Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith
ilmarinen - MODERATOR
Moderator
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2004
- Messages
- 37,977
A few months back when I remodeled the store for the new showcases I lost my folder somewhere in the store. Nothing all that fancy, but it was always in my pocket - liner-lock, fossil walrus scales, file-worked blade spine, and gold plated Torx screws. It and me were good friends, and I could open/close it easily one handed.
I was doing a lot of wiring in the overhead above the drop ceiling and though I might have set it on a ceiling tile or I-beam and left it there. I have looked many times hoping I would find it., but to no avail. I also did a lot of wiring in the new showcases. I could have set it inside the bottom storage area of one, or on a storage shelf ... but it couldn't be found there, either. I checked all my work pants, tool boxes, tool bags, electrical parts bins, etc. ... nothing. I had just decided to let it go and make a new one when I got a chance. In the mean time I used Bill Moran's little Remington folder as my EDC. Today, one of the gals came to me and asked if a knife she found in the office was mine. She had reached up to take a book from on top of the file cabinets and the knife was sitting (open) on top the books. I then remembered that I had to cut a bundle of video camera cables open to get the surveillance video feed line to hook up to the new monitor in the back. I hade set the knife down while identifying the right cable. I was sure glad to get it back. I'll take a photo tomorrow and post it. I have lost and found several knives over my 60+ years of carrying a pocket knife.
One knife that didn't get found -
About ten years ago I lost a very nice folder. It was a folding liner-lock knife with exhibition MOP scales, engraved yellow gold bolsters, 1/4 carat diamonds in gold bezels for the thumb studs, and 1/4 carat diamonds set in gold in each scale. I retailed these at $3000. The blade was Elvin pattern damascus ( Chris Marks made the billet for me). It was the first of that style, and I had made it around 2000. After it won an award, I made it my EDC.
I was doing some work on the sprinkler system in my back yard and using the knife to strip wires and de-burr cut off PVC. I set it on the side of the pond with my other tools. I went to the hardware store for some PVC fittings, leaving everything where it was. When I was back 10 minutes later and reached for the knife it wasn't there. I though I might have dropped it back in my pocket, or pulled it out on the car seat when removing my keys. but it was nowhere to be found. I was 100% positive it had been left on the stone rim of the pond with the tools. I even drained the pond to check that it hadn't been knocked in by a squirrel. I am pretty much positive that some kids took a short cut through my yard to get to the street behind me and saw the knife. It most likely left with one of them.
Those of you who have been around for a while here may remember the two high-end gold and diamond art knives that disappeared. The pair had a retail price of $33,000 combined. They disappeared during the move from the old jewelry store to a new building. Three years later they were returned anonymously in a shoe box, still in their padded cases, and untouched. I always had a feeling who had them, and just said a thank you prayer. I never looked at the surveillance tapes in an effort to ID the person who walked in the store and handed the box to one of the ladies and asked if she would give it to Stacy. Someone did the right thing and that as all that mattered.
Here are some photos of those knives. The diamond accented folder is a different one with ivory scales and stainless bolsters. Just click the thumbnails to open full size images.
I was doing a lot of wiring in the overhead above the drop ceiling and though I might have set it on a ceiling tile or I-beam and left it there. I have looked many times hoping I would find it., but to no avail. I also did a lot of wiring in the new showcases. I could have set it inside the bottom storage area of one, or on a storage shelf ... but it couldn't be found there, either. I checked all my work pants, tool boxes, tool bags, electrical parts bins, etc. ... nothing. I had just decided to let it go and make a new one when I got a chance. In the mean time I used Bill Moran's little Remington folder as my EDC. Today, one of the gals came to me and asked if a knife she found in the office was mine. She had reached up to take a book from on top of the file cabinets and the knife was sitting (open) on top the books. I then remembered that I had to cut a bundle of video camera cables open to get the surveillance video feed line to hook up to the new monitor in the back. I hade set the knife down while identifying the right cable. I was sure glad to get it back. I'll take a photo tomorrow and post it. I have lost and found several knives over my 60+ years of carrying a pocket knife.
One knife that didn't get found -
About ten years ago I lost a very nice folder. It was a folding liner-lock knife with exhibition MOP scales, engraved yellow gold bolsters, 1/4 carat diamonds in gold bezels for the thumb studs, and 1/4 carat diamonds set in gold in each scale. I retailed these at $3000. The blade was Elvin pattern damascus ( Chris Marks made the billet for me). It was the first of that style, and I had made it around 2000. After it won an award, I made it my EDC.
I was doing some work on the sprinkler system in my back yard and using the knife to strip wires and de-burr cut off PVC. I set it on the side of the pond with my other tools. I went to the hardware store for some PVC fittings, leaving everything where it was. When I was back 10 minutes later and reached for the knife it wasn't there. I though I might have dropped it back in my pocket, or pulled it out on the car seat when removing my keys. but it was nowhere to be found. I was 100% positive it had been left on the stone rim of the pond with the tools. I even drained the pond to check that it hadn't been knocked in by a squirrel. I am pretty much positive that some kids took a short cut through my yard to get to the street behind me and saw the knife. It most likely left with one of them.
Those of you who have been around for a while here may remember the two high-end gold and diamond art knives that disappeared. The pair had a retail price of $33,000 combined. They disappeared during the move from the old jewelry store to a new building. Three years later they were returned anonymously in a shoe box, still in their padded cases, and untouched. I always had a feeling who had them, and just said a thank you prayer. I never looked at the surveillance tapes in an effort to ID the person who walked in the store and handed the box to one of the ladies and asked if she would give it to Stacy. Someone did the right thing and that as all that mattered.
Here are some photos of those knives. The diamond accented folder is a different one with ivory scales and stainless bolsters. Just click the thumbnails to open full size images.
