Passing of John White

[tvandeventer]

Interestingly, while John and I often spoke of knives and knife making, more often we spoke of other things. Of life and how lucky we were to find the wonderful women who put up with us. Rarely (if ever) did politics come up. He regaled me with stories of his boat-building, and how after designing and constructing those boats from the ground-up, he would often personally sail those very vessels to their new owners in far flung locales. He delighted my wife in a Little Rock Pizza Parlor one snowy night by transforming into character and lyrically performing his part from a college play he was in many years before - all in German!

Those who know me know that I am a herpetologist (a snake biologist), and John shared my interest and appreciation for snakes. When I introduced him to what was at the time the largest rattlesnake in captivity, I told him that I would name it "Big John" in his honor. He laughed and insisted that we call it "Little John!" John was never the physically tallest man in an any room, but there is no doubt that he was looked up to by every person who ever met him. I have had three heros in my life and John White was one.

Terry L. Vandeventer
ABS MS

 

[jjtjr]

Terry that’s a great post about John.

I found a few more photos of John and thought I would post them.

John & Terry



John at Blade 2007



Mace Vitale with John & Jill 2008



Paul Long, John Klein & John at the 2011 Arkansas Show



John at Blade 2013



John at CKCA Dinner 2014



John with Henry Schexnader & wife CKCA Dinner 2014

 

[runwiththeherd]

To say the knives already posted are "stunning" is an understatement. I have added a few of my John White Knives from the "very early years" for all to see. I apologize in advance for my lack of photography skills.

Wayne

 

[BRTATCK]

I agree Terry. John was a superb knifemaker and a superb person too. Diane and I will always fondly remember an evening in Grapevine Texas when we went to dinner and discussed a lot of things, mostly not about knives. From his days in college to his boat building, it was great and what a story teller. We will miss him greatly.
Brion

 

[canineforge]

We collectors always get excited about a new knife, but John seemed to get as exicited about making them. Anyone else ever notice that?

I sure did. And, I happened to be visiting with John at his 2013 Little Rock Show table when Joe Mason walked through the door with John's 'Legacy 4' knife, freshly engraved, and being delivered back to its maker.

Did someone mention the sparkle in John's eyes? As to what Kevin states, you would think he was receiving a grail knife as a part of his personal collection, not observing the engraving for the first time on a knife he had spend countless hours creating.

His excitement was contagious.

- Joe

 

[jjtjr]

I was on John White's knife list when he passed away. He was going to make me a Twist Damascus and Walrus Ivory Dogbone folder to compliment my other John White knives. I would have probably received it sometime in the middle of 2015. Like some of my other John White knives, it would have been a first for John. Alas that won't happen.

As far as I know, John only made a few folding knives. In 2008 he attended a class at the ABS School in Old Washington, AR given by Johnny Perry. He posted a small thread back then about it:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ort-John-Perry-s-Slipjoint-class-Knife-Photos

In 2013 he spent time with Enrico Pena and made a lockback. He also posted a thread about that:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-Pena-Remington-1306-(Paul-Long-sheath-added)

Luckily because of another Forumite (Thanks Wayne), I was able to acquire the 2nd folder that John made back in about July 2008. I believe that he made it from the parts he finished at his course with Johnny Perry. It is a 3 1/4" ATS -34 drop point slipjoint with a half-stop. It has Mammoth Ivory scales. It might not be as fancy as my other John White knives, but I am proud to own it. If anyone knows how many folders that John actually made, I would like to hear about them.









Jim Treacy

 

[Kevin Jones]

John hadn't gotten around to making many folders however he liked having one in his pocket.

 

[Will York]

It would have been unthinkable to me when 2014 rolled in that we would leave John, Kit Carson and Joe Kious behind before year's end. The prolific lists of accomplishments by artists like these are even more amazing to me when I consider how short and how fragile life truly is.