Jaxx
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- Joined
- Jan 18, 2006
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Folks, This story is sad but true...
I entered the Bose lottery on Friday 5/31/13.
To my amazement, Jason Morrow, who was calling the names of the winners, called my name on the one off elephant ivory & Don Hanson damascus single blade Tony Bose Zulu Spear. I called out, and was seen by Jason, so I hung back while the other drawing winners were called, and waited while the crowd dispersed and the winners settled up. As the crowd thinned, I moved to the side and got my money ready, as well as a list of questions concerning the best ways to care for this incredibly beautiful knife. A moment later, I approached to pay for my score, and to my dismay, it appears that some unscrupulous individual decided to pull some slimy moves, including misrepresenting himself as me, and poached the Zulu out from under me before I had a chance to pay for, or even handle the knife I won the chance to own. I went from high elation to gut-punched shock and dismay in 2.2 seconds...as I'm sure y'all can understand.
To clarify, the Zulu was paid for, just not by who was chosen to own it...
:thumbdn:
I'm asking anyone and everyone to PLEASE be on the lookout for this knife as it will be readily and easily identifiable, especially with the unique damascus used for its blade. I want this individual to make it right with Mr. Bose as this person chose to poach it without any concern for the Boses and their reputation, nor to the person who played fair & square and by the rules of their lottery to win the chance to own it... That would be me. Fortunately, Jason Morrow has met me before, knows me here, knows the Boses really well, and was able to verify not only that I was chosen, but for which knife. Since I only entered for the knives I knew that I would keep if given the chance to own, I didn't pay attention to which it was, and was way in the back of all those who attended the drawing where I couldn't see them well anyway. Since I would have been happy with any of the 6 or 7 knives out of 18 or so I entered for, let alone this incredible example of extremely fine craftsmanship from a true master maker, that wasn't a concern as any of those would have made my year.
PLEASE contact me through BladeForums if you see this knife. PLEASE spread the word that this knife is to be considered "hot" and should be avoided if offered for sale. I am still working on obtaining a pic of the actual Zulu, and believe that I should have one shortly from Mr. Bose to post here. But again, it was a beautiful piece of ivory and some incredible damascus from Mr. Hanson that Mr. Bose turned into one of the finest droolworthy slipjoints I've ever seen, in pix or otherwise.
TO THE PERSON WHO POACHED THE ZULU:
IF you happen to read this... Since you did pay for the knife, you still have a chance to contact the Boses and do the right thing. I strongly suggest that you take this opportunity. You KNOW that if it turns up somewhere, the trail back to you will be quickly traveled and the whole knife community will know your name in a way that no one in their right mind would want. If you decide to blow off your chance, take a moment and ask yourself... Just how many video survellance cameras are in the Cobb Convention Center? (Yes, I'm already in touch with the Center's security.) How many of those attending saw you buy the ONE OF A KIND Zulu and will remember you clearly as the (false) winner of that particular knife?? How much cash might I offer as a reward to find you or the knife??? Eventually, someone will come forward with the information needed to find you. Keep in mind that this isn't business for me...it's personal. :grumpy: ...Do the right thing and avoid the karma and possible destruction of your reputation in the knife community and contact the Boses to return the knife. If you return it, and if Mr. Bose verifies that it is returned in the very same condition as it was at the Show, then I will guarantee the reimbursement to you the table price of the knife...$1800. What Mr. Bose decides to do with it after its return is entirely up to him.
Thank you, everyone, for taking the time to read this. I hope it reads OK as I am days without sleep and still very upset over the audacity of the individual who KNOWS that they did wrong. I SHOULD ALSO STATE CLEARLY that I hold no ill will towards the Boses... Actually, quite the opposite, in fact! ...Nor should they in any way be considered responsible for the actions of the poacher who knew what they were doing, and apparently came to the lottery prepared to pay almost $2000 in cash for a knife one way or another. Mr Tony Bose met with me on Saturday and is every bit the honorable gentleman that he is reputed to be. Even meeting him and just shaking his hand was an honor for me. I'm most likely preaching to the choir on this point, but I feel that it should be made absolutely clear.
Peregrin & knarfeng: Thank you for allowing me to post this BOLO here in your Traditional Knives forum. I very much appreciate it!
ETA: This is the Zulu Spear in question...
Photo Attribution: Kerry
"Post this wherever you like Alex. It's the only Zulu I have made with Don's Damascus. I've made some with nickel Damascus before but Don's is completely different. It is possible there are 2 people with the same name but not likely. Good luck.
Tony Bose Knifemaker"
Man, he is such a class act. :thumbup: What a pleasure it was to talk with him at the show. Thank you, Mr. Bose!
