Rob Simonich was a great man.

Spark

Spark

HPIC - Hatas gonna Hate
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I'm pretty much at a loss for words for this. Rob was one of the nicest guys in the industry. He was honest. His designs were innovative, and worked.

While it's commonplace for people to "cowboy up" these days and posture, Rob defined "what you see is what you get". He epitomized the Cowboy Way. He was honest; he gave from the heart, and if you needed anything, he was there for you.

As a knifemaker, his designs were innovative and exhibited a refined simplicity that was extremely effective. I talked with him last week, and had expressed to him how proud I was that all of his hard work was finally paying off.

He was a guy you looked forward to seeing every time. He was fun to be with, and a character at work and at play. He was a rarity in the knife business.
 
Rob was the biggest little guy I've ever met. I had the pleasure of meeting him in atlanta a couple years back. The way he handled himself around here I think was just a hint of what he really was like. He will be missed.... I will be praying for the family and his brother who was with him at the time...
 
i agree spark

rob was a talented maker and a great guy

he was a very generous man ... and always a pleasure to deal with

he will be missed...God be with his family
 
I met Rob years ago while he was still working in the mines as an engineer. He had a few blade designs and they were all excellent. We talked a lot on the phone and over time we became good friends. Rob shared my roof and the dirt with us. He was a great camp buddy, always ready to drink my coffee and just as ready to go out to get more wood.

When he decided to become a full time blademaker I had the honor of watching him grow and develop his style. Some cold nights he and I'd just chat on the phone for an hour, telling stories and sharing our hopes for the future. he was a star.

We often talked about my going along on his annual hunt with his brother. It was coming back from that hunt this year, with four deer in the truck, when the accident occurred.

His brother has severe injuries to his pancreas and other organs and has been flown to a larger hospital for a brain operation. There is no solid prognosis as I write this. There is just hope that he will recover. Christine is devastated.

Rob was one of those guys that lived life, he didn't just inhabit it. My world is less one good friend and brother. We all are a bit smaller for his passing.

Be well Rob.

Ron
 
I just got the call regarding Rob's passing, and I am totally at a loss for words. Rob was a great maker, designer, innovator, friend to the industry, and friend. I will treasure the time spent working on projects, traveling to shows, talking knives-hunting-guns-experiences, and wandering around in the woods when he came to South Carolina to visit.

Rob was a Man's Man, and without a doubt, lived life to its fullest. Most all of us should strive to be a little more like Rob, if we are able. I hope that all of the owners of Robs great knives, will think of him time to time when skinning out a buck, or opening a cardboard box. He made those knives to be used, honor his wishes!

My thought are with his family, above all, I will think about Rob's continuing journey, following the buffalo.

Travel well, Huka Hey Rob!

Will Fennell
CAMILLUS KNIVES
 
Rob Simonich... a knife guy, a gun guy and an overall good guy.

He never spoke poorly about anyone and everyone only had good things to say about him.

I am thankful to have known him and will always remember Rob for his cowboy hat and that big, friendly smile that was always on his face.
 
This is a sad moment in the knife world. Rob was one of kind.
He was a great person. God Bless him and his family.
 
I also knew Rob for several years. When I purchased one of his first Cetans a years ago, I had a sheath problem and he went way out of his way to correct the problem. I spent a couple of hours with him at the OKCA show a few years back and he was such a great guy to be around. We shared many laughs talking about BF. I still smile because when someone at the show would ask where Rob was, I would just say to look for a huge, black ten gallon hat bobbing down an aisle! What a great knifemaker and great success he was!
 
I'm a new knifemaker & didn't know Rob, but was well aware of what an energetic, rising star he was. From what I read, he left good feelings wherever he went. What a tragedy for all.
 
I don't know much about Rob, and I never purchaced any of his knives yet, but I do know one thing. He sure had a lot of people who respected him in this forum and others. I would read a lot of posts and his name would always come up and people on the posts were always glad to hear what he had to say. I am sure he will be sorley missed by his many freinds. I to would learn much from his posts. Kinda makes me wish I had said something to him and join in on the posts. Any way he made some sweet looking knives and from reading posts many people were happy with his knives and total service.

This is such a shock.

My deepest sympathy to his family and his freinds, especialy on the forums. God bless and rest in peace.
 
Sorry to hear the news. Can anyone post some pictures of his work for those of us who never got the chance to learn about him and his work?
 
It will never be the same without him.

I never had the privilege of meeting Rob in person, but I talked to him here on the forums on several occasions. He was always willing to share his knowledge and also went out of his way to help others develop new ideas from knives in general, to equipment, and new methods of heat treating. Thats how he was from the day I registered here right up until his last post. Even as his business was growing and taking up more of his time he was still here to answer a question or just for a laugh.

I can't imagine what this is like for his family, especially happening at this time of year. I'll keep them in my thoughts and prayers.
 
he was a great guy on irc.... when i first read posting about this, i thouht it was someone else. :(

my sympaties to robs family.
 
Shocked.... speechless.... what a loss.

robSHat.jpg
 
He always got a kick out of me teasing him about the giant brim of his cowbow hat --- he returned what I gave him in the same good natured manner. This is a real blow. Is any one doing a collection for the family ??
 
I only spoke to Rob once and have owned knives of his. I will treasure the mid tech Bitteroot I have. What stuck me about him was a nice, unassuming way - humorous and very open. It is much too young a time in life to pass on.
 
The magnitude of this loss cannot be measured or expressed.

I am so very sorry.

Bill Maniotes
 
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