Disturbing Damascus Fraud

Originally posted by samwereb:
Guys,

I'm sorry for posting two replies, but this is bothering me and I can't go to sleep.

I hope Ron plays hardball with this guy. It would be a service to all of us:

I have found an overwhelming amount of suuport and generosity among those knifemakers I have met so far. I am often thinking about it, and have concluded that the "society" is so open because there is so much goodwill among you. I, for instance, have myself been working lately with a world-class maker on a project which is very important to me. I have used a good deal of his time, experience and talent, none of which I could have come up with on my own. If not for his goodwill, I'd be stuck at an impasse even now. Yet, all I had to do was to call him and ask for help! Had he been screwed like that, one too many times, He'd have turned me away. But, he did not.

Guys like this perpetrator are cancer. Cut it out, stomp it out, burn it out, whatever it takes. Ron, I volunteer to help.

[This message has been edited by samwereb (edited 09-16-2000).]
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Ron, personally, if I knew you made the damascus, it would be worth more to me. I understand your reasons for not naming the person. Even though there is some good in all men, sometimes it is a small amount and is overwhelmed by greed.
Since my memory cells are full most of the time (or I lost it), I would have kept the piece and at some later date when the pattern had become ingrained in my brain, maybe made a nice knife from it and gave it back as a gift.
There is not enough room on this page to name those that have helped me in attaining my present skills of making knives. I will always appreciate that fact.
My advice, call him, then make up your mind and do it. The longer the uncertainty, the harder it is.

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Ray Kirk
http://www.tah-usa.net/raker
 
Ron,

Totally off the subject, but I just picked up my first Newton...its a beauty!!!

View


Thanks!

-Michael


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Chefget's Knife Page
Kitchen Management software
 
Samwereb said this:

Do not post his name on this or any site, for the time being. You will be vulnerable to a slander suit if you do.
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I do not believe this to be correct. First of all, slander refers to the spoken word, libel to the written word.

Secondly, to constitute either slander or libel, two criteria must be met:

First, the information spoken or published must be incorrect, and the person who spoke or published the information must know it to be incorrect.

Secondly, the dissemination of the information must be done with the intent to harm the person to whom the information refers.

Walt
 
An interesting situation, and one that happens a;; too often. Someone shares information, techniques, sources, methods, technical data, only to have it passed off as original thought by the recipient. This is the first time I have heard of actual steel being misused in such a way though.

I would confront the individual first, honestly, bluntly, and then see what happens.

Do you guys all really feel so judgemental ? There seems to be a "hang 'em high" attitude about things, and a tendency to condemn based on hearsay (not that any of this is unfounded). I just wonder, have we all been so upright and unstained as to be rightly able to condemn so easily those who make mistakes of judgement and behaviour ? I am not judging anyone here, either, by the way, just asking. Something to think about.

I would talk to the guy in question first, in person, and tell him that it hurts and pissed you off all at the same time, Ron. What happens after that is up to him, and then you. You need to get it off your chest with the guy in question who is the problem. What happens after that will show the character of the individual.
 
Hi Ron. I saw some of your work at the Spring Hammer-In in Washington. I'd never seen any mosaic damascus until then. Truly a work of art you should be proud of. I'm like you. I'd just learn from my mistake and move on. There's always more damascus to be made.

This guy that stole your work, he won't be around for long. The knife making/buying community won't tolerate those kind of ethics. And even if he's sneaky, he'll be identified for what he is. you don't have to expose him and hurt his business. He's already done that. (There's always the chance that he didn't realize what he'd done until it was too late to take it back). What goes around, comes around.

You were a victim of a money grubber of the worst variety, but your good name is unsmeared in all of this. Court schmort. That kind of thinking is what got this country into the mess it's in right now. The wheels of justice can't even begin to compare with the the burden of guilt that individual will carry around for the rest of his life. Keep it private, and it will work out to your best interest. My opinion, for what it's worth.

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M.Ogg

"It's better to be thought a fool and remain silent, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt"
 
Ron, it's noble of you not to want to hurt someone else or his business, but consider this. You need to protect future potential buyers and your own business by making sure that the products sold with your name on them are up to your quality standards and are not misrepresented in any way. If I bought a Newton blade that some yahoo cobbled a handle onto, a.) I'd have a "Newton" that was a POS, b.) I'd let everyone see this "Newton" and judge for themselves what it's true value was.

Sorry, but it's time to CYA.

Ron
"It's easier to chain the dog."
 
Ron,
I got an Idea!!! post the picture. everyone ought to get a kick outta that
wink.gif
 
Howard,
I can appreciate your willingness to play the devil's advocate in this matter. My only rebuttal would be that I believe we have already been given a little insight into the character of this as yet unnamed individual. Not to belabor the point, but all that Ron asked for in return for his time, effort and expertise was that credit be given where credit was due. Yet even this simple request was intentionally ignored. I think most folks around here tend to take a much harsher stance against sins of commission versus sins of ommission. And before anybody gets accused of yanking out the old noose, I'd ask that you remember how BFC members are generally a very forgiving lot whenever someone comes forward and acknowledges their mistakes.

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Semper Fi

-Bill
 
I say let us know this person's name and where it is posted so we can see who NOT to deal with. I know some people say no, but dammit (sorry) it is your work and your time. If it was not for your generosity this guy would be in a different place. So please let us know who this unscupulous person is so we can stay clear!

I mean I don't know your Dam. well enogh to say that's not your to the guy and would not want to buy a knife that was made with such a premise. At least keep up informed on what this guy says about it!

Paul

Sorry I hate thieves of any type!
 
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