Respectfully,
Alexander (Alex) Churchman
I entered the Bose lottery on Friday 5/31/13.
To my amazement, Jason Morrow, who was calling the names of the winners, called my name on the one off elephant ivory & Don Hanson damascus single blade Tony Bose Zulu Spear. I called out, and was seen by Jason, so I hung back while the other drawing winners were called, and waited while the crowd dispersed and the winners settled up. As the crowd thinned, I moved to the side and got my money ready, as well as a list of questions concerning the best ways to care for this incredibly beautiful knife. A moment later, I approached to pay for my score, and to my dismay, it appears that some unscrupulous individual decided to pull some slimy moves, including misrepresenting himself as me, and poached the Zulu out from under me before I had a chance to pay for, or even handle the knife I won the chance to own. I went from high elation to gut-punched shock and dismay in 2.2 seconds...as I'm sure y'all can understand.
To clarify, the Zulu was paid for, just not by who was chosen to own it...
:thumbdn:I'm asking anyone and everyone to PLEASE be on the lookout for this knife as it will be readily and easily identifiable, especially with the unique damascus used for its blade. I want this individual to make it right with Mr. Bose as this person chose to poach it without any concern for the Boses and their reputation, nor to the person who played fair & square and by the rules of their lottery to win the chance to own it... That would be me. Fortunately, Jason Morrow has met me before, knows me here, knows the Boses really well, and was able to verify not only that I was chosen, but for which knife. Since I only entered for the knives I knew that I would keep if given the chance to own, I didn't pay attention to which it was, and was way in the back of all those who attended the drawing where I couldn't see them well anyway. Since I would have been happy with any of the 6 or 7 knives out of 18 or so I entered for, let alone this incredible example of extremely fine craftsmanship from a true master maker, that wasn't a concern as any of those would have made my year.
PLEASE contact me through BladeForums if you see this knife. PLEASE spread the word that this knife is to be considered "hot" and should be avoided if offered for sale. I am still working on obtaining a pic of the actual Zulu, and believe that I should have one shortly from Mr. Bose to post here. But again, it was a beautiful piece of ivory and some incredible damascus from Mr. Hanson that Mr. Bose turned into one of the finest droolworthy slipjoints I've ever seen, in pix or otherwise.
TO THE PERSON WHO POACHED THE ZULU:
IF you happen to read this... Since you did pay for the knife, you still have a chance to contact the Boses and do the right thing. I strongly suggest that you take this opportunity. You KNOW that if it turns up somewhere, the trail back to you will be quickly traveled and the whole knife community will know your name in a way that no one in their right mind would want. If you decide to blow off your chance, take a moment and ask yourself... Just how many video survellance cameras are in the Cobb Convention Center? (Yes, I'm already in touch with the Center's security.) How many of those attending saw you buy the ONE OF A KIND Zulu and will remember you clearly as the (false) winner of that particular knife?? How much cash might I offer as a reward to find you or the knife??? Eventually, someone will come forward with the information needed to find you. Keep in mind that this isn't business for me...it's personal. :grumpy: ...Do the right thing and avoid the karma and possible destruction of your reputation in the knife community and contact the Boses to return the knife. If you return it, and if Mr. Bose verifies that it is returned in the very same condition as it was at the Show, then I will guarantee the reimbursement to you the table price of the knife...$1800. What Mr. Bose decides to do with it after its return is entirely up to him.
Thank you, everyone, for taking the time to read this. I hope it reads OK as I am days without sleep and still very upset over the audacity of the individual who KNOWS that they did wrong. I SHOULD ALSO STATE CLEARLY that I hold no ill will towards the Boses... Actually, quite the opposite, in fact! ...Nor should they in any way be considered responsible for the actions of the poacher who knew what they were doing, and apparently came to the lottery prepared to pay almost $2000 in cash for a knife one way or another. Mr Tony Bose met with me on Saturday and is every bit the honorable gentleman that he is reputed to be. Even meeting him and just shaking his hand was an honor for me. I'm most likely preaching to the choir on this point, but I feel that it should be made absolutely clear.
Peregrin & knarfeng: Thank you for allowing me to post this BOLO here in your Traditional Knives forum. I very much appreciate it!
ETA: This is the Zulu Spear in question...
Photo Attribution: Kerry
"Post this wherever you like Alex. It's the only Zulu I have made with Don's Damascus. I've made some with nickel Damascus before but Don's is completely different. It is possible there are 2 people with the same name but not likely. Good luck.
Tony Bose Knifemaker"
Man, he is such a class act. :thumbup: What a pleasure it was to talk with him at the show. Thank you, Mr. Bose!
Respectfully,
Alexander (Alex) Churchman
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Other than never being able to drive a Lamborghini, being tall definitely has it's perks.
