I didn't know Leon as well as I would have liked too. However, he had a way of making you feel like you were old freinds even if you hadn't spent a lot of time together.
When we visited he was always so energetic and enthusiastic whether we were discussing knives or custom home building. He was one of those people who no matter what he was doing he was going to put 110% into it.
Leon was extremely talented. He always liked to share how he did something and why he did it a certain way, such as how he cut and inlaid various design elements, insignias and such into his handle material. I was amazed how he was always able to do this so perfectly without any gaps or imperfections in his handle material.
Leon will be missed so much by so many friends and loved ones.
I know we will include Leon and the friends and family he leaves behind in our
thoughts and prayers.
Here's some examples of Leon's work and a small sample of his accomplishments and contributions to custom knives.
Thanks to Chuck Ward for taking so many beautiful photos documenting Leon's work.
Leon And Lin Rhea last February:
Leon with his good friend Paul Long at Paul's Shop:
Leon won "Best Folder" at the 2010 Arkansas Show:
"Best of Show" 2009 Central Texas Knife Show:
"Best Mammoth" 2009 Central Texas Knife Show:
Here's a fine example of one of Leon's fixed blades:
Here's a beautiful folder with exchangeable Blades. I could tell when Leon was showing me this knife that it was one of his pieces that he was most proud if:
Here's a Loveless style hunter from Leon which adores the July page of the 2011 CKCA Calendar:
A beauty with fluted MOP:
