RIP Paul Champagne, 1963-2009

Kohai999

Kohai999

Second Degree Cutter
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http://www.thearma.org/Paul_Champagne.htm

I met Paul Champagne at the Ashokan Gathering for Swords in 2000...we hit it off pretty well, bonding over his love of bandanna headwraps(doorags) and my making them, Japanese Swords, Dodge Dakotas/Durangos, good wine.....and have remained friends since then.

I called for him today at Bader Company to talk about doorags, and tell him about how great it would be to see him next year at Ashokan, and was informed of his passing.

Paul was an INCREDIBLY quiet and reserved man of extreme intelligence, hard work, passionate humor and intense curiosity.

I am in a bit of shock right now at this news, but wanted to share it with you all.

One of the REALLY GREAT ones has left the planet.:(

Best Regards, and with great sadness,

STeven Garsson
 
Kinda hits home as he was only three years older than me.

I met Paul at the Knifemaker's Guild Show in Orlando.
He had just "tested" a sword of own making. I believe it was orishigane but not sure. It was a traditional test performed on an antique Japanese helmet. I don't remember the name of the practitioner but the video was very impressive.

Hell of a nice guy - beautiful work.

Prayers sent.
 
Michael Starr said:
I met Paul at the Knifemaker's Guild Show in Orlando.
He had just "tested" a sword of own making. I believe it was orishigane but not sure. It was a traditional test performed on an antique Japanese helmet. I don't remember the name of the practitioner but the video was very impressive.

Hell of a nice guy - beautiful work.

Prayers sent.
Click to expand...

It was a sword that he made of iron bearing sand collected from the banks of lakes and rivers surrounding his home. It was Toshishiro Obata Sensei that he provided with the sword.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
My condolences to Paul's family. His passing was mentioned on Don Fogg's Forum and the Swords International Forum, but I did not see it until today.

Here is a link with some information about Mr. Champagne:

http://mevecfuneralhome.com/?p=obituary_view&id=10001913

I never met him, but I had seen a couple of examples of his work and it was obvious from what I saw, that he was a great Swordsmith.
 
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Bummer. I heard a rumor about him passing a couple of weeks ago when folks were talking about the release of "Reclaiming The Blade" but I hadn't heard anything more. That is sad and also a bit scary as I am two years older than he was.:(
 
Sorry to hear this, STeven. Jeez, I've also had at least two CLOSE friends pass with their first and only heart attack at midlife. Not fair.

I remember watching a Discovery Channel documentary with him in it a few years ago. I enjoyed his talents. I wish him peace.

Coop
 
Sorry to hear about this STeven. As we get older, we see this more and more often, but it never gets any easier.
 
my condolences.
 
STeven I am in shock I knew Paul well as you know. I have been to his home and seen him forge he even let me swing the hammer a bit. I have one of his Katanas that he made to my specs and he also restored and built saya for a blade I have that is over 300 years old. He was a great man and a remarkable bladesmith. I am very bummed glad I knew him.
 
on_the_edge said:
Sorry to hear about this STeven. As we get older, we see this more and more often, but it never gets any easier.
Click to expand...

It is so true.

The thing about Paul, or Paulie, as I liked to call him is....

He was STRONG, low body fat, watched what he ate, strong like a tree trunk is strong, you looked at Paul, you talked to him, you figured he would be the last one to turn the lights off.....live to 100+ years, laughing the whole time.

Gone, man, gone.....forever, and they don't build them like him at the factory, Paul was built by the higher power for a higher purpose.

Crap, I really will miss him.:(

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
STeven I found this quote in an interview done with Paul. This is what he was about and what defined him as one of the greats



Always test. Never assume everything went well without testing it. You will have to test some of your pieces to their destruction to find out your limits. Never stop.



Paul Champagne
 
Here is an old pic of the Katana Paul made for me along time ago. This is one of his user grade blades. It is superbly balanced and a strong cutter
swords008.jpg
 
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JParanee said:
STeven I am in shock I knew Paul well as you know. I have been to his home and seen him forge he even let me swing the hammer a bit. I have one of his Katanas that he made to my specs and he also restored and built saya for a blade I have that is over 300 years old. He was a great man and a remarkable bladesmith. I am very bummed glad I knew him.
Click to expand...

Joe, it was great seeing that sword again. I made the saya for Paul. We had a good time making those....
 
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