.50); Buck “Inertia” ($1, needs clip – (“Buck” sending one to me – gratis)

        Tomorrow, 1/7/23, is my “70th”. Steve Nuckels and me are taking a short road trip to Erin Aylor’s farm on the mountain. Erin finished the sheath for the san mai fixed blade I bought from him at the ‘Moran Show’ last October. We may be helping Erin butcher a deer . . . it’s the last day of rifle season in Maryland.

        Reply

    1. the photo reminded me alot of those images that are made up of hundreds of tiny pictures but you can’t see that until you look close up. ha asked me what i thought the material was, i had to zoom all the way and then saw bits of words like “yueng(ling)” and “lage(er).” light bulb.
      i knew a guy that did motorcycle silhouettes totally comprised of x-rated thumbnails. always fun to watch someone admire the vintage bike and then be told to look closer.

      Reply

  3. another thing my friends brother does is he spiral cuts beer cans thin enough to get twelve feet of aluminum ribbon. this is then woven into a mesh and sealed with, i don’t know, maybe acrylic or lucite, but it makes really interesting and beautiful handles. it’s like, you admire it from a distance then realize what it is up close.
    creative guy. i should get him posting on here.

    Reply

    1. He gets “12 linear feet of aluminum ribbon from ONE can”? I can “see” that process . . . cut off the top and the bottom, . . . cut can length-wise, flatten it into a rectangle. Nope, forgot about the “spiral cut” . . . trying to picture that. “Weaves the aluminum into a mesh. . . that ribbon must be like razor wire! I would like to see some photos of the handles. Clay?

      Reply

        2. I hear you, StuartB . . . “Edit” button, “Photos”, . . . put “Horace” back where he was (. . . having the queue of “Recent Comments” is very helpful for me to track “Who” is “Commenting on What”.)

          “Whittling” . . .

          Reply

      2. maybe 3/16″ ribbon, his claim as to length. no reason to doubt him. i’ll add that image to the “sharpie” knife array that i will forward.

        Reply

    2. I would love to see that! I’m thinking a forged snowplow-toothed waved beer can handled blade would be beyond cool!

      Reply

  4. My December “Knife” arrived . . . last year! “A-OO-Gah!” . . .”Hocky humor”in this New Year!

    Ahh-h-h, the wondrous smell of that special “Knife” paper as I slit open the protective poly sheathing.

    Reply

  5. Hot dog, I’m a wiener! Guess I’m starting the new year off with a modern folding knife, been over a year since getting one. Thank you so very much, Clay. Started at the pub and ended around a fire last night, and I’m feeling it today. Giant pile of enchiladas a Victoria and some unmentionables, I’m on the path to recovery. Happy New Year WOTters!

    Reply

  6. Happy New Year to all you WOTers, this should be one of the new dictionary words for 2023!

    Was surprised to see with all he has going on that our Meme-Master got this prepared for us, I really loved the “Apocalypse”, really goes with the “Revelation” theme paint on my Harley.

    Mariah Carey really got some laughs, congrats Jason for the Penguin win!

    Thanks Clay and everyone for all the fun throughout this year, so cool to talk about knives and bikes and everything else on the weekends! Wish you all the best for 2023!
    Del

    Reply

  7. No new steel, but I had a lovely holiday. Planning a quiet NYE evening at home. Probably will be asleep long before midnight.
    Jason-congrats! Enjoy!
    CMEAT-I hope you get some rest in a warm place. That’s a brutal schedule! Gargoyles, dad jokes and go aunt Linda get my votes.
    Happy New Year all!

    Reply

  9. No new knives for Xmas. But I did manage to finally score a Koenig arius from knifecenter a few days ago which came in today. It’s definitely lives up to the hype. Anyone have any big plans for new years eve?

    Reply

  10. My last “WOT-ments” of 2022: Scandi-steel is on the rise. Note “Elementum” in 14C28N on the China-based ‘WE’. Soo-oo long 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,13,18,99Cr1MoV.

