Posts Tagged ‘Case Folding Knives’
Arkansas Custom Knife Show Visited
The Arkansas custom knife show (Feb 20-21) displayed the wares of 95 knife makers from around Arkansas. There were twenty or more other states represented as well as Canada.
These proud knife makers were pleased to discuss their product and elaborate on the art. Displayed were knives as large as 20” Bowie’s and knives as small as 2”. Fixed blade, folding blade and pocket knives were in abundance.
There were also twice several suppliers of raw steel, damascus steel, leather sheaths and all sorts of handle material.
I arrived just as the doors opened and the hall was crowed before I could peruse past the first aisle.
Several Master Craftsmen were in attendance showing off their splendid work.
At these shows, you will not see the standard fare of Buck, Case, Gerber, Boker or any other mass produced knife. This was strictly a show for custom knife makers and collectors.
The Era of Pocket Knives
Knives have always fascinated me. My earliest memories are of hot Arizona days watching my grandfather, sitting in the shade of a Chinaberry tree, whittling and listening to a baseball game on the radio. He wasn’t trying to carve intricate artwork, “just making toothpicks out of logs.” He always kept a whetstone close by to keep his pocket knife sharp as a razor.
I’m from the generation when almost every young man and adult carried a pocket knife.
You never knew when it might be needed to pick a splinter from your hand or cut the string and tape on that special package received from a distant Aunt/Uncle. A boyhood friend might drop by and challenge you to a game of Mumblety-Peg. This oft times evolved into a game of chicken, if there were no adults around.
We carried them to school, we carried them to church, and it wasn’t unusual to see the men standing around after church services talking with their pocket knives out, cleaning their fingernails or making “toothpicks.” It was interesting to see the variety of pocket knives being carried. Often there would be discussions each had concerning their preference for a Buck Trapper, or a Case Stockman… It seemed no two men carried the same knife. There were tiny single blade pen knives, even tinier watch fob knives, and knives up to four inch (closed), four blade knives.
These days you will not see many people carrying pocket knives. I still carry a pocket knife (unless flying). My favorite is a mini trapper by Case.
Knife Cleaning Made Easy
Knives are among the most useful of outdoor tools. Whether you need to cut a piece of fruit for a snack or sharpen some sticks to use as tent stakes, a good pocket knife is indispensable. Like most outdoor items, pocket knives get dirty very easily and even the best Case folding knives will require cleaning. If you don’t keep your knife clean, it can become dull, rusty and generally useless. Don’t make the mistake of letting your pocket knife get cruddy – simply follow these tips to keep it sparkling clean.
A pot of boiling water is a knife-owner’s best friend. Dirt and grime don’t stand a chance against the cleansing powers of super hot water. Simply bring water to a boil and drop your open knife into it. (Note: If your knife has plastic parts that can melt – don’t do this!) Let it boil for no more than a minute. Carefully remove the knife, as it will be hot, and use a stiff toothbrush to scrub off the softened grime. Thoroughly dry the knife to prevent rusting and apply oil or knife lubricant to keep it moving smoothly. Repeat this process as needed.