Some Sad Red Trout Knives News

Rich was a fine gentleman - he will be missed in the knife collecting community and his family. I was fortunate enough to visit him once at his home when he lived in Cornelius NC (North Charlotte) back in the spring of 2012. Rich showed me some of his extensive collection of vintage Schrade knives - most marked as Salesman's samples. He let me buy a couple of hard to find knives - a new in the wrap Schrade-made third version Buck 301, and an early Canal Street doctors knife. Just a real gentleman. OH
 
This is very sad to hear of Richards passing. Talking to him on the phone only last week regarding his latest run of knives. Prayers And thoughts go out to his family. Rest in peace Richard.

Russell
 
Eric,
On behalf of our family I want to thank you for your kind words. On all my calls and visit with my father he spoke so highly of you and your craftsmanship. For a while I thought i may have had a brother. I have a few knives myself. I am so happy to see how the people on this forum loved him and his knives. My father collected many things but he always loved knives, especially pocket knives. When I would go see him he would love to show me all his collectibles and rare knives. To make his own knife was his dream. My mother helped with the shipping and trying to keep the orders(and mostly him) straight. He was excited to ship to each of you. He knew each and everyone of you shared his love of knives. My sister did a great job on the last batch of trying to get everyone their orders. His health was declining at the end.

When we would ride through the Catskills on fishing adventures as a kid he would always point out the Schrade factory. He loved the Schrade brand and fishing trout in the Catskills. Part of him will be laid to rest in the waters in Roscoe. He had such an in-depth knowledge of the craft. To each of you that purchased his knives my father was never in it for the money. My father just loved knives, he loved having conversations with each and everyone of you. I can tell you for a fact he would refer to each and everyone of you in my conversation as a friend not a customer.

I wanted to enclose a picture of my father in his younger years where he embodied the spirit of great adventure. He traveled to the northernest most part of Canada to fish in uncharted places. Or as he would like to say where no other human has been. As Eric said he could spin a yarn!

Our family will miss him.
His spirit and sense of adventure will live on through the Redtrout pocket knives.


F. Lanigan
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I only talked to him once, and even in telling me that the Red Trout knives were sold out he was what I’d call warm. Seemed happy that a young person was interested in the knives, just a feeling I got. My condolences to his family.
 
Frank it's great to finally meet you, only I wish it wasn't under these circumstances. It's so awesome of you to share that picture, just as he described it. It's nice to finally get a visual of a place he's spoken so fondly of. I remember his visits to Canal Street Cutlery. I was constantly getting yelled at by the boss for not getting back to work because I just couldn't tear myself away from one of his stories of the great white north, or Schrade factory shenanigans with Dave Swinden, or card games in Mississippi. The list goes on and on. LOL
I'm so sorry for your loss Frank, I know we can't live forever but it's never easy for those we leave behind. Those knives aren't the only legacy he left behind, more important is the wonderful family he helped bring into this world.

Eric
 
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This is very sad news. Thanks for sharing Eric. I've only been collecting knives for a handful of years and I was lucky enough to come in contact with him early on. I bought a couple knives on ebay from him and he sent me a letter with his phone number to give him a call (I still have it). For whatever reason he took me under his wing and was somewhat of a knife mentor to me. He also put me in contact with Eric, which was pretty awesome of him. I never got to meet him, but I got the privilege to bullshit with him every so often.

The first time I called him, his wife hung up on me because she thought I was a telemarketer. After that I would tell her my name, and almost excited to hear from me would give him the phone. Little did I realize his grandson or nephew was named Corey, so she thought I was him, haha. So even when he was sick, eating, busy, etc... I had a direct line to him. We would talk about family, knives, his stories and so on for a good hour or so.

I will miss these conversations with him. Thoughts and prayers to his family. He was such a character, and giving person. I only wish I could have had a beer with him. Rest in peace Mr. Redtrout.
 
This is so sad to read. I'm glad he got to realize his dream, and his knives were well received thanks to the skill of Eric.

Sounds like he lived a life full of love and adventure!
 
Frank Lanigan said:
Eric,
On behalf of our family I want to thank you ..
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Frank, thank you so much for sharing about your father, his relationship with Eric, and that wonderful photo of him. What a legacy. I spoke with Rich several times when purchasing Red Trout knives and loved every moment of our calls. As I am in Minnesota, he told me the reason we Minnesotans now go fishing in Canada is because he was personally responsible for catching all the fish in our 10,000 lakes. Then he went on to recount stories of how he did it. Just wonderful moments with a man who obviously meant a great deal to his family. I am glad - and not surprised at all - to learn of his faith. I will treasure the mementos I have - five Red Trout knives, all a memory of the great Richard Lanigan.
 
I had/have never communicated or talked with either of you, Eric - our sharp world is a wee bit duller with Rich's passing.

By the sounds of it, he brought a great deal of light to family and folk and into our knifey hobby........I am sure he is resting in peace.
 
Sorry to hear this news, I don't know how I missed this thread from the 12th.
I too had the pleasure of conversation with Richard. I remember a few weeks ago, I called while my wife was in the grocery store. I was parked under a shade tree in the parking lot while she shopped. I figured I'd have plenty of time to order a knife and kibbitz a bit. Ha...my wife did her shopping, loaded it in the car all the while I was enjoying Richards stories.
Prayers of comfort to his family and friends.
 
@llkrakenll Mike, I wanted to make sure you had a chance to see this thread. I know you enjoyed your talk with Mr. Lanigan
 
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