Weekend Open Thread: Whisper sweet nothings in my ear edition

H. Clay Aalders
Weekend Open Thread
·11 Comments··5 views

Howdy folks.

By the time you are reading this I will be in South Carolina with Dogwood Dan Eastland, David C. Andersen, Joe Flowers, and a handful of other folks at Dan’s river property/hunting camp. This is the second time we have all gotten together like this. The last gathering was the weekend of the cancelled Blade Show last year, since we all had blocked it off already. I don’t know what is for dinner yet, but Hudson and Craig will be cooking again, so we will be eating like kings.

 

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Roughing it indeed. In fact, I am so not roughing it, I am bringing my pop-up camper. We didn’t take it out last year, so I had a bit of maintenance to do to the water system and the roof needed re-caulked.

Only one knife show on our Events Calendar:

AIK’s Knife Show

I am itching to get to a small local/regional knife show again. I couldn’t make it up to Kentucky a couple of weeks ago.

 

It has been a good week for memes. Some of you will understand this one…

It is about as political as I want to get. I am just reveling in the absurdity.

Of course the Cuba situation is not really funny, but it should unite all of us. But there are people more interested in dividing us.

No, it is not. Goldwater said it best:

“I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.”

I think that the couple in bed meme would make a good “Caption This” in the coming weeks. I have a couple of Hoffner Hand-Spears to give away, along with a couple of Vero Engineering knives. All of which are too nice for a Weekend giveaway. So put on your thinking caps. You will have a head start on the general public.

Speaking of giveaways, you all must have really wanted the Vero Mini-Fulcrum. There were many more comments than average. Steve T. is the winner.

This week, I have a pair of KA-BAR beverage Koozies. I wanted to keep them for myself, but I thought the pair would make a good weekend prize.

Usual rules apply, up to 5 comments or replies count as your entries, and if you are new to the blog your comments will be held in moderation until I approve them. But after that you will be able to post in real time.

I like that one.  It is a riff on the throw the guy out of the boardroom window for making a better suggestion in case you don’t know it. I like memes that build off previous ones.

And we didn’t even die.

So with that, I bid you all goodnight.

And a bit of snake-handling.

Have a good one folks.

 

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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.

11 Responses

  1. Clay: An excellent “WOT”! Silly putty . . . Barry AuH2O and “hose water”. What more is there to life? Oh, a pop-up camper!

    We had a member meeting at the Moran Forge this morning. Good group of folks showed up to hear Robert Wilson, Pres.., update us on our “building project” (The Bill Moran Forging & Educational Facility). Groundbreaking should occur in August and it is possible that we will have a building “erected” by the Annual All-Forged Knife Show on October 16, 2021. Ed Clarke, JS-ABS and a Director of the Moran Foundation, fired up Bill’s coal forge and hammered out a blade. Always a treat to watch Ed do his thing with hot metal. Several knifemakers brought their recent creations, notably Steve Nuckels, who impressed with his “big knives” and custom sheaths. Steve told me that these knives will be available to buy at the “Show” in October.

    Stuart B: I reckon you are a seasoned “hiker”; and, you do not go solo in the Sierras. With the threat of wildfires out there, I know you will be prepared. What are your “lightweight” choices? What is your bushcraft blade?

    Hocky

    Reply

  2. for dougal county it would be p- nuts and hairdos.
    “why don’t you take that weak sh1t to the park? maybe the squirrels’ll care.” -granny cuyler

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    1. Hocky – (IANAL) CA just restricts the concealment of fixed blades, not size dependent, you can open carry a machete if you like. I see that Old Hickory make a decent Kephart, but agree that its way more fun to mod your own. $10 for a 511, you know you want it, all the kids are doing it, just one, you can stop any time …..

