Kohai999
Second Degree Cutter
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2003
- Messages
- 12,554
Hey everyone!
Continue to be blessed with decent health, a beautiful and loving wife and the best of friends, truly far above what I deserve!
SHOT in January this year was pretty amazing, was working with Rob Thomas Damascus at the time, and we had some excellent meetings. Roomed with R.J. Martin on Wednesday and Thursday nights, we walked the show together on Friday morning, and had a tremendously good time. Scored some cool Adventure Medical products at the show, as well as the Aitor Jungle King I that I have been coveting since I was about 18 directly from the manufacturer. Matt Diskin and Gavin Hawk were making fun of me back at the room, but John Gray was on hand to share in my joy.....Matt had his big Flipper frame lock on hand, and I got to pick out my personal favorite. We had dinner that night at Caesar's Bacchanal buffet, it was an exceptionally good time!
On Saturday, we all went to the Las Vegas Knife Show/Antique Arms & Armor. I picked up a coin silver Waltham pocketwatch from 1889....it can be seen here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1280604-Peanut-with-a-bail?highlight=waltham
Most of us attended the TKI knife show, didn't get drawn for anything, but won a Greg Lightfoot straight razor in a silent auction, and that is a beauty!
That turned into a new, short-lived obsession, and now I have the Waltham, two Victorinox quartz pocket watches, one date, one not, a Russian nickel silver over brass version, and a 1966 21J Model 15 Stainless Steel Case Hamilton 992B w/24 Hour Melamine dial. Luckily, it has seen minimal sun and is holding up well, my watch repair guy advised that it should maintain it's condition as long as it stays out of sunlight, so that made me happy.
Blade Show was an excellent time....except I got really sick on Saturday and that put me out of commission, which really sucked. As many of you have read my ramblings over the years, you know that happened once before....not a terrible track record considering that I have attended probably 10 Blade shows at this point, but still. Was fortunate enough to have been asked to participate in the judging for the "Best of.." contest with Bruce Voyles and Mike Donato this year....and as before, it was a fun and educational experience.....would also point out that Rob Thomas Damascus had their best year in sales at Blade this year....take that for what it is worth. Spending time with Allen Elishewitz, Stephen from South Africa and Gus Kalanzis showing his most superb Vince Evans Baskethilt sword was one of the highest points of the show.
Got to see so many friends at Blade that it just continues to be one of my favorite shows. My tattoo mentor and all around "fake Dad" from Seattle, P.A. Stephens was able to make it to Blade....don't know when I will see him again, but it was excellent to be able to have the shared experience.
Picked up a neat and VERY sharp Johnny Stout liner lock, a couple Italian autos and some various odds and ends at the show, including a Matt Cuchiarra F-Bomb as a gift from Neil Ostroff that means the world to me, for a variety of reasons...those of you in the know........know why.
Got a cool Dan Keffeler knife that really made me happy with overall execution and setup....it can be seen here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...hi(aka-sword-tip)?highlight=keffeller+aikuchi
Left Rob Thomas Damascus in July, and Rob left his own company in October or so....again, take that for what it is worth, but understand that Rob Thomas Damascus no longer has Rob Thomas working at the company.
Did the Plaza Show, my good friend Adam and I have been doing interviews of knifemakers, you can see the action here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAvSCwPwK8aGncN2VQm2ZLg
Picked up a very cool Steve Kelly Gulo in marbled carbon fiber and zirconium with Chad Nichols Damascus, a Darrin Thomas gent's folder and a CRK 25 with micarta inserts which I have been carrying, and have to admit, I like it very much..
You can clearly see that this has been a great year for acquisitions...but it has been a much better year in friendship. Have really developed strong friendships with knifemakers Adam/Haley DesRosiers and Ben Seward and collector Rich Slaughter, which have been fantasic. I don't pick up friends easily.....I keep the ones that I already have forever, but new friends are few and far between...those of you who know me and my personality know why.
In summation, it's really been awesome to be part of the human race for me this year, even with all the crap the world is going through, and I'm optomistic for 2016.
Happy Holidays to you all, and feel free to share your happy or less than happy stories as well.
Closing on a less than happy note, but have to remember....RIP...John White 10/4/14...your loss is still fresh to many of us.....Joe Kious 12/4/14....gone far too soon........Legend/Great Man Chuck Buck 2/6/15, he was 78, and lastly, my buddy Brandon....you'll be missed.....
