Hatchet Smatchery

Wherein, in the course of a warm spring day, our hero discovers a second meaning to the word.



Of course I meant "Smatchet Hatchery". That damned president of ours. He'll end up making spoonerists of all of us.
I've had a run on the big blade of late, Three orders over the past week.
Now, the smatchet measures a full 3" across and... let's just say it's easier if you can find stuff that's wide enough to begin with.
Above, the princely prize that the lad and I trundled home from the junkyard the other day.
I've held off on the leaf-spring purchases of late. I've got lots of other steel and...
Mostly, it's just kind of a tough slog for those of us with problems in the socializing field, so most of the time I go mining along the tracks.
The problem is this:
I'll walk into the place and say, "I want leaf-springs".
The man will reasonably answer, "What do you want them for?"
This is, of course, no attempt to pry into my affairs.
He thinks I'm buying "parts" vs "junk" and he doesn't want to sell me the wrong part, bless him.
But I don't want to pay "part" prices.
There occurs a brief, uncomfortable (for me) exchange, then I get sent out to look at the detritus.
I'm aware that this social awkwardness is mine alone but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
In any case, the staff of D&L Truck Parts of Junction City, OR were helpful and polite, especially the yard guy... Tracy... Kelly, something like that.
Anyway, FOURTEEN RUNNING FEET of smatchet-able goods, all told. Most of it 3/8" thick.
And, most importantly, a full 3" wide.

That's the maximum width of the blade in question so, it's manna from heaven (exaggeration).
And, to not have to gently nudge some hunk of RR iron out to 3"...
Thank you Ford motor company.
Best part:
$10.
Twenty-cents a pound.
Woohoo!

Good luck, little smatchet larva.