Popular Post Jim McCulloch Posted May 21, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted May 21, 2021 Certain terms or phrases relating to gold mining have become commonly used idioms today. For instance, "How much can you raise in a pinch", dates to the California Gold Rush, and refers to the practice of using pinchs of gold dust drawn from a pouch to pay for something. Obviously, the larger the thumb and forefinger of the one doing the pinching, the more gold removed. Likewise when an endeavor is successful, it is said to have "panned out," and if very successful, "you struck the mother lode". When an endeavor was not successful, it was just a "flash in the pan." And remember, "all that Glitters Is Not Gold." 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geof_junk Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 And all gold does not Glitter well before you wash it any way.☺️ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry in Idaho Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 Well put Jim and also to add a little of todays terminology. The term "Gold Digger" is quite controversial. Thanks for the little history lesson. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klunker Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 2 hours ago, Jim McCulloch said: all that Glitters Is Not Gold." Always remember "If it glitters it's worth something to somebody" 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strick Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 Klunker...Now i have to go and test that gold i bought lol I would think that other factors besides the size of the thumb and forefinger come into play...soft fingers for instance would be more likely to pinch more gold and hold onto it longer then hardened fingers...thus there would be more per pinch...also fingers that have calluses and crevices (older miners like Klunker) will catch and retain some gold...I think they knew about and used these tricks at times. 🙂 strick 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB_Amateur Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 16 minutes ago, strick said: I would think that other factors besides the size of the thumb and forefinger come into play... Wasn't a shot of whiskey often paid for with a pinch? As the night wore on, I can imagine the actual quantity of gold per pinch might have gone up if the bartender were unscrupulous. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klunker Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 4 hours ago, strick said: I would think that other factors besides the size of the thumb and forefinger come into play I used to keep a 30 caliber pistol ball hidden beneath the counter. I would squeeze it real hard between my thumb and finger while I negotiated the number of pinches. due to inflation I have gone to a 50 caliber musket ball. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim McCulloch Posted May 21, 2021 Author Share Posted May 21, 2021 So, Klunker, were you a saloon keeper during the California Gold Rush? 😊 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kodiak Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 I remember reading that in the during the Alaska Gold Rush in the Klondike, that the miners would just hand their poke to the bartender, and the bartender would take out the needed pinches. You were supposed to turn your back to the bartender when they did the actually pinching, as otherwise you were showing them disrespect. It was the honor system. There were tricky bartenders though who would run their hands thru their hair after every transaction, and then wash their hair at home to collect the gold dust. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klunker Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 2 hours ago, Jim McCulloch said: So, Klunker, were you a saloon keeper during the California Gold Rush? Yes. In a past life. I was such a bad person that I have been reincarnated among the lowest of the low. - A prospector. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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