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- May 5, 2010
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A while ago I read some posts here on BF about knives with stories behind them. It caught my attention, and got me thinking about all the knives I have made, who has them, where have they gone, and what have they done.
Here is a little story about some great guys and the couple of hunters made for them.
Because we live out in the remote Alaskan Bush, it stands to reason that our neighbors are few and far between. Because of this, it is usually the case that strong relationships are formed between neighbors. Hopefully they are of the good kind, because the bad ones can get very dangerous.... (picture two fiercely bearded and independent old trappers who hate each other...)
This story is about a good one.
Our neighbor, Chuck is in his late 60's. He has done just about everything. From serving his country in the Navy, to flying bush planes in Alaska, to driving trucks, to beng the principal, and superintendent of schools all over Alaska and Washington State. He is an avid hunter, fisherman, and the best neighbor I could ask for. He has helped me personally out of many a tight spot, and I'm pretty sure that everone for miles around can say the same. The Man is tough as nails, with a heart of gold.
Chuck, and his wonderful wife Faye, are now retired, and spend most of their winters riding four-wheelers all over the desert states, having a terrific time. Every spring when they arive back in Alaska to spend the summers, Chuck is faithful to bring me pieces of Desert Ironwood from his adventures in Arizona, or antlers from the hunts he has been on. He has always been there to lend a hand, or loan a tool.
It occured to me some years back to make Chuck a knife as a thank you gift for all the things he has done to help me out in the past. Well, I was always too busy or had some other excuse not to make his knife.... I was finally getting around to it this summer... I had made a knife with Chuck in mind, and it turned out great, except I thought the handle was a little too big...
Enter Big Garry Green...
This year, Chuck's best friend, Garry, another terrific human being was retiring from being the superintendent of schools in central Washington for the last 30 years or so. Garry comes to visit here in Alaska every summer, and I have had the pleasure of getting to know him over the last 15 years or so. He is 6 foot 8 and probably 350 lbs. A mountain of a man, hands the size of a ham... Gentle giant... you know the type.
One morning, Chuck and Faye came over to our cabin for a visit, and after a few cups of coffee, and some small talk, they asked if they could buy a hunting knife for Garry as a retirement gift. They said they wanted it to be made by both Haley and I if that was possible, but when I showed them the hunter I had already made, it was agreed unanimously that it was the perfect knife for Garry.
That took care of that, but once again, I had no knife for Chuck. But we did know that he wanted a colaboration by Haley and I.
Next day, we got to work on our first colaboration...
Haley fired up "Smaug" the damascus forge and oiled up "Gimli" the 50 lb Little Giant.... A few hours of fire and force...and out popped a bar of 300 layer Damascus, which she then turned over to me... I patterned, and pounded, and cussed and sweated, and all of a sudden a hunter was born. I finished the blade and heat treated it that night. Next day I sanded it and began to fit the guard and hunt up a handle. I put my name on one side, and Haley put hers on the other. Our first real colaboration... It was all going along swimmingly, and Haley had bugun to fit up a sheath for it....
Chuck had mentioned some weeks past that he really wanted to watch me fit the handle on a knife, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to invite him up to watch while I finished the knife (secretly planning on giving it to him when it was done)...
Chuck came over, and I began to explain the process as I fit on the guard, and the fileworked spacer, and the handle. It was going really smoothly, and then I made the capital mistake of talking too long... and the epoxy cured when the handle was only half way on... Okay, stay calm... Don't throw a man-tantrum... Some frantic cleaning with acetone, and a quick scraping out the handle...again... and I was ready to glue it on again. Chuck didn't seem to realize that this wasn't just part of the process, and was really enjoying the show. Okay, try again... It all went fine this time, and it turned out perfect. I wiped the handle down and handed it to Chuck. I could tell that he really liked the knife, so I said "There you go, now you can make Garry jealous because your's is fancier" It seemed to take a long time for him to realize what had just happened, then he said "What did you say?" I told him it was his, in gratitude for all the help he had given us over the years. He actually got choked up and gave us a great big hug, but couldn't take his eyes off the knife. It felt wonderful to be able to give something back after all the years.
Garry came up later that week, and Chuck presented him with his knife. I guess the reaction was pretty much the same...
The two old friends are right now at the writing of this post on their way to go Elk hunting... with brand new cutters.
I hope others will feel free to chime in with their own "Blade Tales"
Adam-
Chuck's is the knife on top of the other and belongs to the lower sheath with Haley's taste for grinding copper rivets into diamonds.
