I Guess I Should Introduce Myself....ummm especially since floating around a bit
Posted: Sun May 17, 2020 11:39 pm
Well......as usual I do things sorta out of turn at times. So I guess I should get around to introducing myself since I've already been floating around a bit.
My given name is Steven, but most of my friends Call me Smitty. Papa Bones was a name that was tagged to me when I was in the Reserves because I was the oldest in our squad, was prior service and I had a red skeleton drawn on the back of my helmet cover.
I was active duty U.S. Army from 1973 to '77. Was a Recovery Specialist on a M543 Wrecker and Diesel Mechanic usually assigned with Transportation Battalions. Went to Nakhon Phanom Air Base in Thailand during the draw down at the end of Vietnam.
After active duty, I was able to be employed by the Department of Defense, Tank Automotive command at Anniston Army Depot, which is the largest Tank Rebuild Depot in the United States (Civil Service). During my tenure there I worked in many shops, worked in Small Arms repair, then finally got a job as a Heavy Mobile Equipment Mechanic rebuilding tracked Armor, & eventually transferred to the Power Train Division rebuilding Tank Engines. I Worked at Anniston Army Depot from October 1977 until April 2011, where I retired.
During this time I also transferred into the Army Reserve in August 77 when I E.T.S.'d out of the Army. Went into a Combat Engineer Battalion. Pulled duty in Panama, Equador, & Honduras & was deployed during Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
Like many of you, I enjoy collecting knives, but really didn't start learning more about some of the manufactures and their history until after I retired. I don't have any method of collecting, I really just collect what appeals to me. Although, I do have a larger amount of Case, & Kabars in my collection. Third would probably be Camillus & Camco's. But I also have a fondness for Imperials, especially advertisement knives. But I just try to have fun with it. I also have a small collection of Bayonets because I also used to collect C&R military rifles and pistols.
I have actually been lurking around this sight and searching info for probably around 2 or 3 years. It seemed like every time I would do some research on line using google (on any brand knife) it would usually point me to AAPK. So I finally joined. I know......I know.......what took me so long?
Like I said, I sometimes do things backwards. 
I have also been a member on some of the firearms forums, re-loaders forums, & forums associated with Smoking Meats and Curing Meats.
But so far, it has been a great time here, loads of friendly & helpful people, and enjoyable to see what everyone is posting, and of course all the beautiful knives you guys have in your collections and that you come across. I am not nearly as knowledgeable as a lot of you guys here, but maybe I can contribute when I can.
Take Care Guys, and see you around the threads.
Smitty
My given name is Steven, but most of my friends Call me Smitty. Papa Bones was a name that was tagged to me when I was in the Reserves because I was the oldest in our squad, was prior service and I had a red skeleton drawn on the back of my helmet cover.
I was active duty U.S. Army from 1973 to '77. Was a Recovery Specialist on a M543 Wrecker and Diesel Mechanic usually assigned with Transportation Battalions. Went to Nakhon Phanom Air Base in Thailand during the draw down at the end of Vietnam.
After active duty, I was able to be employed by the Department of Defense, Tank Automotive command at Anniston Army Depot, which is the largest Tank Rebuild Depot in the United States (Civil Service). During my tenure there I worked in many shops, worked in Small Arms repair, then finally got a job as a Heavy Mobile Equipment Mechanic rebuilding tracked Armor, & eventually transferred to the Power Train Division rebuilding Tank Engines. I Worked at Anniston Army Depot from October 1977 until April 2011, where I retired.
During this time I also transferred into the Army Reserve in August 77 when I E.T.S.'d out of the Army. Went into a Combat Engineer Battalion. Pulled duty in Panama, Equador, & Honduras & was deployed during Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
Like many of you, I enjoy collecting knives, but really didn't start learning more about some of the manufactures and their history until after I retired. I don't have any method of collecting, I really just collect what appeals to me. Although, I do have a larger amount of Case, & Kabars in my collection. Third would probably be Camillus & Camco's. But I also have a fondness for Imperials, especially advertisement knives. But I just try to have fun with it. I also have a small collection of Bayonets because I also used to collect C&R military rifles and pistols.
I have actually been lurking around this sight and searching info for probably around 2 or 3 years. It seemed like every time I would do some research on line using google (on any brand knife) it would usually point me to AAPK. So I finally joined. I know......I know.......what took me so long?
Like I said, I sometimes do things backwards. I have also been a member on some of the firearms forums, re-loaders forums, & forums associated with Smoking Meats and Curing Meats.But so far, it has been a great time here, loads of friendly & helpful people, and enjoyable to see what everyone is posting, and of course all the beautiful knives you guys have in your collections and that you come across. I am not nearly as knowledgeable as a lot of you guys here, but maybe I can contribute when I can.
Take Care Guys, and see you around the threads.
Smitty
to AAPK. 