Thanks pal, I was talking to a metal-detectorist in the market the other week. The detectors are very sophisticated these days, though not inexpensive. Interesting hobby
That was an interesting conversation wasn't it? I think Stan referred to it as 'dishing'
Very much so, Jack. There's some fascinating stuff on Youtube from European detectorists who go over the old battlefields of the Eastern Front in WW2. Around here, it's all about the gold, of course - and some detectorists make a decent living off of it. (Victoria, the state of Australia, where I live, had the richest alluvial goldfields in the world, I understand.)
I saw a clip once by an Aussie road crew, who maintained roads with heavy graders in the Western Desert - they collectively put in for a good metal detector, and one person just went over the graded 'spoil' on the side of the road. They showed a tupperware lunchbox full of gold nuggets they had collected on the job.
One sunny New Years morning, I was laying in a city park in Melbourne, restin' (as Joe Pesci in
Goodfellas, put it
) when I was fascinated to see an old school bushman, with metal detector working over the area. I guess he was looking for lost jewellery, and I suppose he did well out of it. He had the perfect 'grey man' demeanour, and if anyone approached him he just veered away, without making eye contact, or talking and continued scanning another area. I actually walked obliquely towards him to see if I could engage him in conversation, but he did the same thing to me!
Thanks mate, I didn't recall that Stan called that technique 'dishing'.
Neat trick. Nice to hear these things that aren't likely to get written down.
With my memory, I was glad to have Chin there to take notes!
The technique can be seen on this heavily-worn old Joseph Rodgers Lambsfoot.
I've seen that kind of stamping from time to time, and wondered if it was done on purpose to keep the liner from flexing the wrong way under stress, or some other such reason. Good to hear about it straight from Mr. Shaw.
It was a really interesting conversation
I'm sure Chin will have a better recollection of it than me
I need to go and see Stan, it's been a while since I've been over, and I have a huge file for him
Yes, I actually did take some notes of Stan's wonderful stories, and answers to our questions, Jack.
I was quite tickled to see that, although Stan apparently didn't actually own a pocket knife of his own, before Jack kindly gifted him one made by his old 'gaffer', he was quite animated when discussing his files, and the performance of some of the ones that Jack had previously brought him!
R8shell and Jer: I'm sure you've seen some of those pics of the salvaged ivory tusks that Stan uses for cover material. He also mentioned that old bowling balls are often made out of the prized Lignum Vitae timber. (This wood is so hard, it has been used for self lubricating bearings in hydro electric dams, and nuclear submarines.) Apparently, the nightsticks used by the RIC, and RUC (the pre revolutionary Royal Irish Constabulary, and the Royal Ulster Constabulary) were also specifically made from Lignum Vitae, which would make them quite a serious weapon. Truncheons used in England, Wales and Scotland were made from much lighter Teak wood, I understand.
This is a slice from an old bowling ball Stan was thinning out and lapping for some Lignum Vitae covers.
Truth be told, I didn't really need a knife to open the taco shell packaging...
... but it would have been challenging to shred the lettuce and dice the cherry tomatoes with my hands:
I normally use a kitchen knife for veg prep, but my Lambsfoot was in my pocket and was itching to be put to work.
I did use a grater for the cheese, though.
Nice one, Greg! Dang that looks tasty!
I found a bag of white cow-horns in the garage. I'll have to learn how to use it. I'll work it with a lambsfoot, obviously.
Let us know how you go with those, Jer.
So much I would like to comment on and address in this thread but my procrastination has not done me any favors, it rarely does...
Regardless, I am in a bit of a rush to finish up at work and head out for the weekend again. I think I will give Rosie a bit of a rest and take Linus with me this go around. Cooler, damper weather is rolling in, that bodes well for my hunt. Have a wonderful weekend, Guardians! I will catch up with you all upon my return.
Hope you've had a fantastic hunt, and weekend out, Dylan.
Here's a pic of my treasured Unity Lambsfoot, out and about this weekend in a
Banksia tree.
Pàdruig
, that's a fine pair of wood-clad A. Wright Lambsfoot knives you've got. I hope your weekend with Linus along is a splendid one.
Jack Black
nice photo of your lambsfoot and the park. Even if not a longer hike I'm sure it was nice to be outdoors. 
