Validation

At the Home and Garden show in April, held at the National Guard armor in Waynesboro, I met Becky Jane Newbold of Validity magazine. She asked if Arcadia Knives would be interested in doing an interview for the magazine. As we talked I tried to put the interview off for a while due to construction at work and many other reasons. Again in June I was totally involved with the knife set for my son’s wedding gift. So in October I finally talked with Cody from Validity and did a phone interview. The questions were easy to answer and I felt very comfortable talking to her about making my knives.
 

I thought the article was going to be in the November issue but it apparently was too late to get it in. With great anticipation I waited for the December issue, the Christmas issue, to arrive at Wayne County Chamber of Commerce. As luck would have it, when I stopped in to see if the magazine had arrived, Becky Jane was there and had a bunch of copies with her.

The article was really nice. They were nice enough to put a few pictures in and made me look WAY better than I am. I am so happy it came out this well. Thank You Becky Jane and Validity magazine for validating my work and the work of all the other great artisans in the area.  Keep up the good work.

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2014 started out with my cat having an abscess on her face and needing surgery. I reckon that’s how the year is going to end for me also. Animals! Kato had to be taken to the animal hospital this week with a bite to her face and an abscess over her eye. Here she is knocked out and waiting for the vet to take care of her.  She’s so lucky she catches mice around here to earn some of that hospital bill. Although most people don’t use dead mice as currency. On the bright side, she doesn’t have to wear that awefull cone on her head, bad side is cats don’t like to have medicine injected into holes in their head.  What am i going to do with her?

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I recently got a call from a local lady that wanted some of my bottle stoppers to give as Christmas gifts. These are what I came up with during a long evening working at the wood lathe. They were delivered today and hope they make everyone happy when they are received.

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P.S. As I was writing this post I got a call from a returning customer looking for a pair of Bird and Trout knives for him and his son. He has already bought four of my knives over the last few years and I look forward to making as many knives for him as he wants.  You can never have too many knives.

See y'all this weekend at The Farm Holiday Bazaar in Summertown, TN.  Saturday from 9-4 and Sunday from 12-4.

Leftovers

There was a couple of things that I forgot to put in my last post.

One funny thing that I forgot to mention happened when I harvested the two deer on opening day.  After shooting them I came back to the house to retrieve my two-wheeled deer cart.  It happened to be fairly warm out so I left my bibs at the house, grabbed the cart and headed back out to bring the deer in. 

As luck would have it, I reached for my EDC knife to start field dressing and Whoa!  I left it at the house, in my bibs.  What am I going to do?  Do I run to the house to get it? 

No!  I count 5 more knife blades on my person to work with.  My Kershaw Leek pocket knife is elected to do the job of field dressing two deer.  This knife is super sharp and it has more of a point than I like for gutting, but when a knife maker forgets his own knife you do what has to be done. 

In hind sight, if it happened again I believe that I'll use the smallest blade of my Swiss Army Knife. That would be just to show everyone that it can be done with any knife you happen to have.
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A friend of mine shot a real nice deer on opening day.  When he sent me a picture of it, I asked him if he would take another picture with the knife he used.

This is the 9 point buck he shot.  Looky there!!!  That is the knife I made him a few months ago.  It is a large hunter with Tiger Maple scales and a bit of file work.  He said the knife worked great and held an edge...the way a knife is supposed to.

Congratulations Phil!  Great job.
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This knife was made for Mike in Centerville, TN.  It was sent to him recently and was received with a lot of enthusiasm.  The knife was made from Aldo's 1095 steel, 0.125" thick and sported elk antler handles with toxic green liners.  I used the same design as the JC knife done last year.  While preparing to ship this out, I showed this one to a friend and he ordered on just like it but he wants to supply the deer antler for the handle.  I figured that it was a good design so I'll make one for myself also.  Mine will have Sambar Stag handles and be a little thinner bladewise.

Before it got to Mike he ordered a Skinner/Caping combo that fits into a double sheath.  Then he asked if I had ever made a hatchet/knife combo?  I guess I'll have to design something as long as he is looking.
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Last but not least....

We bought a travel trailer a few months back.  It is a 30' model in decent shape.  We got it for a steal.  Our plans are to use this for guests that come to Arcadia Homestead. 

Yesterday with the help of our great friend Steve, we got it moved to its permanent resting spot on the front 40.  I have been mowing and bush hogging the property preparing for our party next year.  This area will have a great view of the woods and easy access.  We hope to have folks come down and utilize the trailer.

Till next time!