Same here on the tornadoes, Rainwalker--my clock radio didn't go off that morning, because some kind of power surge or outage from the line of storms that was moving in that morning from Arkansas (having spawned some tornadoes that had killed people further west during the night) had tripped the ground fault circuit interruptor or taken out the power to the radio while I slept. Later, my grad-school roommate kept telling me that "tornadoes never hit big cities" because cities are usually located in valleys (like Nashville, in the Cumberland River Valley), so tornadoes just kind of skip over them. He held that belief until, oh, about 10 minutes before the first tornado hit. We saw the funnel clouds pass just north of the ratty neighborhood where we impoverished students were living. Suddenly, I felt myself wishing I had a good, solid chopping blade--not having seen a need for one in grad school. Then, with fallen trees all over, priorities were rearranged!

Oh: any tips on using the blade catch as a bottle opener? (Not that one would ever DO anything like that--but, just in case of an emergency, one might need to know in advance . . . .)

Welcome to the Yard DesertDog. I recall the blade catch not working to well for that purpose from what others said. Never tried it myself.

LOL. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

It can be done. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Horn Dog and a couple of other guys have made slight modifications to the hook to make it a fairly decent bottle opener. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

A little dremel work is all it needs, although I opened a bottle with mine just the way it is, but you really have to work at it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Very interesting! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> I think that day changed a lot of opinions on what a Tornado could or could not do. It's definately a day to remember.

Welcome to the pack DD!

Who let the Dog in?

Well, here it is! My first Scrapyard knife--a mint Yard Hook. It is, indeed, in the "sharpened prybar" category--as intended. (I've taken to setting these knives up with smaller, thinner-bladed knives attached to the sheaths, for finer cutting work--a la the inland Dayaks' mandaus, and the kardas that share sheaths with Nepali khukuris--so, "prybar" is good; the smaller companion blade gives you the best of both worlds.) The Yard Hook is substantial; comfortable; balance is right about where the hook part is. Blade measures about 7.5 inches from tip to handle, with about an inch of unsharpened space between cutting edge and handle. While I see what people mean about the choil being distanced a bit far from the holding part of the handle, I find it a workable configuration, and don't have any serious trouble choking up on it. The handle is a little thinner than I'd expected--which is also fine, since I'd rather have a handle that's a bit on the thin side, that lets my fingers get all the way around, than a fat handle that weakens the grip. I mention this all just to get a description out there that others can use. I have exceptionally large hands, for what that's worth. Now just to get a sheath for it--oh, yeah, and also to take it out into the backyard and put it through its first paces, demolishing a little bough-and-palm-leaves shelter I'd built there a couple of years back. That little thing stayed up quite well until last week's storms finally turned it into a lean-to.

Thanks for the advice, guys--and to the Texas/Ohio Busses for making these things!

I'm lost, which knive did you get? Get a hold of Rainwalker for your sheath's.

Nothing wrong with giving honest opinions on knives deserdog.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

sounds good.
A good sheath will be in order. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Great insight, DesertDog, Thanks.

Let us know how the Lean-to destruction goes. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I've now got it in a custom folded-cardboard-and-packing-tape sheath, made out of the box it came in. (How's that for survival resourcefulness?) When the Busses get back, hopefully I'll get a sheath or so that I (think I've) ordered via the company website.

Welcome!