All About Pocket Knives

treefarmer wrote: ↑Mon Jul 21, 2025 2:07 am We are constantly amazed at things in creation that we've not noticed before!
Yesterday day I noticed a tiny white flower that caught my eye. Have no idea about what it is.
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This afternoon we had a visitor on the screen porch. We call them Oak Snakes, used to be a regular thing before the insurance company made us cut the big Live Oak that shaded the house.1000001805.jpg
He won't hurt you but he'll make you hurt yourself if shows up in the wrong spot.
Treefarmer

Tiny flower .
Long snake!

Tiny flower .
Long snake!
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Yes Sir, Floyd, a tiny flower and a long snake. Left the screen doors open last night and we're pretty sure he's gone from the screen porch.
Looking close again, found another tiny flower. This one is maybe a lavender color, I didn't ask Miss Joy's opinion. Different plant, different leaves. Treefarmer

treefarmer wrote: ↑Mon Jul 21, 2025 11:39 pm Tiny flower .
Long snake!

Yes Sir, Floyd, a tiny flower and a long snake. Left the screen doors open last night and we're pretty sure he's gone from the screen porch.
Looking close again, found another tiny flower. This one is maybe a lavender color, I didn't ask Miss Joy's opinion. Different plant, different leaves.
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Treefarmer
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Philip, don't know what it is but I think we have them too.

Philip that looks similar to the rat snakes we have here, but I’m sure it’s not since you’re way out of their range. They do get large though, with specimens 5 to 6 feet long although 4 to 5 feet is more common. Heres a picture of one about 5 feet long climbing on our patio wall. They are excellent climbers as you can see. They climb trees and can even climb a smooth surface wall. This one was after a barn swallow nest near the patio ceiling. Probably would have got it if I hadn’t caught and relocated it to the barn.

Ken

A few days ago I met up with a friend, with whom I started making knives with years ago. Then he moved on to blacksmithing, but not just knives. He's become very good.

Eustace wrote: ↑Sun Jul 27, 2025 8:34 am A few days ago I met up with a friend, with whom I started making knives with years ago. Then he moved on to blacksmithing, but not just knives. He's become very good.

Wow, that is beautiful work. Your friend is very talented!

The local beach boys took full advantage of the south swell waves rolling into the bay from a passing storm a few days ago. Once upon a time I’d have been right out there with them, but those days are long past for me. Still enjoy watching them from shore and remembering those wild and carefree days of youthful thrills.

I can imagine you out there Q.

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 1:41 am Philip that looks similar to the rat snakes we have here, but I’m sure it’s not since you’re way out of their range. They do get large though, with specimens 5 to 6 feet long although 4 to 5 feet is more common. Heres a picture of one about 5 feet long climbing on our patio wall. They are excellent climbers as you can see. They climb trees and can even climb a smooth surface wall. This one was after a barn swallow nest near the patio ceiling. Probably would have got it if I hadn’t caught and relocated it to the barn.

Ken

He's probably trying to get inside to that air conditioning.

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Tue Jun 24, 2025 5:55 pm Why we wear shoes when we live in the country. This was in the yard under a big oak tree about 2 feet from the patio when I killed it. Not very big as copperheads go, but the bite of one this size is just as bad or worse than a bigger one

Ken

There's a twenty-something guy here I knew as a waiter at a local restaurant. He left his house just after dark a couple of summers ago to walk to a neighbor's house. He was wearing flip-flops and was bitten on the foot by a copper head that he didn't see in the gravel roadway. He had a rough time of it for a couple of months. Foot turned black where the poison killed some of the tissue. Took a long time for it to heal.

A reason to carry a decent small flashlight on your person.
Chris J.

Closed toed shoes are a better option if you’re in copperhead country. Copperheads are very well camouflaged so a flashlight only helps if you’re very observant - most folks won’t see them, until it’s too late. I know two people who haven’t been as fortunate. Both stepped on a copperhead while barefoot or wearing sandals, and both survived after being treated at the emergency room (hospitals here stock anti-venom).

They’re actually not inclined to strike unless/until you step on them, or grab them with your hand. They’d prefer to slither off unnoticed if allowed to do so. I’m not one to kill snakes unless they’re poisonous. Several years ago I was watering some plants out in back of our house. It was late but not yet dark when my wife said “don’t move!” I asked her why, and she said “look down”. When I did, there between my feet was a copperhead. I don’t know how long it had been there, if it was there before I was, or crawled up while I was standing there. She handed me a shovel and I cut its head off.

Ken

Our emerging friend Mr Cicada …,,

Looks like a creature from a sci-fi movie!

Ken

bestgear wrote: ↑Tue Aug 12, 2025 10:47 pm Our emerging friend Mr Cicada …,,

This evening, right before dark, the Cicadas were noticeably loud.
Tom, that's one ugly sucker!
Treefarmer

Herd of approximately 15-20 feral goats greeted us at the local rubbish dump this morning. I knew they were there before we saw them because we approached from downwind; boy howdy do those creatures stink! This herd had some pretty good sized billys with long horns. They can be quite intimidating, too. Normally, feral goats scatter pretty quickly when approached, but a couple of the larger ones turned and faced me and appeared prepared to stand their ground when I tried to get closer.

I can't believe no one rounds them up to raise. Those are some handsome looking billy goats. Back before the chickens I had a herd of around twenty goats and some llamas. Hawaii is a fascinating place to me , my daughter just got back from Kauai and was showing me the pictures of all the jungle fowl running wild plus the landscapes were magnificent.

