R.I.P George Englebretsen

Mike, thanks for that touching post. Although I didn't know him, I feel like I am fortunate to be friends with guys who did and who were part of his life.

RIP George,
Brett
 
steelglint said:
George Englebretson was a great guy, a good friend and an extremely talented knifemaker. He helped dozens of guys get started including me. You could always count on George to have an answer. Hanging out at his shop was always a blast. He had some stories to tell! Sometimes there would be so many loafers hanging around he couldn't get any work done...lol. But there was always some knives in progress and a few finished ones in the drawer to drool over and remind you that he was the teacher. He retired from the police force in 1977 and made knives full time up until about a year ago when his health wouldn't let him continue. When he sold his equipment it was all bought up by local guys and seeing his shop empty was like going to a funeral.

Rest easy George and thanks for everything.

Monty
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Thank you.

It is nice to finally see someone who answered Ren's original question!
 
bdws1975 said:
Sorry Jackknife. Guess we should shut up.

George's funeral is tomorrow, the 21st. There should be quite a gathering of ok knife makers.

Take care,
Brett
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My condolences to George's friends and family. I see that he will definitely be missed, which is a considerable tribute to the man's life and character.

Somehow, when a person passes during the holidays, it's much harder to take. I understand these feelings, having felt them myself ... more times than I'd care to admit. :(
 
I am the owner of the knife pictured in this thread. George was a very caring and sharing person. He would do anything to help someone. He will be sorely missed. R.I.P George.

P.S. I hope that when I die no one says " so why should we care "
 
I did not know the man but him going home is a great lost to the knife community. My hat is off as respect. Rest in Peace George.
 
Didn't know George whatsover but i realize he has had made an impact in the lives of so many through his craft. There are very few people in the world that would share thier own craft and not expect anything in return. For those of you that knew him personally you definetly are better for it.

R.I.P George say hey to VG & Rob when you get there

aj
 
argel55 said:
For those (ignorant) George Lee Englebretson was buried today at Tuttle, Oklahoma, A decorated Korean veteran, Police Officer with the Oklahoma City Department, and accomplished artist whose craft was known world wide. He was an accomplished and professional guitar player when he wanted to be. An artist with charcoal, water colors, and oil medium and used this talent in his work with the Police to be part of a forgery and handwriting expert on the staff. His finest work was done in the medium of steel and leather. He was know locally not for his art knives but his solid usable knives. He gave away about as many as he was paid for and those he did sell he would only charge for materials and a little extra. Many a persn clamoured for his art when he went to one of his daily coffee meeting. He was the receptiant of the KGA Living History Award in 2006 because of how many knifemakers he had helped learn the craft. I was the person who was privledged to present this award to him and told him of the first time I remember seeing him how he was helping K&G ( Jim and Meg Keir) sell their wares when he did not have a table. He did not do this for his profit but to help a friend help the knife making craft. HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED NOT ONLY FOR HIS HELP TO MANY OF US BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF HIS VAST KNOWLEDGE. RIP George Mike Miller
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Finally someone takes the time to state who this gentleman was. Thank you.

Not to start a pooh storm...but Posts like

RIP HENRY GARLOCK...he will be missed...mean nothing to most of the populace in this forum. Simply put why should we care? was he your plumber?, your family friend? your father?, a great knife maker? Please take a moment to eulogize the person...

By the way ...Henry Garlock is a veteran of the war of 1812 who is buried in the cemetary across the street from my house.

It was not my intention to diss the recently departed, nor his lifes work, or his family left behind, nor his friends and fellow knife makers he helped. If you were offended please accept my sincere apologies. But would in not make sense on a PUBLIC forum that when posting of a persons passing that you take a few moments to share about the mans life and his passions as many have done since the original post? The ignorance of just posting a RIP assuming everyone knows who the recently departed is/was without the relevant information is maybe just as callous as asking why should we care.
 
I should practice what I preach and respect George by not fighting over this threat.

Best,

Brett

Ren the devils trailboss said:
Finally someone takes the time to state who this gentleman was. Thank you.