      Reply

      1. StuartB: Speaking of carrying BIG knives, about a decade ago I was getting my morning coffee at the corner AC&T (a gas station/convenience store) and in walks the ** “Turtleman” and his dog. He has a large Bowie in a dangler sheath which slaps against his knee when he walks. The good ol’ boys, mostly fishermen, who are regulars at the AC&T get him to sign autographs. I got one, too. “Turtleman” carries these postcards to sign. The “Bowie” gets passed around . . . “Turtleman” was on his way to visit his girlfriend in Sharpsburg, MD. (**”Turtleman” became a sensation on the Discovery Channel. He was a “pest control” semi-pro. Raccoons, opossums, snakes . . . whatever critter was in your house or under the porch, he would go in after it.). I wonder what he is doing now? Re the “Kephart”, I use my gardening knives really hard. Not abusive, but digging soil, compost, trimming limbs, etc. wears a blade down. So, modifying an old knife of ‘1095’ into a “Kephart-style” tool works for me.

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  3. Always a fan of Opinels if weight is a factor. If I had the skill set, I’d marry a number 8 garden knife blade with a number 9 handle. (Much more comfortable to me than the regular #8 handle.) Maybe sand down the top part of the “fish tale” on the handle to save a little weight.
    That Native Salt 5 featured in yesterday’s Newsfeed looks like a worthy companion for your adventures.. I hope you get to enjoy the mountains!
    And I look forward to a full report!

    Reply

    1. Ha, pretty close. I recently modded a No.9 Inox that still comes in under 2oz, with drop point profile and smoothed out handle. It covers the range from camp prep and bush craft. I also have a No.8 Garden Inox which now sports a bit of a Warny, lighter and more pockatable but maybe just a little too small
      Hocky – not solo, bringing someone along to use as a heat shield JIC.

      Reply

      1. Mark and StuartB: Opinel(s) made the “Top 100 Design” list for the 20th Century. I am a fan. I use my No. 8 around the house. What do you men carry for a fixed blade when you are “out in the woods”?

        Reply

        1. Hocky – if I am not going on a multi day hike where every ounce counts, then I will happily carry along a Mora Basic 511 in carbon, as the thin skandi does carving and camp tasks and is super nimble at only 4oz. My ‘fancy’ bushcraft knives are all over double that weight, so get carried less. I’m always tempted to bring along a neck knife as a lightweight fixed blade, but concealing a fixy is a felony in these thar hills (CA).

          Reply

          1. StuartB: I do not own a Morakniv. It appears that my “WOT” correspondents, i.e. Clay, StuartB et al, own the “Eldris” (Clay’s children at Christmas) and you (Basic 511 Carbon). I am going to visit the Morakniv website and check out their knife-lineup. I am not a “neck knife” fan. Does blade length “matter” in CA? Most “neckers” have less than (or equal to) two inch blades. I would feel naked without a fixed blade on my belt. Of course, I do not draw attention to myself when I am in the public domain . . . no brandishing, etc. Ha, ha. On the bushcraft front, I have the Bark River “Kephart” in CPM4, but it sits in its box.(!st Production Run). It is a bit too “nice” to hack brush. I will probably sell it. I am in the process of modifying a vintage Old Hickory into a “Kephart”. Of course, the original “Kephart” had the distinctive “swell” at the front handle. ‘Horace’ put function a bit ahead of form with his signature knife.

  4. I remember last years post about your “roughing it” weekend! If I remember correctly, you used a beautiful friction folder then. I await you post about this weekend!
    I’m stuck inside. Although fully vaccinated, it appears the anti rejection meds/immune system suppressants I take for my kidney transplant have left me without any protection from the COVID. Nephrologist wants me to be a cloistered monk until I get in to see him at the end of the month. So I’ll live vicariously through you all!

    So who’s had an adventure of late?

    Reply

    1. I have a few trips coming up next month out hiking in the Sierras, I just hope that the forests don’t get shut down due to wild fires before then. Which always brings me to “what one lightweight knife to take”, its such a struggle.every time, so many options

      Reply

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