traditional african spydie? any interest?

[Th232]

Just occurred to me: why am I not using green FRN?



And Clovisc, it's my pleasure to help :) .

[mr_bsii]

I've been following this for several reasons. I was really interested in your (clovisc) story regarding your time in Africa. You don't have a website or blog or something with more details, do you? Sounds like it'd make a good book. I'm also really interested in this knife because of the shape of the blade as well as the humanitarian potential. The only thing that concerns me about the blade shape if you go with the H1/Hollow Grind is the strength of that tip. It seems to me like another grind might be needed to get some strength out there. Either way I'll probably be getting one... or two if I can cough up the coinage. Can't wait to see how it turns out.

mr_bsii

[clovisc]

hmm -- i wondered about the strength of the tip, too, if hollow ground... although, i've been extremely impressed by the tip strength of the hollow ground police. i'd bet sal can come up with a good solution to the strength issue...

welcome to the forums mr_bsii. nope -- i don't have a website or blog about my life in africa... i had pretty much zero internet access, except if i was in the capitol for some reason... and i kinda don't like drawing a lot of attention to myself. this knife project is a little different, though. :D

as far as a book goes, there are quite a few books out there written by returned Peace Corps volunteers from all over the world. don't think I'd ever write non-fiction, as that's always a huge legal headache, and a number of things i'd want to say could stir up trouble.

if you have any specific questions about my life in africa or the peace corps, you or anyone else is welcome to PM me!

[jaislandboy]

This is a cool thread, Clovisc, I can't wait to see the final version of this knife...I haven't heard about cassava in a while....funny, when I was a kid in Jamaica, the "locals" would sell (out of wooden shacks set up on the beach) fried fish and "bammi" ...which looks like a 2cm thick "pancake" made out of mashed cassava....fried up in the pan with the fish.....at least that's what i remember from 1977! But it's kinda like instead of ordering fish and chips, you'd order fish & bammi on the beach! :)

[clovisc]

yea -- i know cassava is also a mainstay of carribean food, especially to impoverished people. it's a staple food all around the world!

funny you should mention jamaica... in zambia, jamaican music was huge! don't think i ever got a cab in the capitol, lusaka, that wasn't blasting reggae... the drivers often had curious vegetable odors about them, as well... hmmm...

my hair (in the front) came down to my chin -- people in zambia who didn't know me thought this meant i was a rasta, even though it was straight and not dreaded. i'd often get people shouting "rastaman!" or "jah-man!" at me, and raising their fists in the universal sign of jah-power... ha!

[jaislandboy]

heheh that's quite amusing clovisc, that the hair would make u a Rasta.... :cool:

[clovisc]

i was also accused of being a rasta for wearing zambia's national colors (green, black, orange, and red)!!! while i'm hardly a rasta, i have come to really appreciate reggae... lately i've been listening to dillenger, big youth, dennis alcapone -- a lot of the old DJ/toast style artists.

one of my zam-rasta friends who lived near a hitchhiking spot i always used to sit at told me he insulted an off-duty police officer once, and as a result, the officer and some of his buddies cut off his dreadlocks in the middle of his head, then shaved a stripe down the middle of his skull, making it look like he had giant ears. he ended up shaving the rest of his head.

(a little off topic, but trying to keep this thread alive!) :D

[jaislandboy]

funny story clovisc, makes me think of some of Marley's tunes like "crazy baldheads".....seems like extreme punishment from the police there.....to make a Rastaman look like a crazy baldhead.... :rolleyes: :)

[TazKristi]

i was also accused of being a rasta for wearing zambia's national colors (green, black, orange, and red)!!! while i'm hardly a rasta, i have come to really appreciate reggae... lately i've been listening to dillenger, big youth, dennis alcapone -- a lot of the old DJ/toast style artists.

one of my zam-rasta friends who lived near a hitchhiking spot i always used to sit at told me he insulted an off-duty police officer once, and as a result, the officer and some of his buddies cut off his dreadlocks in the middle of his head, then shaved a stripe down the middle of his skull, making it look like he had giant ears. he ended up shaving the rest of his head.

(a little off topic, but trying to keep this thread alive!) :D

clovisc,
Never fear, we're moving forward here. I've just sent an email to Mr. Phiri regarding laying the ground work for this project. :)

Kristi

[ceelias]

:D I know......its early in the process..... design.......negotiations.....scheduling......planning.......materials......manufacturing......QC.......testing.......packing......shipping.......and likely many sub steps I've glossed over. Sigh.... But a guess, either by Spyderco or an educated guess by others who've seen this process before would be appreciated.

Thanks, Charlie

[clovisc]

clovisc,
Never fear, we're moving forward here. I've just sent an email to Mr. Phiri regarding laying the ground work for this project. :)

Kristi

great, kristi! and thanks!!!!

i sent donald an email too, although he hasn't gotten back to me yet. he might be travelling right now for his work... if i don't hear from him within the next handful of days, i'll get you in touch with an alternative.

[TazKristi]

Here are pictures of the knife that clovisc sent Sal... enjoy!

[TazKristi]

3 more pics to enjoy...

[jaislandboy]

thanx for the pics Kristi.....I can't wait to see the :spyder: -version.... :)

[cobrajoe]

thanx for the pics Kristi.....I can't wait to see the :spyder: -version.... :)

I agree completely. I'm now somewhat wishing that the spydie version will have a front bolster.

That hand made blade is beautiful though, but I can't tell why. I really like the slightly swept back tip.

[clovisc]

ahh... thank you, kristy!

it is so nice to see one of these again! :D

[Jacks]

How about "chokwe" as a name for the knife?
Is that a lanyard loop on the Pommel?

[Th232]

I like it! Sure, it looks rather beat up, scratched, and primitive, but I think that adds to it!

[Glock27]

Now this would be a really cool Forum knife.
G27

[clovisc]

I like it! Sure, it looks rather beat up, scratched, and primitive, but I think that adds to it!

they certainly are well balanced knives, sturdy users that could take a LOT of abuse (ex: chopping cassava sticks all day)... and while not the prettiest knives in zambia, certainly one of the most practical designs. (kinda like a spyderco!) to me, these knives seemed pretty sophisticated -- not so much "primitive."

i see the geometry as abstract and compelling. remember, lots of the great early 20th century "modernist" painters and sculptures derived ideas for their abstractions and geometrically-heavy artwork from african designs that had been around for hundreds of years!!!