littlecanoe

In the event that Iran backs down, having made it's point, what do you think the Tony Blair will do? What would be the correct response once those soldiers are out of harms way? On a side note, What would Churchill have done? LC

Kenny, Nice job! Is the cocking peice shorter on the brazillian or is that custom touch? Looks nice. LC

DT, Let me think a bit and I'll try to see if I can recreate the process with some photo's. I don't have a butt plate project in the near future. I may just do a step by step and add pics later. This is the 2nd one that I've done. The first was a cut down, that is recontoured, military plate that I learned on. Right now though my brain's a little tired. We were out bandsawing about 1400 board feet of cherry today. Worked almost dark to dark. LC

AZ, Most humble thanks for your kind words. I grew up in a furnituremakers home so I have a bit of an advantage. That and I've butchered a few pieces of decent wood This is my 4th and by far the better of the stock projects to date. Even though cherry is a soft hardwood it's a bear to work. I will be working in walnut next and look forward to it. I'll be using some plain American Walnut which responds differently to the chisel. I hope that it is forgiving. Here are three pics. I'm still working on the trigger guard and mounting pillars. I still have final sanding and shaping to get through also. I have the grip cap and butt plate inletted and mounted. For these pics, the action is just sitting in the wood. Hopefully someone will be encouraged to give this a try. It'll cause some gray hairs but it's worth it. LC

Very interesting discussion. I'd have to agree with what you fella's are saying. Science is definitely a new religion. If science doesn't answer the question the question is irrelavent. That's modern logic as I understand it. Problem is that science doesn't ask the questions that it can't answer so it ends up chasing its tail. Sad. LC

FC, That's black cherry cut from my back yard. A bit prone to dings but nice looking. I'll try to get some pics up tonight it's come a long way since then. LC

Dr. Hess, That sounds like one I'd like to start with. I don't like the really strong or really bitter beers. Mild, mellow is good............. My friend who makes wine does a good job. He is developing his line and v ariety of grapes. Presently he uses concords and is working with some cuttings that he bartered away from a guy who has a legit Winery. I believe that they are afrench variety. He does make a very nice white and red table wine. I'm sure that it doesn't have the "bouquet" and added flavors that so many bought wines do, but to me that's the beauty. He makes simple, honest, flavorful wine. I had tried to talk him into using his equipment to make beer jointly with me buying any new equipment needed. Since he didn't seem too excited about that proposition I'll do the beer and we can trade with each other for a little variety. IZH

Thank you sir, Look forward to trying this soon. There is a shop in Louisville that will be seeing my money soon! Thanks and I'll let you know how the first run goes. LC

Horsefly I agree. You made the statement that all of the collectables were considered "assault" at one time even if that name wasn't applied. I'm sure that the lowly bolt was considered a vast improvement over the Lever. Seems like Mr. Zumbo is ill. Fear being the disease. Fear of a word. When I consider the constitution and our right to bear arms and field a militia, I have to think that the "Fathers" didn't invision the arming of the masses with a lesser firearm than the military of the day carried. That's a nice check and balance. I'm afraid that we all, and I'm including myself, fallen prey to the endless propoganda (to some degree). I've rethought things and wonder if each home shouldn't have 1 or 2 assault rifles per person. That way everyone can respect everyone else. Check and Balance. Now. I am at present a hypocrit, not owning even one assault rifle. I'm just trying to think in the same direction of our "Fathers" who had just won freedom from tyrrany. Any thoughts? LC

and old ways of doing things. Fella's enjoyed that thread! I remember, as most do, standing at the sink, eyes below the rim looking up at my dad shave with an old safety razor, wondering when I'd get to to that! Thanks for the look back! Dr. Hess stated that he makes his own beer which is a hoppy(sp intended) that has intriqued me for some time. If I might impose, I wonder if you could make some suggestions for a beginner. I have a friend who makes nice red and white wine but not beer. I'm only a bit familiar with the process. Much thanks, LC

CTI, That's a nice rig indeed! How does that little A & B Bob shoot? LC

Isn't Newt thinking of running? Like or dislike, he is the closest thing that the country has seen to a statesman since Reagan IMHO.

