- Joined
- Jul 31, 2002
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- 2,954
Well, looks like I've got a decision to make, and it will probably take some hard thought. This will be something I'll have to decide for myself, but thought I'd ask the members here for their input, as I'd hate to fail to consider some aspect of this... Well, that, and this is so unusual I thought at least some of you would get a kick out of it. Let's see if I can explain...
THE KNIFE
A friend of mine just stopped by the office, to show me an old ivory handled kukri he's got. Nope, this thread ain't about the khukri. He got to talking about a dagger he owns, which was made by Paul Meyers. The pommel is gold, made from the knob of an antique cane. The guard, and throat & tip on the sheath are 14 kt. gold. From his description, all the fittings were engraved by a now deceased engraver from California, whose name escapes me. The handle and scabbard are ivory, with masterly scrimshawed scenes all over. I can't recall the name of the scrimshander now, either, but I do recall he said she put about 400 hours of work into the scrim. She told him it's replacement value should be $17,000 for insurance purposes. He plans to drop back by tomorrow and show it to me, and perhaps I'll try to get some pictures of it.
THE PROBLEM
My friend waited EIGHTEEN YEARS for the scrimshander to finish her work. Now, he can't even look at the knife without getting angry. If someone sees it, he won't even tell them there's scrimshaw on the bottom side, because he doesn't want this lady to get any credit. He admits that she did an outstanding job when it was all said and done, but is still quite pissed that it took such a large portion of his life before getting it back. At one point, he even told her he just might show up on her doorstep with the police, to get it back.
THE MAN
My friend is perhaps a bit eccentric. He's really a great fellow, and really knows his stuff when it comes to collecting all kinds of stuff, but now and then he expresses himself in ways that may seem odd. For instance, there's the time his lawnmower (push-type mower) wouldn't start. He pulled and pulled on the starting cord, 'till he was sweated through, and the thing still wouldn't start. He was so pissed at it, but instead of smashing it like I might, he told the mower "By God! You'll mow this lawn one way or the other!" So he pushed it up and down his yard, round and round, till the whole lawn had been covered, even though the thing wasn't running.
So how does this relate to the knife, you ask? If you wrong him, he probably won't give you a second chance. Well, when the scrimshander finally sent the knife to him, she made a big deal about being carefull with the scrimshaw. She specifically wrote that he should never even touch it with his bare hands, as the oils on our skin would be "the kiss of death" to the microscopic scratches she made........
THE REQUEST
My friend is not a young man anymore, and is retiring this July. He's already thinking about what will become of his HUGE collection of stuff when he goes, and says he'd like me to have this knife, if I agree to his conditions. He wants me to carry it hunting, and maybe use it to stick a coon or wild pig or something. He said be sure to get some blood on the scrimshaw.
This is his little way of getting back at this lady, after he's gone. He said he'd understand if I didn't want to take him up on it, but he asked because he knew I would keep my promise, if I agreed. (and I would.) [note to any potential burglars lurking here- all of his really high dollar stuff is kept in a vault at the bank, and he keeps plenty of loaded guns within reach- and is quite willing to use them.]
edit I should clarify here that he was smiling as he said all this, and was partially just musing on the idea. He meant what he said, but it's not like he wanted me to sign a contract or something. This is in no way definitely going to happen yet. I think he's just trying to get a feel for my feelings on this first.
THE CHOICES
By the Good Lord's Grace, I hope I have plenty of years to think this over yet. When this gentleman is gone, I'm sure I'll never meet another like him, and the world will be a poorer place without his knowledge.
He has already discussed this issue with his heirs, so there would be no conflict there. I realize this next statement may bring wailing and gnashing of teeth, but I really have no problem with using this knife as he's asked me to. I wouldn't smash the thing with a hammer or seriously abuse it on purpose, but if he wants me to give it honest use, I would. Right now the biggest reason I'd turn down the offer, is just because of this thing's value. I've always felt kinda wierd accepting pricey gifts, and often turn them down. I don't want to let down my friend, and would want to do whatever made him happy. But man, what do you say to something like this? I'd honestly feel better about it if I could just pay him for it, but there just ain't no way I'll have that kind of cash laying around in the years to come. I guess if I accepted it, some small part of me would feel like I only befriended him so I could be written into his will...
