I found the list of messages in my Email from Sonnerboomer with the dates, just to give a clearer picture.
For the record, I will point out I no longer believe the knife was made after I won the auction: The series of delays suggested this, but quite frankly I should not insinuate anything like this without proof...: My apologies to the maker on this issue... Even if the edge had some kind of trouble holding together, after I thinned it, the knife was still obviously the product of someone who knows what he is doing and is proud of it. I should have mentioned the seller's poor performance alone, without all this edge rolling issue: The only reason I did this is because I knew the seller was the maker's nephew.
I did attempt to communicate directly with the maker on his website, and I received no reply, which did not leave a favourable impression...: I had asked to confirm the Nephew's relationship to him, as that was the only thing that kept me from cancelling the transaction...
For an auction win, any large delay in shipping is not acceptable, so I should have stuck with a bad Ebay seller feedback and not drag the maker into this months later...: It was just an old post of mine that I came across that inspired this... Hopefully mentioning the edge problem or whatever it was will help solve a QC issue for the maker, but it wasn't really relevant to the main subject... It is just that the seller being a nephew, I amalgamated both issues as one...
Here the sequence (it was more like a four week delay, not six weeks)
YOU WON: Custom Andrew Clifford Lile style SLY 2 Rambo FB bowie survival knife bushcraft:
Pièces jointes:
Date: 06/09/15 à 18:00
First message: 09/09/15 (so a full 3 days later)
09/09/15 à 17:02
This member has a question for you.
Dear 2011gaston444,
My husband ordered an EZE LAP sharpener to go with this knife. I think it is supposed to be here tomorrow? He is out of town and not expected back until late tonight, early morning. I see he already mentioned that in the invoice. I think he needs to have his uncle sign the certificate of authenticity. He reprinted it onto better certificate paper, but Andy forgot to sign it. I just wanted to give you a heads up. -
- soonerboomer
Second message: 13/09/15, (seven days after winning):
Okay, in that case I will ship it out without having uncle Andy signing the certificate. I missed the post office yesterday as my trip ran over due to trouble with my motorcycle on our way home. I apologize. Anyhow, it is set to be picked up tomorrow by USPS. Thank you for the purchase, Gaston. I will follow up with tracking info. Contact me should you need to. -
- soonerboomer Click the Respond button to reply through Messages, or go to your email to reply
Respond
third message: 15/09/15, (nine days after winning the auction):
ETA: Wed. 16 Sep. - Wed. 23 Sep. to (my correct address).
eBay
Hi Gaston - Your order has shipped to (my correct address).
(that is weird that it was announced as shipped, when it turned out not to be)
Fourth message: 18/09/15 (twelve days after auction):
Dear 2011gaston444,
Gaston, Apparently there is a problem with shipping. I was not able to post the tracking info to the auction listing info. I was offline while our DSL is being re-installed.
PLEASE do not worry. I will get it taken care of. I have several of these knives, new/unused, and can send a replacement if needed. I sell unclaimed knives for my uncle, Andrew. We have you covered either way. We will talk more as soon as I get to the post office to find out what the deal is. I have communicated with you in regards to this knife before, I know you are a good person. I hope you have gotten the same impression from me? I value my ebay privileges and good reputation as a seller.
- soonerboomer
Fifth message: 24/09/15 (18 days after auction)
Dear 2011gaston444,
Gaston, The knife was mistakenly sent to another buyer (by mistake). I paid for the knife to be returned immediately. The recipient noticed the mistake and contacted me while he was AT the post office. He immediately put it back in the mail, he never opened it. I dropped it off after receiving it is now at the post office to be resent to you. I am sorry for the delay and mixup. I take full responsibility, however, it is uncle Andy's mistake. (the maker). I asked him to send the knife out as I was out of town. We work together. He stated that you can contact him directly and he will offer you a discount on any future purchase from him IF you should purchase in the future due to his mistake. We are both glad you won the knife. I do hope you enjoy it. You can check the tracking number under the auction/listing info in your buyer dashboard. I will check on it periodically myself. I am looking forward to doing more business with you, Gaston. Thank you for your patience and understanding as these things can happen. -Dan
- soonerboomer
sixth message: 26/09/15, (20 days after the auction):
Dear 2011gaston444,
Gaston, your knife/sheath have left the Los Angeles USPS carrier station and is on it's way to Canada. I will continue to monitor it's journey to you. Thanks again.... talk to you soon.
- soonerboomer
Seventh message: (also on the 26th):
Dear 2011gaston444,
It should be there by October 3rd. In my experience it should only take 3 days to clear customs, and it will be in Canadian customs by Tuesday. I'm sorry. It was an honest mistake on our part. This knife went 3 years unpaid. We waited for the buyer to round up the $750.00. By the anniversary of the 3rd year Andy had finally had enough of waiting. These are great user knives. I do hope you enjoy. I will keep in contact.....
- soonerboomer
eight (and last) message: (29/09/15):
Dear 2011gaston444,
The knife departed Montreal on the 27th, so it is on it's way to you. I will be listing another "rare" #1 ACK tonight.
What is strange is that during this whole time of following up, I do not remember ever getting a tracking number, and obviously that explains why he is updating me on the package progression... That in itself sounds fishy... Into October was the fourth week and the package came at least a full month and probably more late, I vaguely remember sometime in early October and a true figure of over 30 days...: It was not six weeks obviously, more like four, but still very strange for an item that was offered for bidding...
Again, I no longer believe the edge problem was a deliberate attempt to cheat me with a production shortcut. I do believe the edge problem was worse than any knife I have ever tested, even in the initial not-thinned condition, but with the knife heavily thinned out I felt I had no recourse (it was not outrageously thick to begin with, at about 0.040" behind the edge, but still too thick for me)
Hopefully the edge issue was a one-off accident: If there is nothing obviously wrong with your ACK's edge-holding while chopping, your knife is probably fine.
The lack of serial number (when one was promised in the auction) does add up to a long series of weird details... However I gave the knife away to my usual channel of knives that "don't make it", and I no longer want to think about this, or stir up any more trouble...: This will be my last post in this thread.
Hopefully the maker will find whatever was the cause of the edge issue, and his nephew will learn to auction only items that are immediately in hand...
Gaston
:dejection: There is the reason why the edge rolled lol. re-grounding HT blade = need for new HT plus changing the geometry omg
