Ok, the scenario goes like this

STR

STR

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About a year ago I made a life long friend a folding knife for his retirement gift. He was the best man at my first wedding. Known him all my life and he has always carried a small folder I gave him that was made by Cold Steel. Just one of the little Shinobu key ring knives. The one I made him was not much bigger actually. Thats what he likes.

I just got his Christmas card in the mail this morning and was informed of this. First thing it said as I opened it. " I am sorry I have to tell you that I forgot I had the knife you made + airport guys got it. Long story. Merry Christmas."

So, what would you do? Make him another? Yes or No? The reason I ask this is because my wife thinks I'm a glutton for punishment to make him another folder and that he should have to pay for it. He didn't ask for another one though and I am just thinking of doing it. I was curious how other makers would handle it.

STR
 
no way man honest mistake. he's been a LIFE LONF FRIEND? those are few and far between. dosnt mean u have to rush out and make one right now but it would settle what to get him for christmas.... just my 0.02
peace
doc silas
 
The good news was he liked it enough to carry it. The sad news was he was as forgetful of the little fringe details as most of us are and it cost him. The friendship is close enough he could tell you even though he knew it would disappoint you. That's a precious relationship.

If it was my close friend, I'd make him another knife. Then I'd send him a picture of it, telling him that if he could manage to hang onto the picture for a few months I just might give him the knife. :D After all, if you can't give yer friends a little crap for a screwup, how close are ya in the first place! ;) What's more important, the value of the man's friendship or the time and few bucks to make the knife??
 
Fitzo I like the way you think. I'm going to do that. Its exactly the kind of thing I was drifting towards. I know he feels bad because he loved the knife. I mean he really always wanted one of my folders. Anyway, it isn't the money. I don't care about that. My wife just thinks I give away too much now. Perhaps I do but its never hurt me none really.

STR
 
Creating joy in our friends' lives is one of the most precious of gifts we can offer, of course. As is forgiveness.

To me, making him a new folder to replace the lost one will be even more important than the original. It will mean a lot to you about yourself, too.

I think, though, that your heart already knew what was right before you started this thread. Bravo!
 
Would it kill these airport security people to help us out a little bit? Maybe set up a few little booths at each terminal with something like USPS Priority Mail flat rate padded envelopes (I use these all the time) and a mail box where you could mail little things like that home? The flat rate cost of the envelope includes shipping in the ConUS. With technology today, it wouldn't even have to be manned. A vending machine type deal that took cash, credit cards, etc. would work. Sorry to get off topic.

A similar thing happened to me. I bought a good friend a Spyderco Military folding knife (~$90.00). He lost it to Airport security in Bangor, Maine. The guy at the gate said he'd hold it in the security office until my friend got back (sounds reasonable, thats the way we still do things here, for the most part). When he got back, the knife was nowhere to be found. I gave him a new one. Wasn't really his fault. Like your bud, he just forgot.
 
I gave my wife the first folder I ever made. She carried it everywhere, but doesn't fly very much. Of course, it was in her purse when she went through security at the airport. The airport had a FedEx office, and she was able to mail home from there. She spent $20 to mail it home. It wasn't a fancy folder and had about $8 worth of parts in it, and my time making it. She said it wasn't the cost that was important, but the fact that I gave her my first folder.

I say, make your friend another knife without a doubt. I make knives for friends from time to time, and would instantly begin making a replacement if it happened to one of my friends. You can sell knives to people the rest of your life, and make money. But, having the chance to make a friend smile a second time is priceless!
 
scottang1 said:
Maybe set up a few little booths at each terminal with something like USPS Priority Mail flat rate padded envelopes (I use these all the time) and a mail box where you could mail little things like that home?
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Scott,

This is an excellent idea and I took the liberty of suggesting it via the USPS website. I think there's an (estimated) 99.999827% chance it will be totally ignored but just maybe...

rmd
 
rmd said:
Scott,

This is an excellent idea and I took the liberty of suggesting it via the USPS website. I think there's an (estimated) 99.999827% chance it will be totally ignored but just maybe...

rmd
Click to expand...

You never know.

I don't travel much since 9/11. Just isn't worth the BS. Last time I did the rivets in my jeans set the guys wand off, and I was nearly strip searched behind a divider wall. If I never leave the state again, that's just fine with me.
 
Here in Alaska they will let you mail you knife to yourself instead of tossing it. They offered me even when I had nail clippers on me right after 9/11. I guess I thought this was a normal practice but if not, thats a shame. It seemed simple enough and even though I'm not shure how they got my package to the post office, I'm shure it wasnt that hard. It certainly kept me happy as a flyer and a customer. I'd make him another but give him a hard time abou tit =P
 
Is he a true friend? I would give him another one...no strings attached or should I say price tag. That is what friends do.

Put yourself in his shoes. You just lost a meaningful gift. You swallow your pride and told your friend about it. Now he says he will make you another one...for a price.

The friendship should be worth the price and time for another one. As stated above...the second one will probably mean more to him.

In His Service,
Reid Allen
 
What more can I say other than "me too!". I've got to agree that if it was me I'd make another one. I would torture him with it a bit, and he'd NEVER live it down (you don't get stuff that good to poke a friend about very often... :) ), but I'd make another one.

-d
 
I made and gave one to a cousin and one to his son.
The cousin carried it daily, including unfortunately to a basketball game where he was given a choice to take it back to the car or have it confiscated..this was near to after 9-11-01....so you couldn't eeven have a pocket knife and get into the arena.
Cousin allowed them to confiscate the knife as it was nearly a 1/2 mile back to the car, and he has 2 knees that still need replacement.
Cousin talked his son out of the one I gave the son.....and still carries it daily.
After a period of harassing the cousin, I made his son a new knife.
Make the Friend another, really good friends are worth it, and he has got to feel really bad about having the first stolen, I mean confiscated, from him.
 
STR, It makes you feel good and it will make him feel good, I have one very good friend and fishing partner that I am very close to and I would do it for him no matter how many it was, that would just give me more excuses to hand out a ration of shit. Besides I know for a fact that he would do axactly the same for me, esp, the ration of shit. There is nothing in this world more importent than a good Wife, good kids and a good friend.I am lucky enough to have all three. Anything that make them happy makes me happy.

Leon Pugh
 
I am relieved to see that you guys think as I do about this. I have already set the wheels in motion for his new folder.

Thanks for taking the time to answer my question. Means a lot to me.

Have a great Christmas. If I have my way my friend will also because he'll be getting a care package round about then if all goes as planned. A little something with an STR signiture on it.

For what its worth my friend, John told me today in an email reply after I let him know I got his card, that they did direct him to a place to mail it back to himself but after over 40 minutes of trying to get it to work and having to put up with his inlaws complaining about the delay he finally had to give it up with tears in his eyes and just give in to their needs or miss the flight and mess it up for everyone.

It was a bad deal. I'll fix it though.


STR
 
STR said:
........It was a bad deal. I'll fix it though.


STR
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Good on you, sir! Just goes to show that sometimes a sad story can still have a happy ending.

Merry Christmas to you!
 
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