WEEKEND OPEN THREAD: Problematic costume edition

H. Clay Aalders
Weekend Open Thread
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Back when it wasn’t child abuse to wear masks in school.

Hey Everybody…Welcome to KNIFE Magazine’s Weekend Open Thread. It might not be the highlight of your week, but 9 out of 10 Dentists agree it is the best way to end your week.

Before we convene again, we will have gone through the annual bacchanalia known as Halloween.

Just don’t wear a problematic costume…

We still need to carve our pumpkins. It is 83 degrees outside right now. I have a hard time getting motivated to engage in pumpkin carnage.

Email me pictures of yours (clay(at)knifemagazine.com). I will put together a midweek post.

Speaking of putting together a post of emailed pictures, I still need to post what Hocky sent me from last weekend’s Moran Museum show. I have been busy trying to get my Knife News column written. Press day is next Wednesday.

 

strangely effective costume.

There are a lot of people cosplaying as Preppers.

Happened all the time in Cleveland growing up.

I think I have shared this one before…

But it is still funny.

What would a “Dia-Beetus” costume look like?

Thank you for the Butterfinger, may I have another?

You need better staff.

Someone should go as a Grammar Nazi for Halloween.

We have ways of making you use the Oxford Comma.

The GOAT.

Checking the Knife Magazine Events Calendar…

For those of you around Missouri…

Mt. Vernon Knife Show

There is the one day Art Knife Invitational in Vegas…

Art Knife Invitational

It is Smoky Mountain Knife Works Dealer Rep Weekend.  I went out yesterday, before things kicked off.

 

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A post shared by Knife Magazine (@theknifemag)


Next weekend is the Pigeon Forge Show, which is a Bruce Voyles Production…

Fall Spirit of Steel Pigeon Forge Knife Show

WKCC In that State Up North…

WKCC State Line Knife Show

And finally the Texas Custom Knife Show…

Texas Custom Knife Show

 

Other timely and topical memes for your viewing enjoyment…

She’s coming.

I bet you didn’t think that the Brittney/Knife meme would have such staying power did you?

There will be a new one soon. It is a certainty.

Arthur Bryants is overrated.

This one is topical if you are from the future…

 

We try to make light of the news here in the WOT, and we also try to keep things (mostly) apolitical. But the massacre in Israel transcends politics for me, as I have made clear in these pages the past 3 weeks. (1, 2)  There was a “cease-fire” on October 6th. Israel did not ask for this war.

I am sickened by what I am seeing on the streets of New York and other places. The fact that Jews are being assaulted on the street for no reason beyond their being Jewish makes me seethe. This is not the country that I grew up in. These are not the values I was taught.

While I know that sharing memes is not going to make much of a difference in the grand scheme of things, but given that I have a voice and platform that reaches beyond myself, I cannot sit by and not plant my flag on the side of the pluralistic democracy that was ruthlessly attacked by a bunch of barbarians who reveled in the slaughter.

 

Golda Meir said it best…

It seems that day is a ways off yet.

One is free to be critical of aspects of Israel’s behavior, but if you find yourself on the side of those chanting “From the River to the Sea” (an open call for genocide), you might want to ask yourself an important question…

 

Hamas hides behind women, children, and hostages. Their charter clearly calls for the annihilation of the Jewish State. Unambiguously. With whom are the Israelis supposed to make peace?

Sorry for the buzzkill, but I feel strongly about this. It seems like as insignificant as my writing this is, it is more effective and meaningful than adding a flag in my Twitter bio.

Something needs to change.

Seems like a knife giveaway is just the thing to liven things back up.

As mentioned last week, Rosecraft Blades is the sponsor of our next several WOT Giveaways.

I sent the Physicians Knife to Hocky, to get his honest appraisal of the quality. The rest are up for grabs, with Rick K. winning first pick of the remaining knives.

FWIW, my wife has already stolen my purple Awanata (the small blue wharncliffe slipjoint), and we have a red one hanging by the shipping station in the office for easy availability when needed. There is reason it is Rosecraft’s best seller. It is just a useful little knife.

Usual rules apply. up to 5 comments or replies are your entries, new commenter’s get double credit/entries, and if you are new your comments will be held in moderation until I can approve the first round. Good luck to you all.

For this week’s musical selection, I chose the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.

I have been a huge fan since my days on camp staff, where my buddy John introduced me to them. I have never been a huge concertgoer, but I saw them in Columbus in college when I drove a bunch of carless freshmen to see the show in exchange for a ticket.

