James K. Mattis Memorial Knife

I just got off the phone with Christina Montero, owner of REKAT knives. She graciously volunteered use of their computers and laser engraving system for this project at no cost - so the knives will be laser etched with whichever memorial message we come up with without raising the cost of the knives. This is an incredibly generous offer considering this would typically cost $7-8 dollars per knife blade - which now means that more money will go to the memorial fund, instead of to cover the costs.

For those who are not familiar with the laser work that REKAT can do, I can speak from experience that it is very fine indeed, and again, I want to thank them for this extremely generous offer.

Again, I'd recommend going with a knife similar to the Camillus model listed above instead of a puuko for a number of reasons (especially considering availability and daily practicality) but if someone can come up with a quality puuko supplier, we are not against it. Remember, we'd like to keep the upper ceiling for this at around $30 maximum so that everyone who knew James from the forums could have something to remember him buy - this way we can do the most good.

Spark

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Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com

Insert witty quip here
 
Keven,

You already know what I think about this. I really don't care if the steel is 440A, that is not the point. The point is that it is a little bit of James that I can drop in my pocket every day, and I will know that it is connected to James because we did what I think James would have done were he still here.

Some day I will hand it someone to cut a thread or open a letter and they will say "what the Hell are you doing with a knife with a Chai on the handle, and who is James K Mattis?". . . And I will smile, and maybe I will tell a story or two.
smile.gif


That is all I care about.


Mike


Mike
 
Spark,

I think the Wee Pen knife idea is superb!
I'm in either way, but the more people who can afford a Memorial Knife means more money for Toni Mattis or a charity in James' name.
I would like to thank the wonderful people at REKAT for donating the use of their laser
engraver for this project. They exemplify the
best of our community here at Bladeforums.
 
Folks,
I just got back in town.....still kinda in shock over JKM's passing. Hell Anthony Lombardo and I were with him Sunday night the 10th. I can't get over it.

Spark and I have talked and we can put something together on the 'Wee Pen Knife' idea.....but I think we are a little ahead of ourselves. Lets wait and talk to Ms. Toni first and see what SHE wants us to do....and lets give her a lttle space until she is ready.

All good ideas guys.....but lets give this a little time, and do this right.

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Stay Sharp!
Will Fennell
Camillus Cutlery
www.camillusknives.com
 
Would a Case Small Finn work for us. Model CA-303 with a 3" blade could probably be had at the right price point.
 
Will, I for one would like to apologise to you, for grabbing you for a project at the same time you are first hearing of James' passing. Your level headed response was just what we needed to hear.

It's good to know Spark is on this project, I know we'll end up with a knife that James would have liked, and Toni will treasure.
 
Count me in! I agree with Will on waiting an appropriate interval and contacting Mrs. Toni Mattis for her input. Once that is known, then we can go from there.

Harry
 
Even though I think that a puukko is optimal choice (if money is not an object) I'm leaning to 'the wee pen knife'-knife. It's not possible to make memorial puukko that would be - a hi tech puukko - for 30$.

The JKM memorial knife should be in that 30$ neigbouhood to make it available for all.
If 20-40 persons get a memorial puukko that is too few. The eka knife would be nice. It is classy looking enough to get a lot of pocket time and obviously it was kind of his own favorite.

When - Ok James I'm again trying to order knives that are not even in production schedule - Spyderco or Camillus hi tech puukkos are available I'll buy one and consider it to be the JKM memorial puukko.



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"Good tools to sustain life, or at least make life more convenient"
-James Mattis
 
Originally posted by Spark:
Remember,we'd like to keep the upper ceiling for this at around $30 maximum so that everyone who knew James from the forums could have something to remember him buy - this way we can do the most good.

Spark
Click to expand...

WE?? Does that mean that 1stop knife shop (without international shipping) will ship the knives??

BTW: I am for puukko as well...

David



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DIVERTI NESCIO

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My Photopoint pictures

Mikov Knives

Visit our region
 
I do agree with this:

Originally posted by HUNTER3897:
. . . . What does everyone feel about letting Mr. Mattis design the knife posthumously? We have his handle choice, steel choice, and his sheath choice. A Puuko sounds like it is almost a no brainer.
Jim McCullough
Click to expand...

if it is possible.

Spark - The "wee pen knife" is a good idea as well, for reasons of availability, practicality, and price - the cheaper the knife can be made, the more money can be donated to James' favorite charity/charities and family.

However, James, more so than most of us, was into "ordering knives that were not yet produced;" he was always asking for different versions of knives, etc. And I think that making one to his specifications, something that we could/should have done for him while he was alive, to show our appreciation of the wonderful person he was, would better honor his memory. I understand this would take more time, money, and work, and though we would all agree that it is worth it, practical concerns are still important.