Here is a little story about some great guys and the couple of hunters made for them.
Because we live out in the remote Alaskan Bush, it stands to reason that our neighbors are few and far between. Because of this, it is usually the case that strong relationships are formed between neighbors. Hopefully they are of the good kind, because the bad ones can get very dangerous.... (picture two fiercely bearded and independent old trappers who hate each other...)
This story is about a good one.
Our neighbor, Chuck is in his late 60's. He has done just about everything. From serving his country in the Navy, to flying bush planes in Alaska, to driving trucks, to beng the principal, and superintendent of schools all over Alaska and Washington State. He is an avid hunter, fisherman, and the best neighbor I could ask for. He has helped me personally out of many a tight spot, and I'm pretty sure that everone for miles around can say the same. The Man is tough as nails, with a heart of gold.
Chuck, and his wonderful wife Faye, are now retired, and spend most of their winters riding four-wheelers all over the desert states, having a terrific time. Every spring when they arive back in Alaska to spend the summers, Chuck is faithful to bring me pieces of Desert Ironwood from his adventures in Arizona, or antlers from the hunts he has been on. He has always been there to lend a hand, or loan a tool.
It occured to me some years back to make Chuck a knife as a thank you gift for all the things he has done to help me out in the past. Well, I was always too busy or had some other excuse not to make his knife.... I was finally getting around to it this summer... I had made a knife with Chuck in mind, and it turned out great, except I thought the handle was a little too big...
Enter Big Garry Green...
This year, Chuck's best friend, Garry, another terrific human being was retiring from being the superintendent of schools in central Washington for the last 30 years or so. Garry comes to visit here in Alaska every summer, and I have had the pleasure of getting to know him over the last 15 years or so. He is 6 foot 8 and probably 350 lbs. A mountain of a man, hands the size of a ham... Gentle giant... you know the type.
One morning, Chuck and Faye came over to our cabin for a visit, and after a few cups of coffee, and some small talk, they asked if they could buy a hunting knife for Garry as a retirement gift. They said they wanted it to be made by both Haley and I if that was possible, but when I showed them the hunter I had already made, it was agreed unanimously that it was the perfect knife for Garry.
That took care of that, but once again, I had no knife for Chuck. But we did know that he wanted a colaboration by Haley and I.
Next day, we got to work on our first colaboration...
Haley fired up "Smaug" the damascus forge and oiled up "Gimli" the 50 lb Little Giant.... A few hours of fire and force...and out popped a bar of 300 layer Damascus, which she then turned over to me... I patterned, and pounded, and cussed and sweated, and all of a sudden a hunter was born. I finished the blade and heat treated it that night. Next day I sanded it and began to fit the guard and hunt up a handle. I put my name on one side, and Haley put hers on the other. Our first real colaboration... It was all going along swimmingly, and Haley had bugun to fit up a sheath for it....
Chuck had mentioned some weeks past that he really wanted to watch me fit the handle on a knife, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to invite him up to watch while I finished the knife (secretly planning on giving it to him when it was done)...
Chuck came over, and I began to explain the process as I fit on the guard, and the fileworked spacer, and the handle. It was going really smoothly, and then I made the capital mistake of talking too long... and the epoxy cured when the handle was only half way on... Okay, stay calm... Don't throw a man-tantrum... Some frantic cleaning with acetone, and a quick scraping out the handle...again... and I was ready to glue it on again. Chuck didn't seem to realize that this wasn't just part of the process, and was really enjoying the show. Okay, try again... It all went fine this time, and it turned out perfect. I wiped the handle down and handed it to Chuck. I could tell that he really liked the knife, so I said "There you go, now you can make Garry jealous because your's is fancier" It seemed to take a long time for him to realize what had just happened, then he said "What did you say?" I told him it was his, in gratitude for all the help he had given us over the years. He actually got choked up and gave us a great big hug, but couldn't take his eyes off the knife. It felt wonderful to be able to give something back after all the years.
Garry came up later that week, and Chuck presented him with his knife. I guess the reaction was pretty much the same...
The two old friends are right now at the writing of this post on their way to go Elk hunting... with brand new cutters.
I hope others will feel free to chime in with their own "Blade Tales"
Adam-
Chuck's is the knife on top of the other and belongs to the lower sheath with Haley's taste for grinding copper rivets into diamonds.