I mean no offense to what anyone considers necessary and important to their personal library by what I will type here. What I was thinking above was more along the lines of those books which you would consider dearest. In saying this I think of pioneers coming over the plains where every pound of baggage had to be weighted for its importance. They brought only the best and dearest with them. Also, I was thinking more along the line of patriotic/historic; those things written by and that influenced our founding fathers. I would also add to the list authors of the early church and reformation. John Owen, John Baxter, John Bunyan, Martin Luther, John Calvin.............Augustine. To me this information would be something that I would want to pass down to my descendents. Having said that, I have about all of Louis L'Amour's books and some of Zane Gray's. I wouldn't include those books on my list. LC

The thread on R.E. LEE got me to thinking about good historical works that are good additions to a personal library. I understand that Karl and Goth are history profs/teachers and I'm sure that there are others who study and cherish history. With this in mind I was hoping that we could start listing some favorite titles or those that you feel would be essential to round out your study and education. I'll start. Sir William Blackstone "Commentaries on the Laws of England". Don't own a copy yet. LC

flatulent foul, Thanks for the recommendation! I found an online source, hopefully complete and have begun to read this document. Here is the link for any others who are interested. Looks like I need to add this to the library. http://www.ushistory.org/PAINE/commonsense/singlehtml.htm LC (small boat propelled with paddle)

This is one time when I can fully agree with the guy! What Andy said.

I have, for years, asked the question, "how can a people rebel against its leadership and still honor the Biblical mandate to honor Ceasar"? I never had a satisfactory answer until reading the following books. Christianity and the American Commonwealth by Charles B. Galloway In the name of God amen. Rediscovering Biblical and Historic Covenants by Daniel J Ford and a biography of Patrick Henry written by William Wirt Henry; Patrick Henry Life, Correspondence, and Speeches You have to look back and understand who our founding fathers, for the most part, descended from. They were 3rd and 4th generations removed from their Pilgrim and Puritan roots. The southern fathers were strongly Presbyterian and Baptist. All of these denominations sprung from the Reformation and had strong views of the responsibilities of the elected magistrates to treat the people justly and honorably as they were apointed by God to their position. They pleaded with King George on numerous occasions to allow them to remain loyal to the crown by treating them fairly. He denied their request and in their view broke his covenental contract with the people. This freed them of obligation and allowed them to seek their freedom. The leaders of the southern cause knew this well, intelligent, learned men and students of history. I'm sure that Mr. Lee (I believe a devout Presbyterian) considered history and from his understanding of our Revolution and the English revolution under Cromwell new that he was justified in seeking freedom for his fine country Virginia. Mr Lincoln was believed to be overstepping or being unfaithful to his position as president. I'm sure that the cannon fire was considered justifiable and necessary. It was misconstrued to be an act of tyranny and rebellion. JMHO. LC

Gentlemen, Thank you. Growing up in the state of Kentucky, the state that claims the birthplace of both Lincoln and Davis, Lincoln was pretty much shoved down my throat in school. As I have studied and learned independently, outside our fine institutions of learning, I have, over the last few years, come to understand the War of Northern Agression in a much different light. I have come to appreciate the sacrifice, much like that of our founding fathers, that the southern leaders made. Mr. Lee was said to have turned down position in the US Army to defend his country. The country of Virginia! FC, Where are such men today?! Again, Thank you for reminding us.

DT, Your post reminds me of your former tag line: "I am bubba; but learning." Fits me! LC

I would bet that if you are going to stain the stock you might benefit from mixing a bit of the stain with the glue. My dad, a furniture builder for some 35 years, has thinned glue in the past with a bit of water (water based glue) with good results. If the stain is water based, a few drops in the glue before and then after mixing in the wood powder/dust might be the ticket. You can always experiment with the mixture before committing yourself to it. LC

Kyle, What type finish are you planning for the stock. That will help us with suggestions on material. LC

724wd posted on the knives that he had made. Beautiful Examples. This got my neurons to churning on the subject. I and I'm sure others are looking at trying our hand at this in the future. I've read up on it on some other forums and dedicated sites. I thought that it might be nice to start a discussion on materials and tools. I'll start the conversation by asking if old planer blades can be used. I'm assuming that they consist of high carbon steel. I know that they are brittle. Would this be good metal to start a project with? Would detempering the metal in order to shape then retempering give the appropriate "end product" for a good fixed blade skinner? What kind of tools are you guys using, basic and advanced, for the stock removal method of knifemaking? LC

Very nice work. I'm sure that they will have smiles on their faces and each will likely think that his knife is the best present this year. That is, unless you made a sporter for each also!! LOL I have aspirations to jump into the knife making. Pics like that make me wanna do it now! Good Job and Merry Christmas! LC I really like that skinner.............

If memory serves, there is a product out there called inletting gold. It's brother is inletting black. Can't remember who makes it but it should be sold by Brownell's and probably sold by Midway. Darkest stock material I've used to date is American Walnut and the black works well. LC

Skeeter, Nice work. How hard was that maple inlay? I'd like to try something like that but it kinda scares me. Did you taper the sides of the heart before beginning to inlet for it? Again, Nice work! Nice Pics. LC