Ok interesting story

[Chrisj CMA]

So Judy has been nurturing this cactus for 30 years. It had grown to 6.5 feet. Was sort of unmanageable. It came to a decision, it needed to come inside due to temps. Long story short, she decided to chop it up and see how many of the sections root. Perfect opportunity to get my sharpest knife out.



After chopping up the cactus I was amazed how sharp that sucker was after 30 years. Granted I haven't used it much, but still.

I started remembering the circumstances of buying this thing. It was in the early 90's. I was TDY to Minnesota and we had the opportunity to go to the Mall of America. This knife was in a cutlery shop for $200. I wasn't going to pay that but since I was told to haggle I offered a ridiculously low price and he said OK. Wow!  

Now all these years later I looked this puppy up on the SOG website. The website only had current made in China knives. But my eye caught this ad. Holy Cow. Who knew it would be "rare" and valuable

[henry 008]

 

[f6john]

It would be more interesting if I could see the pics!

[Farside]

  Pretty cool Jeff. Can I haggle a purchase from you for that beauty  Oh, keep me updated on that cactus  

[Chrisj CMA]

It would be more interesting if I could see the pics!

Dunno. Postimage seems to be working fine today. Reset your browser maybe?

[Jess from VA]

Jeff, I have the same exact knife hanging on the inside of my safe door (with some others, like a perfect Marine Kbar).  Except no wrist lanyard.

They're all nearly or completely new.  You get them, then don't want to beat them up (so they are like museum pieces).  

I keep a couple old beaters out in the shed for hard work, and put an edge on them with a grinding wheel (which kind of tears them up, but puts a sharp edge on).  Including a giant heavy (and cheap) Pakistani Bowie that would chop an arm off.  

The last few years, I buy 3-4 cheap Smith & Wesson folders for daily carry and use.  If one gets wrecked, I toss it and get the next one.



PS:  The USAF never sent me TDY to Minnesota, but they sent me to North and South Dakota and Montana a bunch of times, and always in the dead of Winter.  

Why not Minot?  Freezin's the reason.

[Chrisj CMA]

Jess. I take care my tools/weapons but I also use them. This knife has a couple tiny usage marks that could easily be buffed out. I would buff them out if I was going to ever sell it, but since I'm not going to sell it, those marks are just character.

[Jersey mike]

Jeff, I have the same exact knife hanging on the inside of my safe door (with some others, like a perfect Marine Kbar).  Except no wrist lanyard.

They're all nearly or completely new.  You get them, then don't want to beat them up (so they are like museum pieces).  

I keep a couple old beaters out in the shed for hard work, and put an edge on them with a grinding wheel (which kind of tears them up, but puts a sharp edge on).  Including a giant heavy (and cheap) Pakistani Bowie that would chop an arm off.  

The last few years, I buy 3-4 cheap Smith & Wesson folders for daily carry and use.  If one gets wrecked, I toss it and get the next one.



PS:  The USAF never sent me TDY to Minnesota, but they sent me to North and South Dakota and Montana a bunch of times, and always in the dead of Winter.  

Why not Minot?  Freezin's the reason.

A sharpening stone use wet, a belt sander with a damp or wet 220 or 400 grit belt or even a kitchen sharpener will help keep those "beaters" in good shape without taking too much off the blade like a bench grinder.

[Jess from VA]

I'm aware.  That big (18") Bowie is almost a quarter inch of steel thick and has a lot of metal to give.   

I actually do have a good electric blade sharpener out there too.  And have used it (axe, hatchet, shovel and knives).  The bench grinder saves 2 minutes.