    “Blade”, January- 2023, “CARRY ‘N Cut”, page 21 . . . “Spyderco “Insistent” . . . 8Cr13MoV. Made in China (not Taiwan), $71.50. This is soo-oo-oo SAD.

    Recently learned about “Svord” of New Zealand. Friction folders (FF) and other knives. The “Peasant”has a blade of 15N20. I had not seen a knife blade made only of this steel. Damascus, yes, coupled with 1084, 1075 . . . The 2% nickel adds toughness to this hi-carbon (0.88% C) and is the bright and shiny in the damascus. “L6” is akin to 15N20 w/1.4% Ni; and a smidgen of Cr.Tough steels easily sharpened. “FF”s – one moving part.

    Kudos Clay!! The’Remington’s are really nice, especially the “long pulls”. Your “Nanuk” holds “40” of what appears to be folders and slipjoints . . . two slots are vacant. I use knife rolls for my slipjoints. The case is interesting.

    JasonK: The “Penguin” does resemble that flightless bird! I like the blade pattern.

    CMEAT: “16 hr shifts”??? “Enhanced staffing . . .”?? I worked for an “employer” up to age “65”, . . . now, I “gig” as an independent power-generation/operating engineer. Started drawing full SSN in 2019. Coupled with a State of Maryland pension, I enjoy choosing whether or not to take a “gig”. Hopefully, you are on a path to declare independence.

    Something that I thought about over the holidays: Jesus was born in the year “0”. The three wise men, Mary and Joseph, and a bunch of farm animals were there on his birthday. What was his second birthday like? What about birthdays afterwards? Recently, I read in a newspaper article that the “first” Christmas celebration was circa 333 AD. The Romans held the party. Jesus was around 33 years old when he was crucified, . . . by the Romans. I reckon HIS resurrection was the big event for 300 years.

    Reply

    1. i have the sister to the insistent, the efficient. likely same steel, def same origin. i flew one way carry on so needed an edge when i landed. off to the slidel gun show… best i could do for forty $. enjoyed it, solid build, smooth action, nice heft. still, never again.
      love me some sandvik. moras, my skyline… very easy to get along with.
      i’ll retire when these tuitions are paid. and then i’ll still work.
      i have a short story about lazarus- the original zombie. you could read it in a sauna and still catch a chill. i’ll post the title/ author later.

      Reply

  11. “enhanced staffing” (holiday/ storm coverage) finds me burnin’ diesel for warmth on this the second of four consecutive 16hr shifts. yay.
    congrats to jason, is that pengy d2? see how sharp you can get it.
    never thought of icicles as gargoyle barf. probably never unthink it now.
    would you battle cosmoline to get at mariah?
    i’ve never seen forrest gump. watch the 2020 park hoon-jung film “night in paradise.” it’s on nutflx and my shortlist.
    supersize that duck and give it a squeeze bulb horn.
    life saving info: http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html

    turns out my friend heather’s brother is off the deep end into basement forging. he was showing me all of these knives that he’s made, all from reclaimed stuff he found or was given. piece of railroad track, lawn mower blades- i guess he’s got buckets of scrap that he melts down and hammers away at. blew my mind, i’ve known them since they were little kids but their dad never mentioned it. he produced his pocket carry that was handled in buckthorn. what? that crap is more than free, it’s an invasive euroweed that entire preservationist groups are dedicated to erasdicating. it was beautiful with killer grain, maybe not too stable but the spider web/ canine whipstaffs that i’ve fashioned from it were impressively resilient. food for thought.
    he made a run of a dozen or so stealth knives. he fashions a small blade and fits it to those largish oval shaped sharpies. ha! with the cap on it looks like a marker. it came up after i mentioned the steel blanks being called charpies. i’ll get him to send me the image and i’ll forward that to h.
    i guess he took a forging class in college. teacher said he couldn’t get the forge hot enough to melt the carbide tooth from a highway snowplow; of course that was all the incentive he needed. he told me that crap is so hard they have to forge it around something softer so that the vibrations from the road don’t destroy the entire frame.

    Reply

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