Ralph Freer

Neil Ostroff

Neil Ostroff

Joined
Oct 6, 2001
Messages
677
California knifemaker RALPH FREER passed away on Sunday after suffering a heart attack. I believe he was only in his 50's.

Due to his own declining health and other family issues, Ralph had not been very active in the last few years but was, in his prime, a very talented knifemaker.

His designs were beautiful and always done with his artistic flair.

Ralph was a very generous man giving lots of advice and tips to local knife makers in Southern California and allowing them access to his shop where he would tutor them on technique and styling.

I had visited his shop several times from 2001-2003 and enjoyed watching him work and explain what he was doing. It was not only educational for me but I really enjoyed those visits.

Neil Ostroff / TNK
 
Thanks for letting us know. I knew Ralph and he and I traded off some supplies once and talked several times after that. He was a nice guy that went out of his way to do things for others on more than one occasion.

My thoughts go out to him and his family.

STR
 
Kim Freer called me with the bad news. Ralph was only 60

I spent several years working with him in his shop and saw a steady stream of guys come for help and to visit. Bruce Slater, Phil Ernest, Bob Gatz, and many others would come for hands-on help or advice and lunch down by the Seal Beach pier. Ralph was a fine teacher with a lot of patience and was generous with his time and materials

I learned an awful lot from the guy and will miss him
 
I will always be deeply indebted to Ralph for giving me a life after retirement. He taught me to make knives from the ground up shortly before I retired. He became my best friend, teacher, inspiration and idea man. Ralph's mind was always filled with ideas. Really good one's too !!! I thought of Ralph and his family as a part of my own family. I was also fortunate to meet Jeff Hall who was working with Ralph at the time. Jeff helped me and advised me every time we got together. I sincerely hope that Ralph's memory and contributions to knife making will always be recognized.
 
I was lucky to meet him through Phil, and Kathy and I both will miss him alot. I was visiting him and Kim on Friday evening, and he was doing great. His heart had checked out fine for a recent back surgery. On Saturday I understand he complained of a gastric reflux type feeling above his stomach, and then the heart attack took him on Sunday. Goes to show you that any unusual pain or pressure really in either shoulder or anywhere above the stomach in guys over 50 should be looked at quickly. I've heard that before but never seen it up close. Be careful out there.
 
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