A question for R. W. 'Ron' Clark...

Melvin-Purvis

Melvin-Purvis

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I posted this over in the Knife Maker's forum, but I'm not sure if Ron is still making knives, as I haven't heard from him in a bit, so thought I'd post it here as well...
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Ron,

Being that we're coming up on the two year mark since I handed over my Cold Steel Trailmaster to be reprofiled, rehandled, and resheathed, and over two months since you last said it would be shipped 'tomorrow', I'd like you to tell me when it's actually going to be shipped?

Better yet, I'd like you to just put it in a box, and put the box in the mail...UPS can take it from there ;)

I realize that you've had a pretty rough go of it for the last few years, what with your business being in a slump and all, but I'm stickin with ya here buddy, and haven't completely given up hope that you'll still (someday) keep your word and return my knife...

Anyhoo, being that it's been finished for what, "six months now" as you said when we spoke last; if it's not too much to ask, would you mind terribly just putting it in a box and sending it back?

Thanks a bunch, your biggest fan,

Sheldon Wickersham
 
How you doing Shel?

Ron has posted recently and is the moderator of the Simonich Knives LLC forum. If I remember correctly he is not doing much custom work. I think he has started producing some Mid-Tech knives, but maybe that hasn't gotten off the ground yet, I'm not sure.
 
Well, I can clearly see that my subtle attempt at humor went zinging right over...;)

Whatcha gonna do in a situation like this? I like Ron, I really do, he's a hell of a nice guy, and he does fine work too. But, whatcha gonna do? I call the guy, I email, I'm polite as hell, never call him names...

Always the same deal; Hi Ron, this is Sheldon, it's 2:30 PM on Thursday, June 23rd, (or whatever day) just calling to check on the status of my knife. Please give me a call when you have a chance, thanks...

Once a month, over a dozen calls..nothing, no response, no reply...

I use the same spiel; never getting angry, never getting upset, never being harrassing or uncool...just patiently waiting for a call back, or better yet, my knife to arrive in the mail...

Ya know, I bought that knife here on this forum from FrankDL, it arrived two days later, and within 12 hours I'd shipped it off to Ron...that was almost two years ago now...

So, again I ask, whatcha gonna do? How would 'you' handle this situation differently without coming across as a complete and total a-hole?

Shoot, he could tell me he shipped it off to Cliff and I'd be perfectly happy, he could say he's using it as a door jamb and that might even work (I'd want back the $100 I paid for the knife of course), but nothing, after nearly two years?

I dunno, whatcha gonna do...

Shel
 
Lets set a few things straight.

First off it has not been two years. I did some work on it and gave it back to you at Blade "04. You then asked me to do the re-handle and new sheath. I turned the job down because I was too busy. You said,

"no problem, take as much time as you like no hurry what so ever. I won't call or in any other way bug you about it. Just ship it when its done and I will pay you."

Hey, its a fun little job. I can do it whenever it fits my schedule. Fine, I took the job.

Your calls have been answered, when I know its you. It says right on my cell phone message that I do not answer privately listed (called ID blocked) numbers. Hang up dial *82 and re-dial, pretty simple. I normally don't answer the shop phone because I can't hear it if machines are running (almost always). Do I instantly return you messages? No. But considering that the job was taken on the bases that I would not be bugged about it like I have been I don't see it as an issue there. E-mails? None received.

When we last spoke the job was done and I could have shipped it. After looking it over a little I decided that there were a few things that could use some touch ups and that is where it is at right now.

So now you are making a major issue out of a job that was supposed to be done purely on MY time line. A job that has about 30hrs of labor in it that is costing you next to nothing. And you are trying to make me out to be some type of bad guy. DON'T THINK SO!

You want the knife fine. You can have it no charge. New dagger grind, blade finish, Randall style G10 handle, IWB sheath and all. Just know I am not happy with the sheath or blade finish and wanted to redo both. But at $60 for all the above work (buddy pricing) it was never at the top of my to do list.
 
Ron, I'm not trying to make you out to be a 'bad guy', far from it, I just want my property back. You contracted to do a job, you set the price, and I agreed. If you charge $60 for 30 hours of work, so be it, that's your business, and not my concern...

As for the Blade '04 comment, it was actually Blade West, after you'd had the knife for a nearly a year. When you attempted to hand it back then, you hadn't made the sheath, and you hadn't even touched the blade. That was not what we had agreed to, so I requsted then that you finish the job.

That was roughly a year ago, give or take a few months; but that's not the point. The point is, you've repeatedly said that it was finished, and that you'd ship it 'tomorrow', this for at least several months now...now as we lead into our second year!

As to phone messages, I've called both your numbers, and have always left my return number. As to email, you said ya never got it because your computer had crashed, "try again next week" you said...and I did, several times, with no more response to them than to my calls.

