"Obsolete" items that you still use

[SaintPanzer]

Wait. Did someone say sextant?
Any sailors here? A couple of years ago, I took a celestial navigation course just for fun. It’s amazing that people invented this technology before the age of computers. It’s strangely satisfying to work out problems, plotting them on my kitchen table. On actual boats, I still use GPS

Still sailing after all these years...

 

[SStomcat]

OP, since everyone’s sharing heirloom flexes, here’s my humble tribute list from the family vault:

• My grandpa’s British Paradox 12‑bore gun, which I still shoot during my visits to India.
• His sword, which he reportedly fought for and snatched from a dacoit back in the day
• His stone-set gold ring, still stored as a memento in our ancient ancestral home.
• His pocket watch (timeless. Literally).
• His recommendation letters from officials of the erstwhile British India government — the old-school LinkedIn endorsements.
• My dad’s Belgian 12-bore shotgun, which still runs like a champ. Bonus: as a 12-year-old, I used it to drop my first crow (and yes… first was misspelled on purpose to honor my “forst” crow).
• A few Nakayama Tomai natural stones that I used to sharpen my straight razors back when I trusted myself with edge tools at face level.
• And to round it off, a handful of Suita whetstones — some tasty Japanese Suitas to keep the sharpening saga going.
• Japanese wood instrument chisels and whatnot
• etc

Cheers!

 

[farmer_john]

Wait. Did someone say sextant?
Any sailors here? A couple of years ago, I took a celestial navigation course just for fun. It’s amazing that people invented this technology before the age of computers. It’s strangely satisfying to work out problems, plotting them on my kitchen table. On actual boats, I still use GPS

Where can you take one of those?

 

[farmer_john]

OP, since everyone’s sharing heirloom flexes, here’s my humble tribute list from the family vault:

• My grandpa’s British Paradox 12‑bore gun, which I still shoot during my visits to India.
• His sword, which he reportedly fought for and snatched from a dacoit back in the day
• His stone-set gold ring, still stored as a memento in our ancient ancestral home.
• His pocket watch (timeless. Literally).
• His recommendation letters from officials of the erstwhile British India government — the old-school LinkedIn endorsements.
• My dad’s Belgian 12-bore shotgun, which still runs like a champ. Bonus: as a 12-year-old, I used it to drop my first crow (and yes… first was misspelled on purpose to honor my “forst” crow).
• A few Nakayama Tomai natural stones that I used to sharpen my straight razors back when I trusted myself with edge tools at face level.
• And to round it off, a handful of Suita whetstones — some tasty Japanese Suitas to keep the sharpening saga going.
• Japanese wood instrument chisels and whatnot
• etc

Cheers!

Just normal conversation. Its seen as a flex by the insecure. What kind of sword is that? Sounds like a very cool family history.

 

[KoedoePoesPienk]

Why thank you. The incident is detailed in the second chapter of my autobiography.

She was actually a very sweet motherly lady, who treated everybody down to the common forest guards with humility & respect. She stopped me from scolding a forest guard who hadn’t properly tucked in his uniform’s shirt when they all assembled in front of her.

She used to love eating the strawberry jam biscuits from Olympia Bakery and dined upon red jungle fowl and Axis deer venison while she was under our care (because these were game animals not found in Great Britain). Very pro hunting lady. She used to own a John Rigby & Co. Mauser chambered in .275 Hi-Velocity, which she used for deer stalking (red stag) in Great Britain. She told me that her favorite British game meat, were actually muntjac deer and grouse.

Lizzie was lovely, the commonwealth was lucky to have had her.

 

[KoedoePoesPienk]

Ive always wanted a 1903carbine in 6.5ms with period correct scope and claw mount

I’ve got one with a peep sight and have owned one that was scoped.
The scope really takes away from how trim and light they are. Makes it feel like you’re swinging a 2x6 around.
If you do get one I’d recommend going for one with iron sights or peep sights.
They are 150-200 yard rifles at best anyway.

 

[Woolley Bugger]

Where can you take one of those?

This site offers excellent courses in celestial navigation and other sailing related disciplines. I also took their marine weather course. It’s a guided program with many work assignments that are evaluated by instructors who give good feedback. Students also have access to an online forum where they can ask questions and discuss unclear concepts.

https://starpath.com/catalog/courses/1701c.htm

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Anchovies = Sutke mach right, Golam ji?