Not to start a pooh storm...but Posts like

RIP HENRY GARLOCK...he will be missed...mean nothing to most of the populace in this forum. Simply put why should we care? was he your plumber?, your family friend? your father?, a great knife maker? Please take a moment to eulogize the person...

By the way ...Henry Garlock is a veteran of the war of 1812 who is buried in the cemetary across the street from my house.

It was not my intention to diss the recently departed, nor his lifes work, or his family left behind, nor his friends and fellow knife makers he helped. If you were offended please accept my sincere apologies. But would in not make sense on a PUBLIC forum that when posting of a persons passing that you take a few moments to share about the mans life and his passions as many have done since the original post? The ignorance of just posting a RIP assuming everyone knows who the recently departed is/was without the relevant information is maybe just as callous as asking why should we care.
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bdws1975 said:
Well, so we have prove to YOU why we feel it necessary to write RIP? Justify all you want, it's rude regardless.

Brett
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What, exactly, did you expect from you original post? That everyone immediately recognize the name? That everyone who read the post jump onto Google and find out the information that you should have included, had you thought ahead about 4 seconds?

That said, Godspeed, George. Sounds like you will be missed, as you should be.
 
Again, with a tiny bit of forethought, it wouldn't have been necessary to ask.

Sorry, I didn't look back to see who the OP was.

No more on this subject. Out.
 
Sorry, I did not mean to stir up so much commotion with my original post. George is listed in Levine's guide to knives and many knives annuals. I am glad that someone clarified my post for me. I feel the same way when I see posts in the for sale forums that read: [WTT FFBM PROTO BOWIE / ASH1 Mag/ Pumpkin GW]. I merely ignore such posts, I don't bitch and whine about them. I am glad to see that there are some gentlemen here on the forums, and I thank you for being here.
George, forgive me for sullying your passing with incomplete information. R.I.P.
 
It was my honor to have been friends with George for over 35 years.
We were caving pardners and for a time shared an apartment.
I look back with fond memories of our canoe trips and camp outs.
George taught me the knife making trade but I didn't stay with it.
If he was your friend you could do no wrong. He would give you the shirt off his back and his last dollar. I know because during some really tough times for me he was there with a shoulder to lean on and a hand to help me up.
Without a doubt he was the best friend I have had in this life and he will be missed terribly.
So long pard...don't get to far ahead, I'll be there before too long.
Dick Sanders
 
lisalaw said:
Sorry, I did not mean to stir up so much commotion with my original post. George is listed in Levine's guide to knives and many knives annuals. I am glad that someone clarified my post for me. I feel the same way when I see posts in the for sale forums that read: [WTT FFBM PROTO BOWIE / ASH1 Mag/ Pumpkin GW]. I merely ignore such posts, I don't bitch and whine about them. I am glad to see that there are some gentlemen here on the forums, and I thank you for being here.
George, forgive me for sullying your passing with incomplete information. R.I.P.
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Howdy,
You have no need to apologize. Your post was appreciated and may George rest in peace.
Take care,
Brett
 
George Englebretsen lived in a modest white, wood framed house with a small shop in the back inside a converted garage. Every sort of fellow in the Oklahoma City area was welcome to drop by and visit while George worked and answered questions in his tight lipped, controlled style. I always came over ijn the mid morning hours to see what interesting knives George had finished out and stacked piecemeal on top of the small desk that sat just inside the screen door. George mostly made small skinners and hunters with beautifially hand ground blades. George loved D-2 steel blades. He never really got into what we would now call fancy or art knives. George made knives that an average man could afford and use in the woods. I have 15 of George's knives in two cases in my study. They remind me of a simple man who was a great artist and a good friend. George could be a bit cantankerous at times, but what a relief that was comparaed to the silver-lined bullshit we are subjected to from our leaders in Washington D.C. George was the real deal and there wll probably not be another creation of his like for some time to come.

I am grateful that George taught others like the talented Rick Menefee, who will surely continue his brilliant career in George's austere footsteps. For myself, I am content to count George as just another fine Oklahoman that I had the priviledge to meet along the way. John J. Culbertson, Oklahoman
 
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