In Memory of James K Mattis - Please leave your thoughts here.

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I am stunned and saddened beyond words. James Mattis was a gentleman and a scholar, in the truest and noblest senses of both words. We are all greatly diminished by the passing of so fine a human being. My deepest and most hearfelt condolences to his family. May they take comfort from the outpouring of love from the many, many friends he has made throughout the world.
 
Sir James (as I always thought of him) was a scholar and a gentleman...wisdom, knowlege, humor, impeccable taste and judgment, and chock full of his own particular brand of the "right stuff". This is how he appeared when I first encountered him back before BF, knifeforums, etc., on the Benchmade forum when it was about the only game in town. This conviction only grew over the years.
I always wanted to meet him in person; now its too late.
Please pardon me while I get a little preachier than usual and pound home the obvious. There's never going to be another James Mattis. But once in a great while you do encounter people who are really special. If there's somebody who you really ought to meet, get to know better, or something you really ought to do one of these days...don't wait.

Addendum: I hadn't read the post just previous when I wrote mine. It's interesting but no coincidence that he used almost the same phrase to describe (in part) James Mattis, scholar and gentleman. Rather it's a function of the fact that Sir James so thoroughly epitomized that ideal, and I'm not the only one who noticed. Ed

[This message has been edited by Ed Ricketts (edited 09-16-2000).]
 
I simply don't know what to say at this point…this news makes me feel like I have a hole in my gut with a cold wind blowing through it. I only corresponded with James a few times and I didn't know him as well as I would have liked to, but he always impressed me as being one of the wisest and most congenial individuals that I had ever dealt with. His knowledge, sly wit and good humor elevated every discussion in which he participated. I've always tried to emulate his approach to explaining our peculiar enthusiasm for cutlery…I wish I was a good enough man to emulate his approach to life. My prayers are with Toni, the Mattis family and all of the people who loved James. We have truly lost the best part of our community, and the world is a darker place.

Jim Herring
 
We are all poorer with the loss of James.Deepest sympathy to his family.

Travel easy James.

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~Gordon~
 
The shock of this is overwhelming. I've never met a finer or wiser gentleman than James on the net. He will be sorely missed.

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Hoodoo

Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?

The Merchant of Venice, Act IV. Scene I.
 
Toni - It was with shock and sorrow that I learned of Jim's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you all go through this difficult time in your lives. Jim will certainly be missed here on BFC, he was a friend to us all with his quick wit and knowledge of the legal aspect of knives. As I wander though future SHOT and Blade Shows, I will miss seeing Jim wandering the aisles with his ever present digicam hanging around his neck and taking it all in with boyish wonder. It was my pleasure to have known him. Rest in peace, Jim. You will be missed by your friends here at BF
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L to R: Jim O'Young, myself, Les de Asis, and James Mattis at the Benchmade booth at the 2000 SHOT Show in Las Vegas.

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AKTI Member # A000005
NC Knife Knuts Member
Living life "on the edge"

[This message has been edited by Dexter Ewing (edited 09-16-2000).]
 

at moments like these, words that express the feelings i have, are hard to find.
sorry and condolences are all i can offer and they both fall woefully short of what i wish i could say or do.

sincerely,
bill osteen
 
A kind, caring and gentle soul has been called home. We can best honor him by trying to learn from his example.

Go easy James, you have touched us all and will be missed greatly.
 
Very sorry to hear about James, Ive never met him in person, But I think we all meet and get to know one another nowadays in the form of these forums. No matter what the post, His was one I would always click on to see what he had to say.

James will be missed. My thoughts are with his friends and family,

God Bless.
Keith D.Armacost
 
James was always honest and open when he posted and exchanged e-mails with me. This is a great loss indeed.

My condolences to his family.

So long my friend, you will be missed.

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Reynaert
 
I am deeply saddened to hear of James passing. I only met James twice but I have considered him a friend for years.

Shawn R Sullivan
 
As has already been said so eloquently by my fellow members, I am very shocked and personally saddened to hear of Jim's passing. It is truly a loss to all of us. Jim was the only knife dealer from whom my wife would even consider purchasing a knife.

With tears in my eyes I can only say that our thoughts and prayers are with Toni and the family. We are all the richer for having known and dealt with Jim.

God bless.

AJ

[This message has been edited by AJ (edited 09-16-2000).]
 
I'm sorry to have never met or dealt with Mr. Mattis but I am posting here to offer my condolences to the people who loved him, and out of respect to a man who was obviously a beacon. God Bless, Donald.
 
James will be greatly missed... words of wisdom,wit and compassion spoken like no other...James GOD BLESS YOU...TONI our prayers are with you and your family... deeply saddened by your (our) loss Joseph M.Brum
 
James,

I miss your wit, your big heart, your fair-mindedness, your great knowledge of so many things – knives and everything else, your unrivalled business ethic, your elegant postings here, your … Oh, words are no use right now! I miss you dearly.

My strength goes out to your family and friends –

With great sadness,
Glen
 
James Mattis had a genuine enthusiasm for knives that he effectively communicated. His scans and general information were extremely useful for all of us and he will be missed. Bladeforums may eventually become better but it will never be the same now that Mr. Mattis has passed away. May he rest in peace and his family find comfort in their faith and memories.
 
Damn.

James was an always-reliable voice of reason, information, insight and sincerity. He was important to the forums; how much more important he must have been to family and friends. Condolences to them. Rest in Peace.
 
This is a great shock, especially since I received an order from James just a few days ago. My deep condolences to the Mattis family.

James was a true gentleman, always willing to help and respond wisely to others. He will be greatly missed.
 
Toni, I usually have such a good time on the forums, but tonight is going to be a little
different. This is one of those things that is so sad, unexpected, and hard to put into words. I have never met your husband in person. But I felt as if I knew him. And I looked forward to getting to know him better. His honesty, intelligence, and fun loving nature has really made an impact on me. He represented his values exceptionally well here in this difficult format.And I was always glad to see him appear in the BF chat room. I found out we both had an affinity for unusual and bizarre music (e.g. Tuvan throat singing), and shared interests in religion, philosophy, and Art. And I had hoped to get together with James sometime as I come out to the Pasadena area every couple of years.

I am very saddened to hear about James' passing. But I know that his faith, his intelligence, his comprehension, and humor will be carried on in all who knew him. My sincere condolances to you, your children and grandchildren. It is not only they who will miss him, but myself and a whole bunch of other people as well. James was Love and Was Loved. We will miss him.

Paracelsus, crying

(this post is a copy of one I wrote last night in the now closed community forum thread re James)

 
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