 

Rascal King was probably their most successful commercial song, though I could be wrong. Where did you Go? is in the movie Clueless was a big one, as is the song I chose to close things out at the bottom of this post – Someday I Suppose. But that comes after the rest of the memes.

Learning the Force obviously.

Anyone watch last week’s Tennessee/Alabama game?

Anyone want to guess how it went?

Have you seen the logo for Randy Johnson’s photography studio?

Some heroes don’t wear capes.

Avoid the Noid.

Screen Time and a Pizza Party.

My favorite meme of the week…

Peace was never an option.

You thought that was bad…

That is worse.

A close second.

My daughter sent that to me, and said I would do that. She isn’t wrong.

Poor guy. He just wanted to send you money.

“May you be touched by his noodley appendage”.

Don’t run.

Walk without Rhythm.

Soylent Green is people.

I thought it was made from Tony Hawks.

I can’t unsee it either.

Mmm. Liquid hot magma.

Alleluia.

It is a big commitment.

The struggle is real.

That is about all for now. As always, it is a labor of love.

You are welcome to try…

Have a good weekend everybody.

 

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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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19 Responses

  1. The “gummy worm” meme coincided with “Tremors” (1990). “Reba’, in my opinion, owned the movie with her handling of multiple firearms! Michael Gross was close with his elephant gun.
    K.Bacon and F. Ward entertained reasonably well on how to outwit a giant sand worm.

    Second place meme: Ham-masked kid. My younger brother, Steve, once put a un-cooked hog maw on his head. One eyeball peered from the maw “outlet”. Absolutely hilarious! My Mom baked hog maws in the winter. Usually two of them to feed the eight of us. Stuffed them with diced potatoes, shredded cabbage, pork sausage, corn and seasoned them with pepper and salt. Our house smelled wonderful! The brown, crunchy maw skin was a treat to chew on . . .

    My grandsons, Axel (2.6 yrs) and Hank (1.5 yrs), visited us today. We dug out sweet potatoes that were overdue to be dug out. Interesting haul of peculiar looking “Beauregards”. One huge bunch was clumped together like internal organs . . . Amanda, the boy’s Mom, named it “Fred”. Hank found a small earthworm in the dirt, picked it up and DID NOT EAT IT! Good day all around.

    Hocky

    Reply

    1. One of my dad’s favorite meals was pork hocks.

      I just used to ask WHY? Still makes no sense with the amount of meat on them!

      Reply

      1. “Mom” would put “ham hocks” in her navy bean soup. This recent cold spell here in Maryland has me remembering that 3-gallon soup pot simmering and filling the house with the awesome aroma! Our home always smelled great from November through February!

        Regarding your Dad’s fondness for “pork hocks”, I have eaten smoked pork hocks. They taste really good with a cold lager. Picking out the meat takes patience and it is rewarding . . . A sharp pointy knife is a necessity.

        Reply

      1. “Hank” is cutting in some molars. Everything he can munch on goes toward his mouth. On his own volition, he put the tiny earth-enhancer back in the dirt.

        On another “kid” note, I hang my laundry outside to let Mother Nature do the drying. Crisp, autumn air makes my clothes and sheets smell so clean! Well, Axel and Hank enjoyed “running through the sheets” which hung down about a foot off the ground. My wife was amused and the boys left a few hand-prints on the sheets which were already dry. A stiff brush knocked off the little bit of sweet potato dirt. I think I was very careful as a small boy back in the ’50s when “Mom” had her “wash” on the line. That area was not a playground. The next time the grandsons visit, I will hang a couple of tired-out sheets on the clothesline . . . Have Fun!!

        Reply

  2. leave them outside.
    “when i’m out of bread i sometimes wipe my arse with sliced ham”
    “sometimes i tear off a long toenail and pick my teeth with it” -excerpts from crazyhead (recommended).
    peaches en regalia.
    jackets over your costume… we had an inch of whiteout snow and sunshine tuesday. the full size that cost eighty last year was almost two hundred this. all gone, goblins fed.
    we have a ouija throw pillow… my adopto sis from scotia would not spend the night here if we did not throw out our parlor game. out of sight…
    brimley was a marine just after korea, “it’s the right thing to do. pals with duvall. watch secondhand lions, ’03.
    pumpkin spice dominatrix.
    romanians do not trick or treat. romanis do.
    teen spears new meaning to straight outta compton.
    i wonder if rachael ray has been to kansas city.
    he must be reading decorative gourd weekly.
    i’d have that 3256 on a shirt.
    an uphill struggle. we got the worlds largest concrete sod roller to the top of the toboggan hill once. it took five teens, the descent was epic but we missed the soccer goal.
    i’m good for about one ska song in a row.
    didn’t see the college football game but that guy is a connected shnook. felt the same way about the fury fight decision.
    r. johnson is to the expos as l. brock is to the cubs, as langston is to broglio. not bitter (maddux).
    chuff, skive, snog, skint, kip. the sign outside fawlty towers displays flowery twat one episode.
    i’ve heard that “better hope he doesn’t die” in german.
    we’ve all encountered the nigerian prince, “we wuz kangz!”
    “all god’s children got rythm.” is that a tremors gadsden reference?
    you would think walmart would have a huge used sweatpant section.
    the gurry shark does not reach sexual maturity until 150yrs.
    got both my counterfeit benchmades returned. never again.
    yard fulla leaves, back into the high fifties this week. which i like much.

