Safety First: Attacked by an RTAK II: Gore Warning

Sam Cade · Sep 8, 2013

Just home from the ER.

Submitted for discussion.:

Yup. That is my knee. Cutting through a 3" stink-wood sapling with a freshly honed, lightly modified, very sharp RTAK II.

Standing on a steep bank and got a bit sloppy with body position. D'oh!!

Wacked through the sapling and into my knee. Very, very gnarly.

highorder · Sep 8, 2013

Any tendon or ligament damage?

Sam Cade · Sep 8, 2013

Nope. Just meat.
A lot of meat.

But it could have been much much worse.

JohnKSa · Sep 8, 2013

That's probably worth getting some professional attention.

Deep wounds near joints can get complicated.

JShirley · Sep 8, 2013

Oh. Darn, brother.

SEE THAT, THR BRETHREN! SEE HOW SAM BLEEDS FOR YOU! APPRECIATE IT!

Ow. Glad it was no worse. And I would feel guilty, but you have so many bladed instruments of destruction, I guess I shouldn't.

John

Texan Scott · Sep 8, 2013

I think what JShirley meant was:

Screen-Shot-2013-01-14-at-9.45.23-AM-300x300.png

Heal quickly and well, Sam.

hso · Sep 9, 2013

got a bit sloppy with body position

But it could have been much much worse.

Just meat.
A lot of meat.

Well, yes, yes it could. Good thing the sapling wasn't further up the bank. :evil:

So, how many stitches?

stressed · Sep 9, 2013

Pretty clean, you'll be fine.

Sam Cade · Sep 9, 2013

hso said:
So, how many stitches?

6 mattress stitches so it would have been 12-14 simple ones.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horizontal_mattress_stitch

hso said:
Good thing the sapling wasn't further up the bank.

I had that thought :what:

On the upside, my nurse was a smokin' hot, rangy redhead who complimented the musculature of my legs and asked if I was a runner.

I'm not, unless chasing a coonhound counts.

Jshirley said:
And I would feel guilty

Don't.
I got an ice cream cone and an purty gal laid her hand on my inner thigh. Sure, her other hand was vigorously scrubbing an open laceration, but still, totally worth it.
:evil:

On a related note, knocking off the grip hump and most of the bare "pommel" on an RTAK II goes a long way toward making it into a more efficient cutter just through weight redistribution. MUCH more efficient. :banghead:

If anyone is looking for an interesting read, this is the same knife that John used in this excellent Tomahawk article from Shooting Reviews.

http://www.shootingreviews.com/tomahawks-hard-use-tools-and-weapons-or-tactical-toys/

hso · Sep 9, 2013

complimented the musculature of my legs and asked if I was a runner

That's called "bedside manner" there Lefty.

zhyla · Sep 9, 2013

Sam, if you can't keep from hurting yourself we're going to have to take all your knives away. Which will require a very large pickup truck I'm sure.

I hope the initial scream was manly.

50 Shooter · Sep 9, 2013

Well you know what they say, women love scars! You already have a redhead interested...

stressed · Sep 9, 2013

50 Shooter said:
Well you know what they say, women love scars! You already have a redhead interested...

Really? I've been told I'm a monster. Hmm.

Wooo Sam Cade.

Mp7 · Sep 9, 2013

....

sometimes i think we are hurting ourselves
to generate content for the interwebz.

get well soon.

Deltaboy1984 · Sep 9, 2013

Prayers sent for you Sam. At least you got proper medical care.

Sam1911 · Sep 9, 2013

Geez, man. That's gonna leave a mark! Probably wise to get the stitches.

Heal up fast!

Sam Cade · Sep 9, 2013

The morning after, and I am so stiff I can hardly move. Something of an inconvenience.

This same injury had it occurred more than a few hours away from hospital care could have been very serious.

As it was, I never managed to get the bleeding completely stopped despite a pressure bandage. I had picked up a CAT out of my bag on the way out the door and I was fixing to drop my pants and apply the damn thing in the ER when I finally got called back.

Thanks for all the positive thoughts folks!

Sam Cade · Sep 9, 2013

Sam1911 said:
Probably wise to get the stitches.

I tried to get the doc to stitch it in such a manner so I would have a handy change purse on my knee.

No dice he said.

Sam1911 · Sep 9, 2013

Oh, ouch. Having played with them a bit, I don't relish the idea of applying a CAT to myself. As the guy instructing told us, the guy's going to be screaming, probably more from the tourniquet than the wound.

Mp7 · Sep 9, 2013

Sam Cade

inventor of the ccw-knee-pouch-holster :evil:

(couldnt resist ...)

And don't be the guy who brings a knee to a knifefight.

Shanghai McCoy · Sep 9, 2013

"It's just a scratch...."

Glad you were able to get to the hospital OK and get it taken care of.
Let this be a lesson to all of us who swing the big knives... Be aware of what is on the other side of your target.

tubeshooter · Sep 9, 2013

Ouch! Glad it wasn't any worse - could have been, easily.

Of course I wish you a speedy and full recovery.

Sam Cade · Sep 9, 2013

Shanghai McCoy said:
.. Be aware of what is on the other side of your target.

Indeed!

There is a very good lesson in this.

Don't get complacent about safety.

Swinging a chopper should not ever be a casual act as it only takes one seconds worth of inattention to cause a serious injury.

I'm damned lucky to have not maimed myself..... or bled out since I was about a mile from the house, on foot in the woods.

lemaymiami · Sep 9, 2013

Tough being the entertainment at the local E.R. Hope you heal quickly and without problems.... I figure that most who use blades a lot will need firstaid sooner or later (ask me how I know).

I spend a bit of time running solo miles away from one boat ramp or other and always try to work safely... None of us are error free, though. I've known dog handlers with bite scars, range personnel with bullet scars (and none of them with "war stories" they'd like to brag about....).

Glad there was a good end to this story.....

bikerdoc · Sep 9, 2013

Wow!
From doc the knife nut:
I own one of your machetes, complements of John Shirley. I have been lazy about posting some pics of how well it chops saplings. It was sharp when I got it but since I am retired and infirm I have plenty of time to make it scary sharp!
You make good stuff!

And I used it without cutting myself. (neener)

Seriously that is one serious blade that does the job, kudo's to your craftsmanship

From doc the medic and RN;
Be more careful!!! I have seen enough wounds to know they each have a story which can be filed under "I wasn't paying attention."

Scars are tattoo's with better stories or as we said in the E R - teaching and learning moments! Be proud your injury was not prefaced by " hold my beer."
As for the nurse, that was a once in a lifetime experience dude, pretty nurses are hunting for a rich MD to marry.

Keep the wound clean and follow the change of dressing instructions. If you were closer I would help.

Glad you were lucky , now back to the bench and turn out some extraordinary blades.

Safety First: Attacked by an RTAK II: Gore Warning

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