A Very Special Person

A

ASBOB

Joined
Feb 8, 2008
Messages
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Most of this was posted in the Sheath section, but this story is so special I wanted everyone to know.

Last year I got transverse myelitis, a rare auto immune disease that affects the spinal cord. It left me a hemiplegic, with my left side paralyzed.

Since then I’ve been looking for ways to make household tasks possible. Tasks like cutting my food. I started with an enlarged, weighted fork, then added an all serrated Endura. This combo worked reasonably well.

Someone on this forum suggested a Spyderco Maddox, and that worked great. I can now cut anything, and don’t need a special fork, either.

I liked it so much, I decided I wanted a sheath or carrying case, so I could take it to a restaurant, and not have to have my wife cut my food for me. So I asked in the Sheath section, who I should contact for a custom sheath, and how much it might be.

Paul Long of Texas replied. For those of you who don’t know, Paul is one of the premier custom sheathmakers in the country. He simply said he would make anything I wanted, and for free. Just because. As he put it in one of our phone conversations, “I like to surprise people.”

It just arrived, and my wife’s comment sums it up. “Oh my God,” she exclaimed, “It’s beautiful!” It is indeed a work of art.

Gratitude doesn’t sum up how I feel; I have tears in my eyes. I will let Paul have the honor of posting pictures, but I just wanted to acknowledge one of the world’s very special people.
 
That is outstanding man! I am not much of an internet type person and don't do the forum thing in general, but this place is the exception. The knife community is filled with great people. Any large group of people is bound to have more than a few assholes, but truly kind people are not a given. This kind of thing makes me glad i am part of such a community. There should be a vote for the coolest man of the year award on here, and Paul Long should be among the nominees.



(( Please watch your language in the General Knife Discussion, and all other discussion forums.
I have edited out two totally unnecessary and inappropriate terms. -- EB ))

Sorry. I got carried away in my enthusiasm.
 
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I am posting this picture for Bob to show the simple little sheath he is talking about. It gave me pleasure to do this for Bob.

Edited to add: the Spyderco is in the sheath (brown handle) and the Black handled version next to the sheath is the A.G. Russell version. they are both called Maddox and are essentially identical.
 
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Wow, that is beautiful work. That's an incredible gesture Paul. Congrats Bob on getting some useful tools to help you out. Kudos to Spyderco for their timeless designs.
 
that's a very nice story, thanks for sharing it.

i was going to ask what a spyderco maddox was, but now that i see the pic it looks like a leather making knife.

it never occurred to me a knife of that shape would be good for food.
 
Congratulations on the new sheath Bob. It is stories like these that make me so glad to be part of this community.
 
It's a lot like an ulu except the ulu generally has a broader blade and shorter handle, but the mechanics of using them are very similar.
 
This goes to show you that knife people are good people. I'm sure that making it and giving it to you was as much of a pleasure as receiving it.

By the way, if you have any other needs, let us know. I would be glad to help with anything you need in the way of household items, knives, etc.
 
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