Revived Sos Surprise Box GAW ( US edition ).

[Aloha]

 

Excited for you to be a part of this mystery box. 

[IMR4198]

Thanks Aloha,
      I always have visions of some yawning letter carrier propping a package up against the mail box post and driving off.  Dan made it so I have to sign, so that SHOULD fix any problems.  I will try not to be tedious, but might very well get greedious.  I promise to leave something for NutSAK.  Maybe something small.    Best wishes.  Gary

[IMR4198]

    As near as I can tell from the USPS Tracking Service, the SoS mystery box flew from Knoxville to Atlanta making a big swooshing sound as it passed over my house on the way.  From Atlanta it was put on board a truck to Greenville, South Carolina.  After going through shoots and up ladders it finally was spit out onto a loading dock where a 19 year old girl with a bicycle picked it up.  She is now peddling it as fast as her little legs can carry her to North Carolina.  Tracking says it will be available sometime before 9PM at night.  In the dark.  After everyone in the post office has long been at home. 
    I made up the bicycle part.  It appears it is on its way.  If tracking says it is at the post office 2.5 miles from my house, I will drive down in the morning and seek for it there.  Best wishes.  Gary 

[IMR4198]

     Last I heard it was still in transit.  Supposedly available by 9PM tomorrow.  September first.  All that may change.  I think I will go to the post office and see what I can find out tomorrow.  Need some snacks anyway.  Best wishes. Gary

[Farmer X]

That trip would require half a day if one were on foot accompanying a mule-drawn wagon! I'm pretty sure the mystery box has departed the destination facility, so it's nearly certain to be at your Post Office tomorrow.

[IMR4198]

      Well, the SoS box was at the post office this morning.  Somewhere in someone's delivery bag.  They said to come back at quitting time, if I wanted it.  I at least picked up a medium flat rate box on Dan's advice.  I might try to catch the letter carrier at my mailbox today.  Slim chance.  Probably go back downtown about 4:30 PM today.  Not very far.  Best wishes.  Gary
 

[Aloha]

Heck of a journey that box took.  So close yet still so far.  It'll be worth it thats for sure.   

[IMR4198]

     I rather expect the post office to decide the box is undeliverable and return it to sender.  From the post office 2.5 miles from my house back to Asheville, then back to Greenville, South Carolina and on to Atlanta, Georgia.  They won't bother with Tennessee on the way back.  Must be efficient.  From Atlanta it will go directly to Newfoundland, then on to Frankfurt.  From there is will be routed to Madras, then on to Singapore.  After that just a hop, skip, and a jump to Hawaii, then San Francisco, Oakland, Denver, Atlanta again, and then back to Michigan and Dan.  I almost said, "Who lived in the house that Jack built."
     I can't see the letter carrier from my house, but I can hear the loud vehicle.  They take a side route, then show at my mailbox about an hour later.  I will walk down and wait a while.  Maybe.  Not too hot today.  It would be a fitting end to the story if I get eaten by a bear on the way back, with little knife related items lying all around.  Best wishes.  Gary

[IMR4198]

    No package.  Post office said letter carrier had it.  I waited for the letter carrier.  Said she left it at the post office.  Go there and pick it up.  Post office couldn't find it.  Then mumbled about having to 'process it'.  Come back tomorrow.  Best wishes.  Gary

[Farmer X]

What a mess. I hope you walk out of the Post Office with the box in your hands tomorrow. Otherwise, USPS may need to have a fire lit under their backsides.

[IMR4198]

The following is a copy of the message I just sent to Dan.  Everything out in the open.

 I imagine that I can probably pick it up Saturday morning.  This was the first day that the package was in Franklin, so they couldn't have attempted to deliver it before today.  I stood and waited at my rural mailbox  and the mail truck (driven by a really cute young brunette) stopped when she saw me.  I asked if she wanted me to sign for a package.  She said she didn't bring it, because she never saw me at the mailbox.  My house is no where near where you can see it from the mailbox.  She handed me the brown claim ticket that she had filled out as 'package undeliverable' before she had even got there.  Plus she didn't have the package on the truck.  Hard to deliver what you didn't bring, right?  I asked when I could get the package.  She said anytime.  Now.
     Post office worker said, 'Sorry.  Come back after 4 o'clock today or tomorrow between 9 and 12. The letter carrier shouldn't have told you that.'

[IMR4198]

    Some of you US residents have likely never seen a failed delivery receipt.  If you are from Portugal or Aussie, of course this is all new. 
     I got this from the cute letter carrier.  What do you do with it?  Take it to the post office with some identification and claim your mail.  The counter worker checks your ID, takes the receipt and fetches the mail.  Then they keep the receipt and use it to log the transaction.  You can also reschedule a delivery with the information on the receipt.  I put the little SAKs on the package number and my address.  No need to make that public. 
     So, I will take the receipt tomorrow and try to claim the package.  We will see.  Best wishes. Gary

receipt2.jpg (Filesize: 103.21 KB)

[Alan K.]

