Once the rains quit, we had a great time with a little golf, lotta food, some cribbage and a ton of kickin' back.

I took along an older Cold Steel SRK with a CarbonV blade.  (Actually, I'd hoped to have a handle on a Fallkniven A1 for the trip, but that project just seems to keep getting pushed further down the to do list.)  Anyway, the SRK is just a shade smaller, much lighter blade and about 3 ounces lighter then the A1.  The SRK's a nice knife, but after watching that dude destroy an A1 on YouTube....just had to have an A1.



Anyway, there are certain jobs in camp the Great Easterns aren't up to and that's fine.  Don't know how many Cold Steel fans I'm talking to ( Luke, I've already counted you!), but I'm impressed.  I used it primarily as an 'axe' to chop off some small branches (maybe 3/4" to an inch in diameter) poking the side of the tent.  In the evenings, it did a little light kindling 'splitting'.  Did a great job on both.  After 3 days of nothing but chopping, splitting and hacking it still holds an absolutely razor edge without coming close to a stone, strop or buffing wheel.  In my book, that's some pretty fine steel.



If you look real close at the edge of the blade just above the bottom of the picture, you'll see a few tiny spots of rust.  This blade is HIGH carbon and won't tolerate being ignored for long after use in wet conditions but the edge holding ability is fantastic and worth the trade off. 

The Muskrat and the 73 got plenty of use for the lighter duty tasks.   In fact, I've posed the question before as to why the Muskrats have two identical blades at opposite ends.  Jim put forth the posit that it was designed as an 'anti-garrot' knife which does have some interesting merit to consider.  But I think I discovered an even more reasonably acceptable theory.....



It minimizes the possibility of 'cross contamination' when afield!  Also works great in low light conditions if you'll just remember, the slippery blade is for the salami and the sticky one's for the cheese.  Quite frankly, it is pretty handy, but I'll keep an open mind as to other suggestions regarding it's development.  (John, the above picture is also proof positive for the wife that it's absolutely mandatory to have multiple knives)

When Jim started the discussion, I mentioned it in passing to a friend and his comment was that when he trapped it was always mandatory to have blades on the opposite end of his skinner so that he could keep skinning while having lunch without carrying two knives.  (He also claimed it was important to pay attention which blade you last used for which task!!)

I have to say that after three days of pretty consistent use, both of the Great Easterns were still in good condition with nothing needed other then a thorough cleaning and a few quick strokes over the strop.  As a pocket knife, these are not only a pleasure to use, but look damned good doing whatever.

Just one final pic... caught these on the drive home.  Ditches and fields full of lupines.  Great ending note to a much too short weekend.  Later in August, we'll be back for a week and I think I might have to take a #25 Barlow along to keep me entertained!!

 

greg