- Joined
- Dec 2, 2005
- Messages
- 71,153
Newcomers to this forum are almost always struck by the family atmosphere which usually exists here; by the warmth and friendliness, as well as the strong friendships which exist between many forum members, and the spirit of generosity and kindness which prevails.
Anyone who has hung around here for a while will surely know Paul Hilborn, one of the nicest guys you could ever ask to meet. We have yet to meet in the flesh, but I consider Paul a very close friend, like a brother. Hes a lovely guy with a lovely family, a warm sense of humour, and besides traditional knives, he has loads of other fascinating interests. Paul is perhaps the only person in the world who admires my terrible handwriting, he even claims to be able to read it!
Sometime ago, Paul kindly sent me a beautiful old Boker Jack which hed lovingly restored, and it really is one of my most treasured knives. Heres a pic, so you can see it, and theres more here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1130921-Top-Marks-To-The-Porch
Last week, I received another package from Paul, which hed told me to expect, and inside, along with a warm letter and a 1940 Lincoln penny, were two knives.
Now, some time ago, Paul had recounted here about how, as a kid, hed dreamed of being a Boy Scout, but for one reason and another, hed never been joined up. It was the same with me, despite my life-long love of the great outdoors, I never joined the Scouts. There was no local Scout troop, and the nearest was run by a notoriously coarse and unpleasant Scout-Master.
My favourite uncle had been in the Navy, and I joined the Boys Brigade, which had a lot of naval trappings. I thought wed get to go camping, but we mainly did a lot of marching around the church hall. Fortunately, I lived near some great countryside, and so I took myself out hiking and camping from an early age. With my love of the outdoor life, knot-tying ability, passion for traditional knives, and a love of doing good-turns, many of my friends assume I was a Boy Scout, but in fact I never was. So Paul and I have another thing in common there.
With our forum conversation in mind, Paul sent me an Ulster Scout knife. I was lucky enough to be gifted an Ulster Scout knife in carbon steel by another forum friend ( a certain Mr Porch ) a while back, but the one Paul sent me is in stainless, and as well as being carried and used, will join my collection of Boy Scout knives 
Along with this, Paul sent me something else pretty special, a knife hed had since boyhood, rediscovered in his parents old house, and lovingly restored. Its an Olsen with a stag handle, which Paul suggested I might want to use as a letter-opener. I reckon that the knife has a few more adventures left in it though, and Im really knocked-out that Paul would send me such a special knife. I wish I had my old boyhood sheath knife to send him in return. It really means a lot Paul, thanks my friend.
Im a bit old for the Boy Scouts now I reckon, but like Paul, I still have an affection for the scouting life, and despite the fact neither of us were ever a member of the organisation, maybe we both have a bit of Scout in us
Jack
Anyone who has hung around here for a while will surely know Paul Hilborn, one of the nicest guys you could ever ask to meet. We have yet to meet in the flesh, but I consider Paul a very close friend, like a brother. Hes a lovely guy with a lovely family, a warm sense of humour, and besides traditional knives, he has loads of other fascinating interests. Paul is perhaps the only person in the world who admires my terrible handwriting, he even claims to be able to read it!
Sometime ago, Paul kindly sent me a beautiful old Boker Jack which hed lovingly restored, and it really is one of my most treasured knives. Heres a pic, so you can see it, and theres more here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1130921-Top-Marks-To-The-Porch
Last week, I received another package from Paul, which hed told me to expect, and inside, along with a warm letter and a 1940 Lincoln penny, were two knives.
Now, some time ago, Paul had recounted here about how, as a kid, hed dreamed of being a Boy Scout, but for one reason and another, hed never been joined up. It was the same with me, despite my life-long love of the great outdoors, I never joined the Scouts. There was no local Scout troop, and the nearest was run by a notoriously coarse and unpleasant Scout-Master.
My favourite uncle had been in the Navy, and I joined the Boys Brigade, which had a lot of naval trappings. I thought wed get to go camping, but we mainly did a lot of marching around the church hall. Fortunately, I lived near some great countryside, and so I took myself out hiking and camping from an early age. With my love of the outdoor life, knot-tying ability, passion for traditional knives, and a love of doing good-turns, many of my friends assume I was a Boy Scout, but in fact I never was. So Paul and I have another thing in common there.
With our forum conversation in mind, Paul sent me an Ulster Scout knife. I was lucky enough to be gifted an Ulster Scout knife in carbon steel by another forum friend ( a certain Mr Porch
) a while back, but the one Paul sent me is in stainless, and as well as being carried and used, will join my collection of Boy Scout knives 
Along with this, Paul sent me something else pretty special, a knife hed had since boyhood, rediscovered in his parents old house, and lovingly restored. Its an Olsen with a stag handle, which Paul suggested I might want to use as a letter-opener. I reckon that the knife has a few more adventures left in it though, and Im really knocked-out that Paul would send me such a special knife. I wish I had my old boyhood sheath knife to send him in return. It really means a lot Paul, thanks my friend.
Im a bit old for the Boy Scouts now I reckon, but like Paul, I still have an affection for the scouting life, and despite the fact neither of us were ever a member of the organisation, maybe we both have a bit of Scout in us
Jack