So don't go getting yourself all bunched up and defensive on me Ron, just do as you said you would and all will be fine ;)

As to free of charge, DON'T THINK SO! bud, we agreed to a price for a certain job, and I also agreed to pay you the additional later quoted price of $40 for the sheath. Our agreement was that when you delivered the knife, I'd send you the $100...this is what we finally agreed to.

That was the deal Ron, that's exactly what we agreed to, and as far as I'm concerned, that part hasn't changed a bit. Why would you try to change the deal at this late stage of the game? More importantly, and back to my original question...

When can I expect delivery of the knife?

Sheldon Wickersham
 
You have a funny head for time frames.

Since you are airing the for all then they all should know the real facts not just your side.

You gave me two knives at Oregon. A totally screwed up CS that some other maker had hacked on a bench grinder that you wanted repaired, rehandled and re-sheathed and the Trailmaster you wanted re-handled. Both were delivered at the following Blade in Atlanta. You then wanted the additional work done on the TM. We already covered that. Right before the following Blade West you requisted it back because I was taking to long and you wanted another maker to do the job. When I gave you the knife back you changed your mind and asked me to continue on with the job. I told you again THEN that I could be some time before it was done. You agreed.

For a project that was to be on my time frame and with no head aches or "where's my knife calls" this is turning into a huge headache with alot of "where's my knife calls". The damn knife is on its way. I am not sending the sheath because I am not happy with it.

Don't ask me for any other projects.
 
It was a Burr King, 1 1/2 HP variable speed on a 10" wheel. I also bead blasted it for him. I did it as a favor to Shel, and told him that it was not going to look great when I was done. He accepted that. He gave me some cigars in gratitude, and I accepted that.

Hogging out heat treated steel is not my strong suit. Repairing messed up knives is. Just to set the record straight.

I only use Chris Kravitt to make my sheaths. He is the best leatherworker out there IMHO. Unless the maker offers a sheath, he is who I use. I can recommend him, Shel, it will probably run you about $60.00. Better to pay up,and get what you want, when you want it, than to take your chances. ;)

Word to the wise. I have no problem with R.W., and am not taking sides. Just recommending a way to solve the problem, where no one has a long term bad taste in their mouths.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
All of this should have been handled privately as it is a private matter. I do not believe that this should have been aired in the forums. We are not a jury to settle the issues involved here! ---Sandy---
 
Thanks Steve, ya did exactly what you said you'd do to the CS Recon, and I was quite happy with the job, and the two day turn around as well!

I was also happy with the finish work that Ron did on it too, including the nice sheath, though the 8 months it took to get that one back was a bit of a stretch...

Nonetheless, happy as I was with the finished product, when FrankDL put his CS Trailmaster up for sale (KFC, 7/3/03) I contacted Ron and asked if he'd like to do another, this time 'start to finish'. When he agreed, I bought the knife, and sent it straight up the next day...

Now Ron, just so we're clear, I have/had no intention of ever giving you or your name a bad rep. That's not my style...never was, never will be.

Yet, July will be two years on this one; I want(ed) it back, and you weren't returning my calls...feeling that I was out of options, I came here to your sand box and asked that you return my property...that's all.

But, if ya wanna put things into perspective, I've only been to Blade Atlanta once, and that was last year. I didn't see you there, period.

That said, it would have taken us both a lot less time if you had A: returned my call(s), or B: returned my knife. Don't think I set out to 'ruin your rep' Ron, as it seems you can do that part just fine without my help...

With regards to the sheath; if you're not sending the Kydex sheath I ordered, (the item that allegedly been holding up delivery for the last 8 months) then please return the leather sheath original to the knife.

Wishing you all the best Ron, good luck in your future endeavors,

Sheldon Wickersham
 
Shel, you are so full of it.

You were at Blade 2004. I gave you the TM and you gave it back for more work. Edna was there with you. I sat out on the loading dock smoking with you and her talking about you moving back up to Northern CA.

Do you really want me to disclose the personal details of that move to prove that you were there and we met and talked. It will only make you look worse than you already do.

Ya, you were never there and we never met. Just like I never aswered your calls. :rolleyes:
 
Wrapped, packed, labeled and postage paid going out with the rest of my shipping in the afternoon.

Just as important but being ignored by you is why are you lying and telling half truths about facts and details related to this deal. You have not addressed the fact that you broke the deal you made with me that caused me to even take the job in the first place. You twist and lie about times and dates (even whether or not you were there) to make yourself more creditable and then ignore them when I point out that you are lying.

You say you are not trying to make me out a bad guy? Then why all the spin and lies?
 
"In the end, no matter what, the most important thing about this is that your reputation, honor and dignity remain intact."

You could've learned a lot from Rob's words, but you didn't...:(

I've told no lies, I told it the way I remembered it, I told it the way it was.

You've sullied your own name here Ron Clark, not I. I simply asked that you return my property. It was you that made false statements, accusations, inflamatory remarks, name called, and even attempted to bring my family into your little charade. Did I do this? No Ron, you did...

And yet, the question remains..."Is it in the mail yet?"

Sheldon Wickersham
 
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