Before they were famous...;-)

[Gary W. Graley]

My wife was digging through old photo albums today and found one from MANY years ago where we stopped by Rick Hinderer's homestead for a visit and he summarily beat me with his kendo sword, I am the one in the kendo uniform taking the abuse, even with that on, it stung a bit!!! I had been to Ricks a few times before and also met him for the first time at the Ashokan Seminar where he and Hugh Bartrug MS of Ashley Forge, sadly he passed away in 2009, were at the same year.
Back in the day, Rick's home was in the milk house of the barn, he's since moved on, but while there, I slept in a sleeping bag on his kitchen floor one night ah...good times !

Rick is as down to earth kind of guy you are ever likely to meet, he's done a lot for the knife community in general, innovated some things for folders such as Lockbar Stabilizer and as most know, has some very great designs that are seen in production by ZT as well as his own custom folders/knives.

I can not remember the year these were taken but, it has been a VERY long time ago, pardon the poor images as the old photo album I could not peel the plastic back to remove the photos and had to try and shoot through the glare. Another thing of the past, not many people print out photos and store them in albums, that should change as I feel we really lose a lot of memories by 'storing' them on a drive some where!

Here's a shot of Rick and his wife Lori and her pup.

He sure had a head of hair back then !

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

I haven't seen Rick in many years now but always think of him and that he was kind enough to have me stay the one time and of course willing to beat me up in front of my wife also pizza, they knew a great pizza place that they got one night too.

So, if any of you folks know other makers before they were famous, please feel free to share.
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[BladeScout]

Excellent story - great pics.

No claim to fame here but quite a few years ago, I stumbled over a knife posted by Lon Humphrey.

He had won a show with it and it was a beaut.

Lon is way more known today than back then - he has really put his nose - and knives - to the grind stone and has made strides.

He has quite his own distinctive style.

Lot of brut de forge. Nice!

The show winning Bowie is the bottom knife in this pic:

As I really really liked the Bowie and needed a knife for pig sticking, I contacted Lon and he agreed to make me a knife with some variations, that I liked.

In the pic above, Lon is seen with my knife as well (top knife).

I remember Lon mentioned, that he had seen an old knife with spheres at each end of guard.

He decided to put these balls on the guard of my knife, because according to Lon: Anybody who sticks hogs with a knife got to have ..... (lets say) ..spheres.

I drove up and picked up the knife at Lon's place and was bowled over by the knife.

Lon and I went to lunch and had a great time.

I then drove the rest of the day and through the night to go hog hunting in another state.

Had an fantastic time and the knife functioned way way above my expectations.

The big Bowie sliced its way though like stabbing water.

Yes, a smaller knife could have done the job but I wanted THAT one.

I couldnt be happier with the knife.

This was years ago and many Lon Humphrey knives ago.

He has had even more momentum since then.

Truly a knife, that I treasure.

 

[Kreyzhorse]

Great post Gary.

 

[Rhind64]

Wow Gary! Unreal that you still have those photos! Yes that was a long time ago! How have you been buddy! I sure loved practicing Kendo and really miss my days in it! Someday maybe I will take it up again! Anytime you back in Ohio please stop by! We are not to far from that barn! Haha

Rick Hinderer

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Nice Rick! And yes a long time ago, I think I still have a bruise
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