Using an old friend once again.

[rotrax]

In the dim and far distant past First Mate and I travelled to Wroclaw in then Communist Poland by Motorcycle and with camping gear to watch the 1970 World Speedway Final. As was normal when entering you had to change 'Hard' currency into Zloty's. You were not able to change back, you had to hand them in or spend them.

Totting up our cash the afternoon before we left we had enough for a spending spree. First Mate bought a very nice silver bracelet, we found a camping shop and added a double air bed to our kit. I spotted a pocket knife with a corkscrew which we also bought.

Doing a major job on the boat at the moment I have taken my pro gasket scraper there. I bought the inlet manifold home. Needing to scrape gasket remains off the mating faces I looked around for an alternative. I found my much sharpened and hard used Polish pocket knife in a corner of the toolchest. It worked a treat and has now been moved to a more accesible place as I had forgotted about my old friend.

52 years since purchase, hard used for the first 30 years until replaced with a purpose made tool, but still doing a good job!

Result.

 

[PCUK]

Nice story.

 

[vyv_cox]

When I was at school one of my classes was metalwork. In my fifth year I made a toolmakers clamp, a nice exercise involving turning, a shaping machine and case hardening, plus various hand tools. I still use it regularly 64 years later.

 

[William_H]

Knives seem to get sailors quite enthusiastic. I have a range of knives but have never actually bought one. Was going to gather together for a photograph. But too much trouble. I like to swim and one place is a jetty nearby where folks like to fish. Hence many of my knives were found on the bottom at the end of the jetty. They are easy to get a sharp edge.Typical bait cutting/filleting knives.
Also found in the water various diving knives. Not particularly easy to get sharp edge. But one I took too, with a hacksaw and ground off the tip to form a chisel. It has a metal extension of blade out of the handle so can be hit with a hammer as a chisel. In practice it is my favourite weapon when under water cleaning barnacles off hull. On the boat I have a "proper" yachties knife won as a prize at one stage. Not greatly loved. Tends to rust on blade and not easy to sharpen. It has done the job on occasions but mostly there for compliance. ol'will