Thanks everyone, and Best Regards,
STeven Garsson
Continue to be blessed with decent health, a beautiful and loving wife and the best of friends, truly far above what I deserve!
SHOT in January this year was pretty amazing, was working with Rob Thomas Damascus at the time, and we had some excellent meetings. Roomed with R.J. Martin on Wednesday and Thursday nights, we walked the show together on Friday morning, and had a tremendously good time. Scored some cool Adventure Medical products at the show, as well as the Aitor Jungle King I that I have been coveting since I was about 18 directly from the manufacturer. Matt Diskin and Gavin Hawk were making fun of me back at the room, but John Gray was on hand to share in my joy.....Matt had his big Flipper frame lock on hand, and I got to pick out my personal favorite. We had dinner that night at Caesar's Bacchanal buffet, it was an exceptionally good time!
On Saturday, we all went to the Las Vegas Knife Show/Antique Arms & Armor. I picked up a coin silver Waltham pocketwatch from 1889....it can be seen here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1280604-Peanut-with-a-bail?highlight=waltham
Most of us attended the TKI knife show, didn't get drawn for anything, but won a Greg Lightfoot straight razor in a silent auction, and that is a beauty!
That turned into a new, short-lived obsession, and now I have the Waltham, two Victorinox quartz pocket watches, one date, one not, a Russian nickel silver over brass version, and a 1966 21J Model 15 Stainless Steel Case Hamilton 992B w/24 Hour Melamine dial. Luckily, it has seen minimal sun and is holding up well, my watch repair guy advised that it should maintain it's condition as long as it stays out of sunlight, so that made me happy.
Blade Show was an excellent time....except I got really sick on Saturday and that put me out of commission, which really sucked. As many of you have read my ramblings over the years, you know that happened once before....not a terrible track record considering that I have attended probably 10 Blade shows at this point, but still. Was fortunate enough to have been asked to participate in the judging for the "Best of.." contest with Bruce Voyles and Mike Donato this year....and as before, it was a fun and educational experience.....would also point out that Rob Thomas Damascus had their best year in sales at Blade this year....take that for what it is worth. Spending time with Allen Elishewitz, Stephen from South Africa and Gus Kalanzis showing his most superb Vince Evans Baskethilt sword was one of the highest points of the show.
Got to see so many friends at Blade that it just continues to be one of my favorite shows. My tattoo mentor and all around "fake Dad" from Seattle, P.A. Stephens was able to make it to Blade....don't know when I will see him again, but it was excellent to be able to have the shared experience.
Picked up a neat and VERY sharp Johnny Stout liner lock, a couple Italian autos and some various odds and ends at the show, including a Matt Cuchiarra F-Bomb as a gift from Neil Ostroff that means the world to me, for a variety of reasons...those of you in the know........know why.
Got a cool Dan Keffeler knife that really made me happy with overall execution and setup....it can be seen here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...hi(aka-sword-tip)?highlight=keffeller+aikuchi
Left Rob Thomas Damascus in July, and Rob left his own company in October or so....again, take that for what it is worth, but understand that Rob Thomas Damascus no longer has Rob Thomas working at the company.
Did the Plaza Show, my good friend Adam and I have been doing interviews of knifemakers, you can see the action here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAvSCwPwK8aGncN2VQm2ZLg
Picked up a very cool Steve Kelly Gulo in marbled carbon fiber and zirconium with Chad Nichols Damascus, a Darrin Thomas gent's folder and a CRK 25 with micarta inserts which I have been carrying, and have to admit, I like it very much..
You can clearly see that this has been a great year for acquisitions...but it has been a much better year in friendship. Have really developed strong friendships with knifemakers Adam/Haley DesRosiers and Ben Seward and collector Rich Slaughter, which have been fantasic. I don't pick up friends easily.....I keep the ones that I already have forever, but new friends are few and far between...those of you who know me and my personality know why.
In summation, it's really been awesome to be part of the human race for me this year, even with all the crap the world is going through, and I'm optomistic for 2016.
Happy Holidays to you all, and feel free to share your happy or less than happy stories as well.
Closing on a less than happy note, but have to remember....RIP...John White 10/4/14...your loss is still fresh to many of us.....Joe Kious 12/4/14....gone far too soon........Legend/Great Man Chuck Buck 2/6/15, he was 78, and lastly, my buddy Brandon....you'll be missed.....
Thanks everyone, and Best Regards,
STeven Garsson
