For those who remember Uncle Bill

Nice story, Chris!
Welcome Back!
Some things have changed a bit here, but we try very hard to keep Uncles vision and philosophies alive thru this forum and in our interactions with one another.
 
Beautiful post. I wish I knew about Bill and HI before his passing, but I'm glad enough to at least be able read through the archives and catch glimpses of his wisdom.
 
I had an hour chat on the phone with Auntie and managed to hear Pala talking.
My goodness he has that commanding tone that immediately put lions on the tame mode.
During the conversation i mentioned just how regretful i am to know HI and never get a chance to chat with Uncle.

Auntie shared the story about one morning in California, (HI's old address)
Uncle suggested : Sherpa (Auntie was shocked as she was always addressed as Yangdu), we have to do something with the knife, we can help those Nepalese".
Auntie was happy enough if someone would buy the knife.
Who would have thought now "red waters" are common during the week?

The values that Uncle delivered through helping Kamis to better lives with their own skills as well as helping us to get the best khukuris AND improved our karmas are TRULY HUMBLING.Auntie is running that train ever smoother...as we all hope for the best of her biz to be.

Now that i thought, Bill Martino is a genius in marketing Nepal's finest.

We missed you, Uncle Bill.:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
Nice story Chris :thumbup:

Uncle Bill is the person who introduced me to the world of knives especially khukuris back in 1997. I read his threads and postings in the other forums. During that time HI is not in Bladeforums yet. I still remember name like Cliff Stamp, Yvsa, Rusty, Howard Wallace and others who frequently made postings in there.

I sent an email to Uncle Bill asking about khuk and saying that I want to buy one. At that time I know nothing about sending money to oversea nor about shipping of goods via USPS. He gave me all sort of advices and guidances. I wired him some money to buy a 15" Ang Khola. IIANM it was about $50.00 and I promised him to send the balance once I received the khuk. Surprisingly he trusted me and he really sent me the Ang Khola.

He was the man who adviced me to give a name to each of my khuks and he suggested a name for my Ang Khola. Dhaju (i.e. meaning Big Brother) is the name of my first khukuri which is a 15" horn handled Ang Khola.

My second khuk is a 20" horn handled Siru and the third one is a 15" horn handled BAS.

After some time I found out my 20" horn handled Siru has a hairline crack at one side of the blade. I think the blade cracked during the hardening. I told him about it asking for his advice. He just told me to keep that Siru and he sent me another one as the replacement! I never dream that he was going to do that but he actually did that! That's Uncle Bill the man of integrity! Salute him!

From then on I bought many more khuks from him! A Hanuman, a WWII, a Kumar Kobra, a Mala, A Gelbu Special, few pieces of Kagas Katne and 18th Century are among my precious khuks collections. I don't have any intention of selling any of them. Each khuk reminds me of Uncle Bill! How can I forget him! Most of my office colleague knows his name and few of them owned HI khuks which they bought through me. Few Malaysian customers were asked to contact me when they want to buy HI khuks from Uncle Bill! Who am I to him? He used to tell me in few of his emails "Mohd, you're one of my favorite nephew!" :D

Really missed Uncle Bill!

Hi Auntie Ang Yangdu, whenever I remember Uncle Bill I remember you as well :)

mohd
 
Never had the luck to know him, but from what others say he's been an exceptional human being. I think the following quote from the above link explains clearly what others thought of UB. Rest in Peace.

"Some people pray; others prefer to think of it as projecting positive thoughts or well-wishes. The oldtimers on the forum call it "sending smoke." I'm not a religious man, but to this day, when campfire smoke dances its way up to the heavens, I send (and not always with a dry eye) a little smoke Bill's way. *Chris*"

Yes, I wish I could have known Uncle Bill, but at the same time I'm glad to now know the rest of his wonderfull family. Yangdu, Pala, Terisa. People like them make me believe that humanity is not all lost...it's rare those days... Thanks!
 
I haven't posted here since mid-2000. I can't even remember what name I used before. I do remember Uncle Bill and how good of a person he was. He's the best person I never met.
 
Good stuff *remembered* and thanks. :D

Positive people like Bill, who walked the talk, can really restore one's faith in humanity.

I recently talked with a distant family member who lost his shirt in a divorce. "I'm a changed person," he said. "I don't believe in people any more."

UB was exactly the opposite of that: a person who believed in people- and that changed you.

:D Or seeing how he did changed me, anyways. YMMV.


Mike
 
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