Is there anyone out there who may be able to make a hi-tech puuko (and sheath), to James' specifications (quoted throughout this thread), at a reasonable cost, say $60?

Another question, to be decided later by persons other than myself: Though a Chai etched into the blade on one side and a memorial inscription to James on the other is a given (I hope), should BFC be mentioned there somewhere as well, since that's where we all knew him from?

Jason aka medusaoblongata

P.S. Whatever it ends up being, I am in.

[This message has been edited by medusaoblongata (edited 09-20-2000).]
 
Teh "Wee" Pen knife will most likely be the project as the others require too much time and effort to get done. This is a project that must appeal to most and affordable by all. I have talked to Will and and it looks like the 864 will be the best for the project.

I will need to talk to Toni first to find out her wishes as I will not do a project in someones name without it.

cam-864.jpg

The above knife with the below look should be appropriet.
eka-chai100.jpg


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Mike Turber
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I love the idea of the Pukko, but I'll go with what ever is decided.

How about both?

The wee knife will be affordable to all - and those who will want a pukko will have them laser engraved as well?

I wish I could help (apart from adding my UN-necessary advice) ...but I am out here and you guys are over there...


 
I like the idea of a Pukko too but we simply can't get one made unless we get HUGE numbers.

To make this project work we will need to work with lower numbers and existing product.

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Best Regards,
Mike Turber
BladeForums Site Owner and Administrator
Do it! Do it right! Do it right NOW!
Show Your Support -Visit Our Sponsors - Click On The Banners!
Visit www.onestopknifeshop.com
Sales from 1 Stop Knife Shop help support this site!
Also check out our new auction promo site.
www.wow-direct.com
 
I like the Camillus 864, anyways, I'm in.

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The thorn stands to defend the Rose, yet it is peaceful and does not seek conflict
 
Re: Camillus 864 or similar with "chai" on the handle: OK. I'll buy one if we can arrange for some reasonable proceeds to go to one of Jim's favorite causes, e.g., his temple. Otherwise, I might just donate in his name and skip a knife if it wouldn't generate enough charity money to be worth it.

On the other hand, I'd love to have a memorial puukko of the sort he described. I'd think CPM320V would be just about ideal for a puukko, but that would probably be pretty hard to arrange. ATS-34, VG-10 or the like with burgundy/black Micarta and a nice dangler sheath with just the "chai" logo and possibly the initials "JKM" somewhere on the knife would be absolutely terrific as a remembrance. I'm sure it would cost more than $60; it would probably be at least $100 and then we'd need to add a suitable amount for the donation. Still, although it sounds like this is not going to be the "Official JKM Memorial Knife", and I can live with that, if anyone wants to get a smaller group together to design and order a number from some custom maker, please count me in. Heck, I may commission one myself if nobody else does. (With a "Karma Cut" going to Jim's temple, of course.
smile.gif
)

Paul


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Paul Neubauer
prn@bsu.edu
A tool is, basically, an object that enables you to take advantage of the laws of physics and mechanics in such a way that you can seriously injure yourself.

[This message has been edited by prn (edited 09-20-2000).]
 
Laser etched 864? Nice idea. You wanna laser shoot some Nimravuses (Nimravi?) I'm hip with that too. Somebody want to form a smaller group and commission a custom maker for a few puukkos, I'm all ears there as well.

Let me know what y'all wanna do, and thanx to everybody who has done legwork toward this project already..... whether or not it comes to fruition, I appreciate everybody's efforts.

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Sometimes I catch myself assuming that everybody knows their way around a pocket knife. Then I remember what the first three letters of "assume" are.
- James K. Mattis
 
Hehe, laser-etched Nimravus Cub (I already have a full-size
smile.gif
), in uncoated M2
smile.gif
smile.gif
smile.gif
. That would definitely be both a nice knife, and a fitting tribute, I think. To paraphase Orson Scott Card: 'the greatest power of all is the power of naming.'

Actually, another option might be to carve a chai in the handle slabs. I know a friend with a power-pantograph - I think I'll aks to borrow it, and make up a chai stencil. If we could convince BM to send me a box of slabs, I could carve them, and the slabs could be sold separately from the blade, for much less than a whole knife (more donation money). That way, people who already own the knife could just swap out the slabs, and we could arrange to eitehr send blades to those who order the slabs but don't have a blade, or send the blades to me and I could bolt 'em on and ship 'em out). Just a thought - I'll have to play around with the idea, since I've never carved on a surved surface with his machine, and I don't know how it will work out (may work great, may not work at all).

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com
 
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