Working cattle

We have a lot of pastures that have no, or very poor facilities. Most are lease places, but some aren't. The cattle on these places have to be worked just like the ones close to the good pens. We have a choice, drive the cattle a long ways to some good pens, or work them the old fashion way. The choice is usually made by which is less stressful on the cattle.
 Had we chosen the drive, we would have started out at daylight, arrived at the pens midday, worked them, then driven a bunch of sore cattle back, arriving  around dark-30. The cattle would have laid around for the next several days not eating and not making money.
 The old fashion way, we showed up at 2:00 o'clock, penned them in a dry lot, worked them, and had them back grazing by 5:00 o'clock.
 I might add, this only works with a good crew, and these guys are some of the best.

These calves are weighing around 600 pounds. Thank god for young guys who don't mind working on the ground.

Knives with sheaths

I got these back in the mail friday. Dwayne at http://www.armoralleather.com/ did his usual terrific job.

Anaconda skin inlay.

1095/nickel damascus. 

This knife sold for 225.00$

Neck sheath. Run a ball chain or leather thong through the attachment and you've got a handy little knife that stays out of the way or concealed. This one is for sale for 150.00$ plus shipping.

EDIT: This one sold, thanks Clay

Good article

One of the better things I've read lately.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2013/01/28/gun-laws-and-the-fools-of-chelm-by-david-mamet.html

I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself if Barry isn't in the way.

An easy afternoon

We moved some heifers around tuesday and things went too good. The weather was great, and the cattle were feeling good and almost moved themselves. We were finished by noon and didn't want to unsaddle on such a nice day, so we went and rode over some new ground.

There's nothing like seeing new country on a good horse.

Looking east.

A picture of the picture taker.

Probably hogs.

Looking south. West Caddo peak on the horizon.

There has probably been more ranch pictures taken of wind mills than any thing I can think of, and for good reason. They are very photogenic for some reason.


EDIT: Jessica's take on the day.
http://photojkc.wordpress.com/2013/01/25/working-hard-or-hardly-working/

Knives

I've worked off and on on these for around a week now, and finally got them finished. Cattle and stock shows have taken up a lot of time. We got a little rain and were able to turn more calves into the wheat.

The 3 plain steel knives are made from 52100 steel and are .112 of an inch thick.  Great little slicers and EDC's.

Antelope horn. 2 3/8" cutting edge, 6 1/2" overall length.

Damascus steel, dessert ironwood and nickel silver handle.

3 1/4" cutting edge, 8" overall

Micarta and burl wood laminated.

2 1/4" cutting edge, 6 1/4" overall.

I don't know what type wood this is, I just thought it was pretty.

3" edge, 7 1/2" overall.

EDC= every day carry

Camp Barry

This has happened over and over again in history, Hitler, Stalin, Mao...... Obama?

What a sham this last few weeks have been. These people knew what they wanted to do years ago. They really didn't have to put on the big show they have put on for the last month. I just hope Mr overreaching federal government knows they aren't dealing with a bunch of uninformed 1938 Jews.

Max's knife

I ran into my friend Max on one of my rare trips into the coffee shop last week. He said he'd been looking for me, and to follow him outside. Max had been rebuilding a trailer and had the old leaf springs in his truck. Most leaf spring is made from 5160 spring steel and makes a good knife with the right heat treatment. I made him the first knife out these springs.

The start.

The finish.

I hope it serves him well.

Push dagger

Double edge knives or daggers are the most difficult thing I make to grind out right. Keeping everything centered and a ridge down the centerline of the blade can be quite trying. I don't get to make many of these, therefore don't get to practice the grind much.

The next is leftover steel from the billet I made the dagger out of.

Damascus is 5160/8670/15n20, both have paper micarta handles.

Good reading

http://www.worldcrisisnewswatch.com/2013/01/alexander-hamilton-on-dianne-feinstein.html

And a video.

http://www.worldcrisisnewswatch.com/2013/01/video-message-to-gun-grabber-diane.html

Guns don't kill people, anti-american senators do.