QTCut5 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 26, 2025 6:29 pm Herd of approximately 15-20 feral goats greeted us at the local rubbish dump this morning. I knew they were there before we saw them because we approached from downwind; boy howdy do those creatures stink! This herd had some pretty good sized billys with long horns. They can be quite intimidating, too. Normally, feral goats scatter pretty quickly when approached, but a couple of the larger ones turned and faced me and appeared prepared to stand their ground when I tried to get closer.

No feral pigs at the dump Q. My sister lives up the mountain somewhere have not been to her place. I know she has a lot of the pigs. She has been there a long time she has a nail shop in Kona and they grow Kona coffee. Loved the surfing pictures.
Steve

chickenman62 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 26, 2025 7:53 pm I can't believe no one rounds them up to raise.

One reason for that could be because there are thousands of feral goats on the Big Island and everyone who wants to raise goats and has adequate facilities to do so, already has plenty (and then some). Other than producing goat milk for certain dairy products, I don't know how much commercial value there is in raising goats, but I do know they use goats for environmental management purposes like weed and brush control.

LKSKNIVES wrote: ↑Tue Aug 26, 2025 8:59 pm No feral pigs at the dump Q.

Oh, yes...we have feral pigs aplenty, as well. But, the pigs tend to be nocturnal so, while we often hear them foraging at night and see the damage they cause to people's lawns and gardens in the morning, we rarely see the actual animals themselves except as roadkill on the side of the highway.

QTCut5 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 26, 2025 11:28 pm

chickenman62 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 26, 2025 7:53 pm I can't believe no one rounds them up to raise.

One reason for that could be because there are thousands of feral goats on the Big Island and everyone who wants to raise goats and has adequate facilities to do so, already has plenty (and then some). Other than producing goat milk for certain dairy products, I don't know how much commercial value there is in raising goats, but I do know they use goats for environmental management purposes like weed and brush control.

LKSKNIVES wrote: ↑Tue Aug 26, 2025 8:59 pm No feral pigs at the dump Q.

Oh, yes...we have feral pigs aplenty, as well. But, the pigs tend to be nocturnal so, while we often hear them foraging at night and see the damage they cause to people's lawns and gardens in the morning, we rarely see the actual animals themselves except as roadkill on the side of the highway.

My sister sends videos and pictures of momma and babies and her husband throwing avacodos to them. My thought is veal bore or bore veal they are out during the day

QTCut5 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 26, 2025 11:28 pm

chickenman62 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 26, 2025 7:53 pm I can't believe no one rounds them up to raise.

One reason for that could be because there are thousands of feral goats on the Big Island and everyone who wants to raise goats and has adequate facilities to do so, already has plenty (and then some). Other than producing goat milk for certain dairy products, I don't know how much commercial value there is in raising goats, but I do know they use goats for environmental management purposes like weed and brush control.

LKSKNIVES wrote: ↑Tue Aug 26, 2025 8:59 pm No feral pigs at the dump Q.

Oh, yes...we have feral pigs aplenty, as well. But, the pigs tend to be nocturnal so, while we often hear them foraging at night and see the damage they cause to people's lawns and gardens in the morning, we rarely see the actual animals themselves except as roadkill on the side of the highway.

My sister sends videos and pictures of momma and babies and her husband throwing avacodos to them. My thought is veal bore or bore veal they are out during the day

I'm disassembling this 1911 Schilling and Sons piano. It took some water damage from a water leak recently. It's been serving as a glorified shelf and picture background in my workshop area. It came with the house. We tried to include it's removal as a contingency on our offer when we bought the house... and they denied our offer! Had to redraft an offer without that bit in it.

It's too big to fit up my stair case. There's an addition to the kitchen above that was added 15 years ago. It's my belief that when this work was done the piano was lowered into the new area of the basement beneath the addition, then rolled to its current location through the new doorway that was cut through the foundation wall.

Im hoping I'll be able to sell the wood to an enterprising craftsman. Maybe this harp too.

I just didn't have the heart to take a sledge and saws all to it. Its beautiful craftsmanship. Ive painstakingly removed every screw. These tuning pegs have been show stoppers though. Once they're out though I should be able to separate the harp. I'd estimate it weighs 300 pounds. It's a beast.

LKSKNIVES wrote: ↑Wed Aug 27, 2025 12:30 am My sister sends videos and pictures of momma and babies and her husband throwing avacodos to them. My thought is veal bore or bore veal they are out during the day

Well shoot...I'd hang around at all hours too if someone would throw avocados to me! I'm no pig expert, but I believe they're more active at higher elevations (the dump is at sea level) although being opportunistic feeders, they'll pretty much go wherever whenever food can be had. When we still had a mango tree in our yard the hogs used to "pig out" on the fallen fruit at all hours, day and night. But we almost never see them at the dump during the day....maybe there's too much traffic for their liking

Proof they're around....a portion of my neighbor's lawn was torn up by pigs last night....this morning it looked like heavy machinery had driven over it!

QTCut5 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 03, 2025 3:18 am Proof they're around....a portion of my neighbor's lawn was torn up by pigs last night....this morning it looked like heavy machinery had driven over it!

They can sure tear up a big area in a short time.

ThatWeirdKnifeGuy wrote: ↑Wed Aug 27, 2025 12:32 am I'm disassembling this 1911 Schilling and Sons piano. It took some water damage from a water leak recently. It's been serving as a glorified shelf and picture background in my workshop area. It came with the house. We tried to include it's removal as a contingency on our offer .......

I remember reading the white keys of the old pianos were made of ivory and some knife mechanics would utilize them as hadle material.
Might be some good trading material.
Treefarmer