Scrap Yard Scrapper 6!

After about a 2 year search I finally found and purchased a Scrapper 6. Made of SR77 Jack Hammer Steel, these blades are legendary among knife collectors and outdoorsman, and I feel very privileged to have found one as they are no longer being made. Dan Busse started the Scrapyard Knife Company after working in his brother Jerry's knife shop (Busse Combat) in the eighties. Literally making blades from the scraps (left over steel and handle material) of his brothers operation, he has bulit a knife company with a world wide following. The Scrapper 6 has come to be known in many circles as one of the toughest knives ever made."Non-hygroscopic Resiprene C handles (Chemical Resistent) have been proven in the harshest combat conditions around the globe. With an overall length of 11 1/2" the Scrapper 6 is the perfect sized blade for day campers, combat professionals, and those who choose to venture into the uncharted wilderness." The knife features full length tang construction, which basically means the knife is strong and thick all the way through the handle, unlike many fixed blades that have a cheaper "Stick or Hidden" tang. The knife is over a quarter inch thick at the spine to allow for a great deal of abuse. Grind Type is full height flat grind bevel with convex edge. Here are some specs and a website below. I can't wait to get this thing into the woods!

Steel: SR77

Rockwell Hardness: 58-60

Spine Thickness: .275

Blade Length: 6.5"

Overall Length: 11.5"

Handle Material: Resiprene C

http://www.scrapyardknives.com/knives.htm



Early Spring Bass

Snuck off to the fishing hole this evening to chase after Black Bass on ultra-light tackle. The fish were very active in 4 to 6 foot water. The temp this evening was a balmy 65 in East Texas. I was fishing a 1/16 ounce green and black tube jig on 4lb line and the bass were just hammering it. Had several get off and then snapped a pic of this bruiser. He was a bunch of fun on that light line! I am going to do a post of a shore lunch with the boys soon. Spring  in Texas is quickly approaching!



Rita

I am amazed at how fast Rita is growing. I have her on Sportmix Feed by Midwestern Pet Foods out of Evansville, Indiana,  and I am very pleased with it. She loves the stuff! She is over 40 pounds now! I can now say that I have actually vaccinated one of my own dogs. I gave her a 7-Way Dog Vaccine here a few months back that is available at Tractor Supply. They have one of the best pet and livestock supply inventories around.YouTube provided the guidance on how to get it done. Michelle snapped this pic of Rita surveying her yard this past week. Her first hog hunt is soon, we will be hunting with Calvin Brown Guide Service. I will post updates as time allows. I am very excited about the hunt!



When Men Fly!

When Squirrels Fly!

Wednesday night of this week we heard a terrible commotion outside. We opened the garage door to find this little dude in Blackie's (Our Outside Kitty) Mouth. I grabbed a welding glove to protect my arm and attempted to break things up. I finally managed to rescue the little bugger from certain and painful death, and Hudson snapped this pic. We placed it on a nearby Pin Oak and then it soared into the cool night air, and away from danger. Hudson now believes me that squirrels indeed can fly! Blackie however, may never forgive me for stealing her prize catch and releasing it!



Carolina Chickadee

Finally got a picture of this little fellow. He had been very camera shy. On the Cornell University Website it shows that the middle of Texas is about the end of the range of the Carolina Chickadee. It has a less brown in it's coloration than the Black Capped Chickadee which it can be confused with. Arrowolf at BushcraftUSA.com helped me with the ID. It is said that the Carolina Chickadee is often the first bird in it's range to find a new feeder, and that was the case with this one. I just could not get his picture! The Carolina Chickadee was named by John James Audubon during his travels in the Carolinas.



Cardinals

The birds on my property for the most part have been very wary of the new feeder. I am learning that it can be a slow process to establish a feeder in a new area. The birds have slowy started to migrate in the morning time to the large Oak that it hangs from. This morning what I would assume is a breeding pair of Cardinals broke the ice. The female must have been famished because she had no issues feeding as I took pictures with the Canon Rebel. The male was too shy and never came all the way into the feeder. I used a 250MM Canon IS lens for these pics shooting from about 35 yds. I am rapidly learning that I will have to buy a bigger lens to really enjoy birding. It was fun watching the male sneek peeks at the feeder as he debated coming into it. I will post more updates with different species as time allows. For the amount invested this is a very enjoyable pursuit. As I work in the yard it's fun to look over and see what birds have dropped by. I hear some singing out there right now I have never heard before, so I am off to investigate!