No, No @SStomcat

I absolutely DISGUST sutke mach. Anchovies are the small ones cured with fine grained salt & left to brine in extra virgin olive oil.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

How much of the Royal hunting do you know about? And other government officials?
That might make another book or at least perhaps a article or 2 for some hunting magazine.

It sounds very interesting at least to me

You could say, a decent bit.

 

[mooze]

I'm only 37 and I prefer all of those things too haha.

and Pelikan and MontBlanc Ink pens

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

What a great thread!

Old fishing reels, I genuinely prefer them.
Old Land Rovers. We now have my Series 1 (1954), wife's Series 2 (1962), Series 3 (1976), which is based in Kariba to access the Zambezi Valley after a fly in. All in top mechanical condition and daily users. The fourth one on the right is my buddie's pre-series 1950.

 

[BryceM]

An HP-41CV calculator. The tactile feel of the buttons and my familiarity with it just make it more useful than the idiot calculator on my phone.

 

[grand veneur]

 

[grand veneur]

Breeches from the 1930s.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

With three on the tree.

Yeah, I really miss grinding into 1st gear at stop signs ... no I don't! Briefly GM did make a full synchro 3-speed but very hard to find now. Early sixties I think and I only saw them in cars. Kinda stupid idea, really. Why would anyone want synchro three on the tree when four on the floor was available?

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Wait. Did someone say sextant?
Any sailors here? A couple of years ago, I took a celestial navigation course just for fun. It’s amazing that people invented this technology before the age of computers. It’s strangely satisfying to work out problems, plotting them on my kitchen table. On actual boats, I still use GPS

Check out the history of chronograph. Very interesting.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Just a few:
1.) a compass......I have a GPS unit, but still use the compass more often than not......batteries won't ever go dead!

2.) Wooden duck calls.......my favorite is the Yentzen shure shot. I think they sound better than the acrylic, and when you accidentally drop 'em in water, they float!

3.) the pocket hand warmers that use the grey sticks that you light with a match or lighter.....don't know the name, but they stay warm for about 5-6 hours. I usually use three this time of year. Haven't been able to find any refills in a while, so when the supply I have is gone, I'll have to find something else.

4.) Wool pants/jacket......stays warm, even when wet, and doesn't "swish" like nylon when you turn to see what made that twig snap

5.) cast bullets........good enough for target practice, and I have taken a few head of game with them. Cheaper than jacketed, and as long as I have a supply of lead, I can make my own even during shortages produced by idiot political dogma!

6) Labrador retrievers! May not be "obsolete", but I still think they are the best, all around dog in the world! Haven't seen any of the "newer" hunting breeds do better. (this last one was a little tongue in cheek).

Labs are tops for sure, in the home or in the field. Everybody loves Ellie because she loves everybody. And she's a stunning upland hunter. Just amazing. Hunts close, sneaks like a cat, and rock solid points. I can even call her off a runner rooster ... most of the time. And I'm shooting lights out this year. I missed two shots yesterday and probably the only time that's happened this season (but finally did get one for her right at closing after a spectacular point). Really, it's hard to miss the way she sets me up. Sadly, I suspect this may be the last season for both dogs. And probably me too. Age has finally caught up with us.

Ellie loves that old GI fartsack almost as much as I do.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I guess I should feel old, but I don't. I shoot shotguns from 80-100+ years old with lots of drop at comb and heel. I use tin lined copper pans, which I have learned to re-tin myself. I have some split cane fly rods. I use single stage loaders with balance scales. I regularly use ancient wood and metal planes and chisels on doors and other wood projects, just keep them razor sharp. I like walnut and blued steel and chrome moly barrels for the most part. I like rust blueing. Except for pictures, I would be as happy with a flip phone. If someone broke into my house, I wonder if they would even take half my stuff, or know what to do with it.
What obsolete things do you still hold on to?

Pretty much others have stated a lot of good obsolete items that can be a lifesaver for when the situation turns from a standard day in the woods to survival situation.

Dah....It's not obsolete if it's still being used. It's just an exceptional good product that is no longer being produced by assinine manufacturers who can't compete against thier competition that produces a much better product.

One particular item I still use that I have no longer found in cold weather clothing is fleece long johns. What manufactures call fleece today is a combination of synthetic materials blended with cotton which is non comparable to real fleece for warmth in extreme cold weather.

Try finding a solid orange vest with a game pouch in the back. I finally found one two years ago to replace my well worn out vest after several years of searching. Good luck on finding one now.