Knifemaker's family struggling; 60 minutes

B

billym

Joined
Jan 8, 2006
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I just saw a heartbreaking story about DHL shutting down their OH hub and one of the families interviewed the husband was a knife maker trying to use his hobby to help his family survive.
Mike may be a BF member I would guess.
It made me think; it is time to stop buying all imports, factory knives from big companies (use your own yardstick for this) and if you are going to buy steel buy it from a small US company or even better a guy like Mike for which one knife sold means a whole world as opposed to the big marketers where one sale means nothing.
Not meant to be political as much as a plea to spend wisely and CHOOSE where your knife purchase (as well as all other) dollars go.

I will be researching Mike so I may send some business his way or at least some good vibes.
Buy US handmade knives you may be helping a BFs friend.
Billy
 
I guess many folks are struggling, and will buy only what they can afford. I have much admiration for part-time and full-time custom makers, but I suspect that many more families are supported by large knife manufacturers.

I'd be curious to learn Mike's last name and/or link to his website, since I didn't watch the program.

Best Wishes,
-Bob
 
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/22/60minutes/main4747832_page4.shtml

With his job as a DHL bus driver ending, Mike O'Machearley is relying on himself. He's turning a hobby into a business, making engraved hunting knives for collectors. "I'm an old-school kind of guy. And I'm looking at, maybe like on Tuesday nights we're gonna have no electricity Tuesday nights. We're gonna light the oil lamps and play checkers and read books by the candlelight. And just talk to each other. And maybe we'll become a tighter family through it."​
 
I met Mike at Blade last year. I bought a couple of his sheath clips. A very nice guy who also had a picture of the son he just lost in Iraq if I remember correctly. I recommend we all buy one of his knives.
 
i just talked to mike. he is a very nice gentleman and a very busy one after that show. he tried to join bladeforums but had trouble and gave up. hopefully spark can help him out with this problem.
 
I can't afford to buy one of his knives right now, but if we wanted to start a collection to pay for his knifemaker membership I could chip in a couple of bucks.
 
cmdionne said:
I can't afford to buy one of his knives right now, but if we wanted to start a collection to pay for his knifemaker membership I could chip in a couple of bucks.
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If he is the kind of man whose son goes to Iraq, then he probably does want to sell you a knife and will not think well of your collecting charity for him.
 
he couldnt even get signed up as a registered user. i dont know if it was his email address or some other problem
 
richard j said:
he couldnt even get signed up as a registered user. i dont know if it was his email address or some other problem
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We should let Mike know there are people here, including myself, who would help him out with any problems he has getting connected to the forum.
 
I almost posted a thread last night after seeing the story on 60min, seems like a good guy.

Good looking loveless style hunter he had.
 
Watched the same program. Feel bad for the knife maker. Looses his son and his job, it just doesn't get any worse than that at all. Well to quantify it nothing compares to loosing your son. Nothing.

As for DHL and all the people loosing there jobs, they should do the same program here in Rochester. Delco, Kodak, Xerox, to name a few companies that have downsized greatly. I was a victim at Kodak 11 years ago. Worked there 20yrs. More than 60k in Rochester alone as I have heard numbers bantied about have lost there jobs. Sucks no matter where or who you are I guess. keepem sharp

PS if the knife maker wants a sponsorship here we should give it to him, no matter what A.G. says. Who is he to speak for him anyways?
 
i just called mike to let him know he has a place here once he joined up but we hardly started to talk when his cell phone was going off. the way it sounds, i dont know if he would ever have time to get on the forums. since the show aired he has orders for 200 knives so far :thumbup:
 
richard j said:
i just called mike to let him know he has a place here once he joined up but we hardly started to talk when his cell phone was going off. the way it sounds, i dont know if he would ever have time to get on the forums. since the show aired he has orders for 200 knives so far :thumbup:
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sounds like he's a full-time knifemaker now whether he likes it or not. :D
 
It is good to see that his orders picked up so much.
Looks like he won't have to drive a bus ever again, heh. Or even be able to. He'll be too busy making knives for us knuts. :D

It seems like he is a really good guy too judging from the testimonials and the pics on his site. He teaches people and lets them use his equipment, showing off one of his friends and the first knife that friend made...

I've been wanting a double edged fighter with a sub hilt for a while now, and I think he's just the guy to make it for me. Even if it's going to take forever now do to his high volume of orders. I won't mind the wait since that only means he is making a living and will be able to support his family with his talent.

And I truly hope that things will work out for all the other people that were hit so hard by these times. Hang in there!
 
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