    Reply

  3. Clay – Nice haul as ever. Congrats to Rick for the new knife.
    I was just kicked out of the desert by 40mph winds and sand storms, but managed to have a few great days enjoying the seclusion and serenity there. The moon was so bright I watched the tarantula crawl towards me without me using a flash light, creepy AF, I can report he/she did not survive the encounter! That and hornets the size of humming birds, oh my!

    Reply

      1. Del – its only a 2dr JK so not much space to sleep. The tent is always zipped and I never leave my shoes outside! The deserts down here are one of the big plus points on putting up with the rest of the CA nonsense. You never know what you will come across (they were part of Patton’s Desert Training Area, so you often find old WWII stuff), I’ve seen Mule deer, Coyotes and even a Mountain Lion out there too. As a boy form South London, I find it both alien and very appealing.

        Reply

        1. The desert must be amazing Stuart. The bears and coyotes I’m okay with. But waking up with one of those crawlers on my face would be nasty.

          Had a scary bear encounter when I was logging. Had parked my vehicle on an old landing, crew picked me up and drove to where we were working. Had a dentist app that day, quit early and had quite a hike down to the vehicle. Really steep hillside. Got to the bottom, car was a hundred yards away. At the landing there was a loader tire complete with a large bear. This was 40 yards from my car. Going back up was out, too far, I slowly walked towards the bear and car. All by myself I thought nobody would know I got eaten for a long time! No knife, not even a big stick on the landing. I thought it was game over. The bear just watched this scared logger without moving an inch. I remember fumbling with the key, but not a move from the bruin. Not even as I drove away!

          Reply

          1. Del – great story about the bear encounter. The few I have met up in the Sierras have all been similarly unbothered, but you never know if you come across one who has had a bad day. Ours aren’t Grizzlies though

          2. That bear wasn’t a grizzly Stuart. No way one of them would have let me get that close without at least getting out of the tire. The knifemaker I learned from, Steve Price, was a guide. He was out with 3 or 4 hunters on horseback after elk. The lead rider on a narrow trail went around a bend, a grizzly smacked the horse killing it instantly. Steve and another shot the bear before further damage. The rider was shook up and bruised, but alive. Steve said one hunter was only 18 years old, said the kid couldn’t speak a word for 2 days. I never took Steve up on an offer to go hunting elk with!

  4. The Nick Saban memes were good and probably true.
    The Randy Johnson meme could be why the Expos are no longer a team.

    Reply

  5. “Holston River”, Part 2, “Internals”: Main blade with “2 3/4 in.” cutting edge is a “D2″ spear-point with nail-nick. Satin finish. Flat grind with secondary bevel; and, a spine swedge. The tang is etched on both sides:”Rosecraft” logo (Stylized “RCB”) over “ROSECRAFT”/Obverse-“Stylized mark**” aside “D2 STEEL”/”RCT004**”. (**This “mark” appears to be a capital “A” with an “X”. “RCT004” is pattern number.). This blade has zero end-play. It has a solid half-stop. The back-spring is well-tuned for ease of opening. This is a precisely machined blade that is centered in the stainless steel liners.

    The mating “Wharncliffe blade” has a “2 in.” cutting edge; flat grind and secondary bevel with a spine swedge matching the main blade. Its tang is etched with the “RCB/ROSECRAFT” logo. (There isn’t an etch on the obverse). Like the main blade, it has a solid half-stop; a well-tuned back-spring; and, is centered in the SS-liners.

    Both blades are “minty sharp”. Grind lines are dense and evenly spaced on a vertical axis.I estimate the final satin finish at a 400-600 grit. The blades and liners are equal in quality to ANY knife company’s slip-joint.

