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Post by whichfinger on Feb 3, 2020 18:34:35 GMT
By Ulmus
Aug 28, 2017#1
Since I bought the Rough Rider Trapper, I thought I might as well see how it performs. I'm going to use over the next month doing a bunch of challenges and tests. It'll let you know what works and what doesn't.
I can already tell you that it won't strike a spark off a ferro rod. The edges on the back are far too rounded. It's great for handling while skiing, but bad for this task. I plan on taking a belt sander to the back of the spey blade to sharpen up the edge. Of the two blades, it is the one that is rarely used so hard corners will hardly affect the handling. The bigger problem is that the spring doesn't hold tight against the pressure used against the ferro rod. The blade tries to close. I can hold it open using my thumb against the base of the blade, but hopefully the back edge will still stick out enough when closed so I can use it that way.
I'll keep you updated as I go along.
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Post by whichfinger on Feb 3, 2020 18:34:56 GMT
By Ulmus
Aug 29, 2017#2
Handling while skiing? I can't wrap my head around snow in Florida, so it must be water skiing, and you brandish the knife to warn off sharks and gators, amiright? :mrgreen:
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Post by whichfinger on Feb 3, 2020 18:38:39 GMT
By Ulmus :funny: Damn keyboard. It's a little worn out. I meant skinning. :oops: Today I took a file and belt sander to the back of the blade in hopes of sharpening it out. I got a flat spine but the edges of it still produce only weak sparks. Maybe if I keep working on it. Pictures!  Now the spine is rough on the spey blade and one of the bolsters is nicked. (Gotta smooth that out quick. It's annoying!) |
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Post by whichfinger on Feb 3, 2020 18:39:07 GMT
By whichfinger
Aug 30, 2017#4
I knew you meant skinning, it was just too tempting to pass up. :lol: Besides, the mental image of someone on water skis warning away sharks and gators with a pocket knife was hilarious. :funny:
From what I've read stainless steel is not quite as efficient generating sparks from a ferro rod as carbon steel, but it should still work. I've also reads that anything with a Rockwell hardness less than 50 will have a tough time sparking. I never gave it much thought, but I was reminded that a ferro rod is not the same as flint, and any object with a hard edge, even glass, can supposedly spark it.
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Post by whichfinger on Feb 3, 2020 18:39:28 GMT
By Ulmus
Aug 30, 2017#5
What makes it so funny is the fact that it's extremely plausible too. Boca Grande Pass is on the top ten places to see sharks from the shore and is maybe a half hour away by car (due to the odd angles the road takes) and 15 minutes if you launched from the beach. There are hammerheads, bulls, lemons, black tips, and sandbar sharks. If you're feeling adventurous, Grande Kayak will rent you a kayak or paddle board that you can take across the sound.
It can be done! :thumbsup:
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Post by whichfinger on Feb 3, 2020 18:39:45 GMT
By whichfinger
Aug 31, 2017#6
How about no? :shock: I wouldn't venture onto the water in anything with less than 500 horsepower if sharks were involved. :?
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Post by whichfinger on Feb 3, 2020 18:40:00 GMT
By Ulmus
Sep 05, 2017#7
Sure. Be practical. 😆
(What? We lost our cool emojis? Now I'm angry!)
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Post by whichfinger on Feb 3, 2020 18:40:29 GMT
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Post by whichfinger on Feb 3, 2020 18:40:47 GMT
By whichfinger
Oct 22, 2017#9
Yeah, small sharks. 😒 I'm talkin' 'bout the ones where the action goes the other way, like the article mentions, i.e., large sharks eat small gators.
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Post by whichfinger on Feb 3, 2020 18:41:06 GMT
By Ulmus
Oct 22, 2017#10
Don't forget the damn West Nile Crocodiles.
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Post by whichfinger on Feb 3, 2020 18:41:29 GMT
By whichfinger
Oct 23, 2017#11
No fear here -- haven't seen one in ages.
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Post by whichfinger on Feb 3, 2020 18:41:49 GMT
By Ulmus
Oct 26, 2017#12
That made me think of a funny story:
Before he retired, my ex-wife's grandfather worked for the state of Tennessee in the department (now mostly gone fed) that oversaw mining and strip mine site reclamation, etc. As such, to check in on the legit mines and try to catch wildcatters he often had to drive on back mountain roads and even trails that weren't exactly deserving of being called 'roads'. He said that one day on such a trail he wasn't paying quite enough attention and a tree limb caught one of the mirrors on his state vehicle (a Power Ram iirc) and ripped it right off the door. When his supervisor later asked him what happened to the mirror, Arthur told him, "One of those mountain alligators attacked the truck and bit that mirror clean off." He said his boss never asked about it, again and he never told him what really happened.
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