Why do I always have to learn the HARD way?

[dewman]

I recently bought a very nice older Jacksonville, Alabama made Parker trapper with some really nice jigged bone scales. Very nice Turkish clip blade and the usual spey blade. Only issue I had was....the center bottom pin was somewhat proud. So, being the dumb-a$$ I am, I decided to take a punch and slightly flatten it out.

I'm sure you already know the results. Let's just say I was heartbroken to have virtually ruined what was an almost pristine old Parker. I was able to work down the pin so the slice of bone would fit back in place without rocking back and forth, and with a copious amount of 5 ton epoxy, it looks so-so, but it'll never be the same.

If I could raise my legs that high, I'd kick myself squarely in the arse several times....and HARD too!.....and deserve each one of them.

If only I had taken 15 seconds to think about the mechanics of what I was about to do.

I know realize....One: I'm not a gunsmith. Two: I'm not a bladesmith either!

They say "Live and learn"....but it seems as if almost everything worth learning in these past 61 years has been learned the hard way. Sheez!
I feel soooooo sorry for that old knife. She was so sweet, now she has a scar for life!

[jonet143]

bummer we all learn from experience.

[johnnierotten]

Dude,I feel your PAIN!!

[justold52]

dewman thank you for telling use about your pain.
That's the first step to recovery.
Now from knowing pain I fell it's best to let that knife go from your collection. If you keep her you will always remember your pain.
Or you can replace the scales with some thing else that would make you happy again.
Just goes to show your age has not a thing to do with learning.
Use old farts still have a lot to learn. If you did not try what would you be doing now. Just buying another knife? This will be ok in time you will see I am right.

[upnorth]

Buy two knives, and call me in the morning !!!

[Hukk]

Well, I always hate to see a nice knife damage. There are 2 choices that I would make:

1. Search around for a pair of nice scales (same style or different) and put them on this knife.

2. Customize it, like stag-use that, Ivory, abalone, pearl (white, black or gold), mammoth tooth, file work, the limit is only in your imagination. Don't like the spey, make a 1 blade EDC, or replace the spey with a Warncliffe, a Tony Bose idea that I always liked.

Make a single blade EDC with mammoth tooth inlayed into mammoth ivory.

Look around the internet for ideas-------see below...........

It's better to carry a pretty reminder than one that makes you feel sick.