If he asks me about it again tomorrow, I think I'll need some more time to think it over.
What do you guys think?
THE KNIFE
A friend of mine just stopped by the office, to show me an old ivory handled kukri he's got. Nope, this thread ain't about the khukri. He got to talking about a dagger he owns, which was made by Paul Meyers. The pommel is gold, made from the knob of an antique cane. The guard, and throat & tip on the sheath are 14 kt. gold. From his description, all the fittings were engraved by a now deceased engraver from California, whose name escapes me. The handle and scabbard are ivory, with masterly scrimshawed scenes all over. I can't recall the name of the scrimshander now, either, but I do recall he said she put about 400 hours of work into the scrim. She told him it's replacement value should be $17,000 for insurance purposes. He plans to drop back by tomorrow and show it to me, and perhaps I'll try to get some pictures of it.
THE PROBLEM
My friend waited EIGHTEEN YEARS for the scrimshander to finish her work. Now, he can't even look at the knife without getting angry. If someone sees it, he won't even tell them there's scrimshaw on the bottom side, because he doesn't want this lady to get any credit. He admits that she did an outstanding job when it was all said and done, but is still quite pissed that it took such a large portion of his life before getting it back. At one point, he even told her he just might show up on her doorstep with the police, to get it back.
THE MAN
My friend is perhaps a bit eccentric. He's really a great fellow, and really knows his stuff when it comes to collecting all kinds of stuff, but now and then he expresses himself in ways that may seem odd. For instance, there's the time his lawnmower (push-type mower) wouldn't start. He pulled and pulled on the starting cord, 'till he was sweated through, and the thing still wouldn't start. He was so pissed at it, but instead of smashing it like I might, he told the mower "By God! You'll mow this lawn one way or the other!" So he pushed it up and down his yard, round and round, till the whole lawn had been covered, even though the thing wasn't running.
So how does this relate to the knife, you ask? If you wrong him, he probably won't give you a second chance. Well, when the scrimshander finally sent the knife to him, she made a big deal about being carefull with the scrimshaw. She specifically wrote that he should never even touch it with his bare hands, as the oils on our skin would be "the kiss of death" to the microscopic scratches she made........
THE REQUEST
My friend is not a young man anymore, and is retiring this July. He's already thinking about what will become of his HUGE collection of stuff when he goes, and says he'd like me to have this knife, if I agree to his conditions. He wants me to carry it hunting, and maybe use it to stick a coon or wild pig or something. He said be sure to get some blood on the scrimshaw.

This is his little way of getting back at this lady, after he's gone. He said he'd understand if I didn't want to take him up on it, but he asked because he knew I would keep my promise, if I agreed. (and I would.) [note to any potential burglars lurking here- all of his really high dollar stuff is kept in a vault at the bank, and he keeps plenty of loaded guns within reach- and is quite willing to use them.]
edit I should clarify here that he was smiling as he said all this, and was partially just musing on the idea. He meant what he said, but it's not like he wanted me to sign a contract or something. This is in no way definitely going to happen yet. I think he's just trying to get a feel for my feelings on this first.
THE CHOICES
By the Good Lord's Grace, I hope I have plenty of years to think this over yet. When this gentleman is gone, I'm sure I'll never meet another like him, and the world will be a poorer place without his knowledge.
He has already discussed this issue with his heirs, so there would be no conflict there. I realize this next statement may bring wailing and gnashing of teeth, but I really have no problem with using this knife as he's asked me to. I wouldn't smash the thing with a hammer or seriously abuse it on purpose, but if he wants me to give it honest use, I would. Right now the biggest reason I'd turn down the offer, is just because of this thing's value. I've always felt kinda wierd accepting pricey gifts, and often turn them down. I don't want to let down my friend, and would want to do whatever made him happy. But man, what do you say to something like this? I'd honestly feel better about it if I could just pay him for it, but there just ain't no way I'll have that kind of cash laying around in the years to come. I guess if I accepted it, some small part of me would feel like I only befriended him so I could be written into his will...
If he asks me about it again tomorrow, I think I'll need some more time to think it over.
What do you guys think?