Oh that is infuriating.  I sure hope you get it before they send it back to Dan.
 

[IMR4198]

    You know Alan, at this point I wouldn't mind if they sent it back to Dan.  I just don't want in the middle of this mess.  They took what should have been fun and turned it into a slow-motion wreck.
     Tomorrow may work out just fine.  If it does, then I will just forget about today.  I have written way too much already.  Time for happy things.  I think I will look over the box (if I ever see it) and check to see if it has been tampered with.  Maybe put it on one of the post office scales.  I'm getting suspicious now.  Best wishes.  Gary

[IMR4198]

    If you can stand one more story today, I will tell a funny.  I joked about them sending the package back by going around the globe with it and me getting eaten by a bear while I was waiting for it.  Har har.  Right? 
    The last time I waited for mail (from Dan) a bobcat almost ran into me.  No bobcat today.  I was a little bothered when I got back from the post office.  I cooled down with a fan and a cold drink.  Then I decided to mow.  Cranked the Cub.  Mowed a half hour.  I was almost finished and something flashed by that caught my eye.  A bear ran across my driveway.  It was about 60 yards away and was really scooting.  Best wishes.  Gary
 

[Farmer X]

The box weighed 9 pounds 10 ounces if memory serves me correctly. Figure the ounces are +/- 2. I sincerely hope you'll have it in-hand later today.

I haven't seen any bears out here, but we do have Lions and Tigers. They usually lose.

[IMR4198]

    I actually enjoyed a lot of yesterday.  Seeing the bear was a treat.  The Lions had a player from here.  Shawn Bryson.  Do you remember him?  He is coaching at a prep school now and doing a first class job.  His Mom is Susie, and she used to work at the post office where I was yesterday. 
    Another day.  Another chance for making it a good one.  Best wishes.  Gary

[SteveC]

Good luck Gary !

[IMR4198]

     The box is in hand.  Nice day outside.  I'm going to have to watch when I step outside for a while.  Don't relish tripping over a bear.  I'm already tripping over deer.  And raccoons.
      Oh back to the box.  It appears to be intact and not tampered with.  I will open it post haste.  Thanks again to Sherry, Dan, and all the others who made this possible.   Best wishes.  Gary
 

sos.jpg (Filesize: 219.48 KB)

[Farmer X]

 

My fast turnaround was due to both having specific items in mind and needing to take a trip to the Post Office anyway. Definitely take your time deciding what you want to keep. As packed as that box is, it may not be an easy decision! And do your best to not trip over the local wildlife.

As for Shawn Bryson, the name doesn't ring any bells right off the top of my head. He might have left the Lions before I moved to Michigan.

[IMR4198]

     Definitely a lot of happiness in that box.  I see lots of things that the loyal members on here talk about all the time.  Friends, you are missing out on something you would like.  This is the one and only stop for the box in my little town.  I will pick out some stuff.  Add some back. 
      I will give Terry a heads-up when I mail this thing. Best wishes.  Gary
 

[BPRoberts]

By far the greatest adventure I read about on the internet this morning. 

[NutSAK]

Good news. Take all the time you need Gary!

[IMR4198]

     There is a lot of stuff in there, Terry.  I tried to go through it all.  I scratched my head later and said, "Wasn't there a XXXXX in there?  I wonder where it went?"  I didn't find what I thought I was looking for, but found another bag I hadn't opened.  You will see what I mean, where it reaches you.
     I found one that is a keeper for sure. One of the first things I saw.  It was lovely.  A battered old 84mm Vic.  Dirty.  One scale split for 75% of its length.  Glued together.  Even the Vic shield was split in two.  Liners stained and corroded.  Couldn't sell it at a flea market for a dollar.  Perfect.  I wanted it as soon as I saw it and immediately set it aside as a keeper.  I plan on using it to make some wood scales and try to rejuvenate it.  I have some wood that is just a little short for a 91mm, but perfect for this old knife.  It is the short version of a Spartan.  Tourist or something, I forget.
     Best wishes.  Gary

[IMR4198]

      I know everyone has been waiting for the 'What did IMR keep' list.  No?  Well, here it is anyway.  I used the flattened box that will be used to ship the booty to Terry for a background.  Maybe I can put it together....?   I do have some tape.  Might be later on in the week to ship.  I will post it.  Post office is closed tomorrow, and I will be busy early in the week. 
     The logo knife is the 84mm.  You can see the split scale.  I wonder how the shield emblem split too?  Aren't those things metal? 
      The other Vic was glued together with old lube of some sort.  I wiped WD40 on it and scraped it with a fingernail.  That didn't take it off.  Just like varnish.  Finally, I soaked it in Dawn and warm water.  Still sluggish.  I don't care.  Has anybody out there noticed how when the zip goes out of a SAK it is usually the layer that has the can opener and cap-lifter?  I buffed the scales a little and cleaned it up some, so it doesn't look bad.  No scales tools unfortunately.
      Finally the Leatherman.  I have never owned one.  My pal Lee bought the first model when it was reviewed in Soldier of Fortune Magazine years ago.  Had to have it.  He carried it some, but I doubt if he ever took it out of the slim black pouch.  That was the first and last Leatherman I ever had in my hand.  Early 80's some time? 
      This is a Wagonman.  Wait a second.  Get my glasses.  It is a Wingman.  Not too big.  I decided before the box came, that if there was a Leatherman of any type or condition that I would grab it.  I want to own a Leatherman for one time. 
       My other wishes are for something Alox, and a 111mm.  I have never seen or held either one in my life.  Small town.  Nobody sells them here.  I bought my 108mm down in Dalton, Georgia years ago and they didn't have any more SAKs in that store either.  Well, I will either find some, or I won't.  I never order anything.  Mail trouble, remember?
       So this is IMR's picks.  The cute OD lanyard thing was nice and the black thing that looks like a dog whistle is a snap link thing.  I might go back through the box and see if anything else looks yummy.  Maybe not.  Best wishes.  Gary
 

keepers.jpg (Filesize: 119.11 KB)

[Aloha]

Heck of a journey.  I know the feeling having sent items over seas to members is always an adventure.  I had my own USPS adventure a few times as well. 

Glad the box is in your hands.  Nice picks.    

[Alan K.]

Congratulations on finally Getting your first Leatherman. I hope you will enjoy it.  You really need to go through the box again.  I know there was more good stuff in there, a lot more.

[GA1dad]

      I know everyone has been waiting for the 'What did IMR keep' list.  No?  Well, here it is anyway.  I used the flattened box that will be used to ship the booty to Terry for a background.  Maybe I can put it together....?   I do have some tape.  Might be later on in the week to ship.  I will post it.  Post office is closed tomorrow, and I will be busy early in the week. 
     The logo knife is the 84mm.  You can see the split scale.  I wonder how the shield emblem split too?  Aren't those things metal? 
      The other Vic was glued together with old lube of some sort.  I wiped WD40 on it and scraped it with a fingernail.  That didn't take it off.  Just like varnish.  Finally, I soaked it in Dawn and warm water.  Still sluggish.  I don't care.  Has anybody out there noticed how when the zip goes out of a SAK it is usually the layer that has the can opener and cap-lifter?  I buffed the scales a little and cleaned it up some, so it doesn't look bad.  No scales tools unfortunately.
      Finally the Leatherman.  I have never owned one.  My pal Lee bought the first model when it was reviewed in Soldier of Fortune Magazine years ago.  Had to have it.  He carried it some, but I doubt if he ever took it out of the slim black pouch.  That was the first and last Leatherman I ever had in my hand.  Early 80's some time? 
      This is a Wagonman.  Wait a second.  Get my glasses.  It is a Wingman.  Not too big.  I decided before the box came, that if there was a Leatherman of any type or condition that I would grab it.  I want to own a Leatherman for one time. 
       My other wishes are for something Alox, and a 111mm.  I have never seen or held either one in my life.  Small town.  Nobody sells them here.  I bought my 108mm down in Dalton, Georgia years ago and they didn't have any more SAKs in that store either.  Well, I will either find some, or I won't.  I never order anything.  Mail trouble, remember?
       So this is IMR's picks.  The cute OD lanyard thing was nice and the black thing that looks like a dog whistle is a snap link thing.  I might go back through the box and see if anything else looks yummy.  Maybe not.  Best wishes.  Gary
  [ Quoting of attachment images from other messages is not allowed ]

Congrats IMR! For a first Leatherman, the Wingman is a good one. Belt clip AND spring loaded pliers,,,,,, WIN!

[BPRoberts]

Excited to see what you do with the 84. The Wingman is IMO the best from that particular line. Outside opening scissors are handy.

[IMR4198]

     I saw another strange thing at the post office Friday as I was being shuffled around.  A lady.  About 50, dark hair, plump, glasses.  With a package to ship to Arizona already boxed up.  Teller weighs it and says, "We can guarantee delivery for Tuesday.  $57."  She says, "Okay."
      Then he says, "This box has to ship at that rate.  If you switch boxes to the Priority Mail box we can get it there estimated delivery time Tuesday.  $17. "  She just stands there and doesn't know what to say.  Her brain is stuck in neutral.  He asks her again, hinting that she should change the box.  Says she can save $40.  Finally she says, "Well okay."
      It wouldn't have taken me that long to decide.  I don't understand people anymore.  I heard her as I left griping and complaining about having to repack the box.  Best wishes.  Gary