    The rat-tail bolsters and the butt-cap are shown on the spec sheet as stainless steel; but not specifically stated, e.g. 400 series, 8Cr13MoV, . . . The shield and handle pins are listed as nickel-silver. The handle scales are Micarta. This knife weighs 3.2 oz. The overall exterior fit and finish is equal in quality to ANY knife company’s slip-joint.

    Tomorrow: My conclusion of the “Holston River” critique. Note: Clarification on my “ANY knife company’s slip-joint”. The knife companies I used for comparison to the “Rosecraft” were “Queen”, “Schatt & Morgan”, “Schrade”, and “Case”. All of their comparative knives were slip-joints and all are “MIB”. I also used an “Albers Cutlery Co.” (Eric Albers) custom Barlow; and, a “Canal Street Cutlery” physician’s knife for comparison.

    Enjoy your Sunday,

    Hocky

    Reply

    1. “Holston River” by “Rosecraft”, Conclusion: In my previous comments, I believe that I presented a satisfactory critique of the “external and internal” components of this physician’s knife with a focus on “fit and finish”. My final opinion is that this slip-joint is a precision-made knife that has minimal, if any, flaws in its “fit and finish”. This knife stays true to the classic ‘doctor’s knife’ pattern with the exception of the wharncliffe blade in lieu of the spatula. (Ref: “Canal Street Cutlery” doctor’s knife, Photo at Clay Aalders).

      Operationally, I found the blades to be easily opened using the nail-nick. The half-stops held the blade securely on opening and closing. This is a safety feature that I appreciate on a slip-joint knife. The “tuned” back-springs spoke clearly in the blade walk ‘n talk.

      My personal comments: The “Holston River” physician’s knife is a gentleman’s knife; and, a collector’s knife. I do not view it as a pocketknife due to the 3 in. spear-point blade and a closed length of 3 3/4 in. I suggest that the “Rosecraft” team use that superior Wharncliffe blade on a single blade jack-knife.(Ref: Schatt & Morgan 99EJ (Executive Jack), Mfr. by “Queen Cutlery”: Photo at Clay Aalders).

      The “Rosecraft” website lists eleven slip-joints: “Clinch River Swayback” – Blade Show 2023 ‘Imported Knife of the Year’; “French Broad Jack”; “Beaver Creek Barlow”; “Ocoee River Kayak”; “Loosahatchie Jack”; “Riverbend Skinner”; “Zambezi”; “Appalachian Jack-$40”; and, the “Barra” and “Awanata-$20”. These knives are priced $50-60 range on the website.

      The “Holston River” is priced at $43. I believe this knife could sell for twice, or more than, that amount due to its quality of manufacture. It is on par with the “Schatt & Morgan” which I paid $115 ten years ago. All of these knives are currently manufactured in mainland China.

      I wish “Rosecraft Blades” success in their goal to manufacture their knives in America. I believe you will be competitive in the U.S.-market, especially with your slip-joints. That “Loosahatchie Jack” is on my watch list. . .

      “Hocky”

      Reply

  6. New grandson is asleep in grandma’s arms. She’s over the moon!
    Rick-congrats on the new blade!
    Fun week of memes! Oreo revolution gets my vote.
    Have a great weekend all!

    Reply

  7. I received the Rosecraft “Holston” (Doctor’s Knife) yesterday. Opened the mailer and saw the knife box. Sturdy box; . . . It was a bit late in the evening; I opened the box. Nestled inside in a form-fitting cutout was the slip-joint. Okay, my eyes led my hand to remove it and get the “feel” of it. Respectable heft and fits the palm. I rolled it over in my hand a few times trying to discern “hot spots” and/or acute edges on blade spines, bolsters, pins shield; and, the square-end pill-crusher butt-cap. Tracked my fingernail along the knife surfaces to catch any raised edges . . . Nothing found.

    I was tempted to open the blades. World Series, Game One in extra innings. I saw this morning that the “Rangers” won.

    My first impression of the “Holston” on exterior fit and finish: Equal in quality to ANY knife company’s slip-joint.

    Today, I will take a look on the “interior” of the knife.

    Reply

    1. Cool Hocky!
      Yesterday the green goblin, or CRKT Minimalist arrived. Looking at the pictures online before this arrived had me second guessing my choice.

      I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the box. It is a really cool looking knife. Much smaller than I expected which is great! Will test it out, have 19 sheaths to start soon, will see how the goblin does in leather?

      Looks like another great lineup of memes Clay! Will check them out in detail later. Back to work! Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

      Congratulations Rick on getting drawn!

      Reply

    2. I stayed up to watch the game. Pretty exciting baseball, for a skeptical but hopeful Rangers fan.
      Interesting initial report. Looking forward to your putting it through the paces.

      Reply

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