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| One of Husby's hand-made originals. Notice the initials at the base of the blade. |
Knife shopping in our family is a large
deal.
Husby and our second son have their own
forge and, when time allows, create their own custom-made cutlery.
Using only the finest of materials.
They have been known to teach classes on
the topic.
With every student leaving said class carrying
one hand-made (mostly by their own hands) knife.
Needless to say, Husby
has a large opinion on the subject. Knife shopping requires research: Where the
steel is from. How it was forged. How many times it was folded.
Words like: Point, Edge, Tip,
Heel, Spine, Bolster, Scales, Handle Fasteners, Butt, Tang, and Balance are
bandied about.
I just nod and smile, then look for the
knife that ‘fits my hand’.
Yes. I’m a knife-making family disgrace.
Now I know that most of you will have
different knife-procuring traditions than me.
Some may even be like my Husby.
If so . . . ummm . . .
Moving on . . .
In my family’s history, there were other ways entirely.
Let me tell you about one . . .
Great, Great Grandfather, Jeremiah
Stringham (notice the 'H' in Stringam), born in Colesville, Broome, New York in 1825 lived a life of Adventure (also notice the capital ‘A’).
He and his growing family moved out to the
‘untamed’ west in the early 1860’s, finally settling in a small place named
Manti (in what would one day become Utah) in the latter part of 1863.
It was a time of upheaval, with misunderstandings
and disagreements resulting in skirmishes with some local tribes.
During this ticklish time, GG Grandpa
Jeremiah was assigned to guard the stone quarry so important to the industry of
the area. Just in time to be intimately involved in one of the aforementioned
skirmishes.
GG Grandpa Jeremiah was attacked by a man wielding
a large knife who seemed quite determined to embed said knife in grandfather’s
skull.
Another guard saw what was happening and intervened.
The situation was defused.
The knife remained.
And became the butcher knife of choice in GG
Grandfather’s family’s kitchens for many, many years.
Now I don’t know about you, but I think,
given the choice, I’d stick with my method of selecting a knife.
Or Husby’s.
Either seems to require a little less
heart-pounding excitement.
A little.
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| Great Great Grandfather Jeremiah At the age of 65. |
Sundays are for my ancestors.
What were yours up to?
I'd love to hear!
