Still using the knife

A while ago I posted a blog entry of the pocketknife that Old Roommate gave me during my last trip (June of this year) to the U.S.

Yep -- I'm still using it, every day at work.

As pictured.


--GG

A gift knife

Back in April or May of this year, I had a dream that I was at work (but not my "real life" work) in the break room, cutting up an apple with a blue-handled pocket knife.

When I woke up I decided that I should pick up a Cub Scout pocket knife from eBay.  I asked Old Roommate to bid on it on my behalf, since the shipping costs would be cheaper to send it to him than to me in Australia.

When I visited him in June, I retrieved the knife, and I asked him what I owed him.  He said it was a gift -- which was very nice of him.


As I've mentioned before, I collect pocket knives and small-to-medium-sized multitools.  And I "rotate through" each of them for three months each, just so when my kids finally inherit my things, they'll know that the pocket knives were all "user" tools that I actually used -- rather than simply things that I collected and threw in a shoebox.

So, here's a photo from a few days ago, with the Cub Scout knife entering into its rotation:

(That's my "pocket knife" pouch, on my work pants.  To the left is my -- yeah -- harmonica pouch.)


Most days at work I eat 1-3 apples; sometimes, a pear.  And although I usually eat frozen veggies, sometimes I'll cut up a zucchini or broccoli or some-such, and microwave that.  For all of these, I use my pocket knife -- although there are actual "kitchen knives" at work.

So:  hat tip to Old Roomate.  Thanks for the knife!  :)


--GG

Mom pocket knife

As you possibly know, I collect pocket knives.

When I was most recently in Seattle, my mom gave me her old Girl Scout knife:  it's just been sitting in her jewelry box for the last 30+ years.


I sharpened the blade, and also -- since the "awl" blade was broken off, and thus un-usable -- I had my mom's first initial and maiden name (the period-appropriate surname) engraved on the remaining part of the blade.


As part of my everyday carry (Google "Everyday Carry" or "EDC" for some interesting websites), I carry a pocketknife and a multitool on my belt -- such that I always have a blade long enough to cut an apple in half, and pliers.

(That is:  the knife must be long enough to reach the center of an apple.  So sometimes I have a "regular-size" pocket knife, plus a mini-multitool; and other times I have a small pocket knife, and a "regular-size" multitool.  In both instances, the multitool provides the pliers.)

I rotate through my collection of pocket knives and multitools, such that I carry each tool for at least three months, to impart my "mojo" -- so that when my kids inherit my things, I've actually **used** each of my knives and multitools.  I've been carrying Mom's pocketknife since 8 Feb.  I use it just about every day at work, to cut and core my apples (I usually have 2-3 a day).


--GG

Tool box and pocket knives

I got these for Christmas from The Lady -- although technically I picked them up and handed them off to her...


The toolbox is actually sold by Aldi as an "artist's box".  But I'll use it as a wooden toolbox.

Because it was unfinished wood, I wiped it with a few coats of Danish oil or tung oil.  I used to use boiled linseed oil (BLO) as a simple finish -- but now I only use BLO on tool handles, and Danish oil/tung oil is my general preference for everything else (except for things that get painted!).  My paternal grandfather tended to use Danish oil, as well.

Tung oil/Danish oil doesn't particularly protect the surface -- but I believe it at least seals up the pores, so it's less prone to staining.


Exterior -- before:

Exterior -- after:

Interior -- before:

Interior -- after:

So, it made the wood darker -- which was really my main goal.


Also, I got these two "vintage" pocket knives, which we picked up at an antique mall about a week ago.

They were a little dull, but I sharpened them up (including the corkscrew!).

There were many pocket knives at the "stall" at the antique mall -- but these two appealed to me.  Probably the color.  If you click on the photo, it will enlarge, and you can see the patterns (marbled?) better.


I haven't carried "regular" pocket knives in my "everday carry":  instead, I've had two multitools, or a multitool and a Swiss army type of knife.  But I'm going to start carrying one of these instead of the Swiss army knife.


--GG