The Girl's got grit!

M

mike draper

Joined
Nov 20, 1999
Messages
88
Without a doubt the toughest thing for me to do, is to stand by my wife, in her knifemaking career, specifically the dangers that go with knifemaking. I've kinda grown accustomed to seeing her once delicate hands, burned, scarred, cut and dirty. Audra is trying for her Mastersmith rating with the ABS, she's passed the performance test and the dagger passed last year, but 2 knives failed their test."No problem, next year" she said, looking forward to the 2000 blade show. After the Christmas rush things settle down and business slows for several months, we figured that would be a good time for her to devote to the MS knives... well this year business has been great, no spare time with all those orders, so she got a late start, and has been doing nothing else for the better part of 3 months now. Well today she was working on knife #4, and was polishing the blade... and you guessed it... the buffer grabbed the blade, she did'nt lose her grip, but the momentum carried the knife full circle and into the back of her right hand. So after a good cry, she wraps it up and heads for town (8 miles) about half way there she remembered that she had left another blade in the etch... So turn around, back home, rescue the blade from the etch, then back to town..(first things first ya know!!) 5 stitches later, no tendon damage(THANK GOD!) some nerve damage, but all things considered, could have been worse I guess... All this happened around 2pm she did'nt call me till 6pm, its now 9pm here in Wyo. and where's Audra? She crammed her hand into a latex glove and is back in the shop working on knives... The Girl has GRIT!!! Mike
 
Hiya Mike!
Sorry to hear about your wife's booboo.
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Like you say, good thing she didn't hit the tendon. Chances are that she's more POed than hurt, right?
There's an opinion that women are able to take far more pain than men (Guys wouldn't be able to handle the pain of giving birth... heck, we couldn't handle the pain of dealing with GUYS for that matter!!)
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If you remember, send my best wishes for a speedy recover, ok?

Might not be a bad idea to post the link where her knives are featured. Seems as if she has all the business that she can handle, but I'm sure the folks here would like to see her work just the same.

Helpfull Note: Add a picture of yourself, preferably looking psychotic, waving many weapons in a dangerous manner, just to keep Audra from getting love letters from guys that see her picture.
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All the Best,
VG

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Hi Mike,

I always have respect for woman who can bite the bullet and go head-on with whatever obstacle that may stop her from reaching her goal. Salute......and may Audra have a speedy recovery!
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VG - Haha! Thank God I know when to draw the line!
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If Audra's blades are anywhere near as tough as she is then I'm sure she's gonna pass! Get well soon.

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"Come What May..."
 
Preservance may not guarantee success but it sure plays a big part!

sing

AKTI #A000356
 
VG says "Chances are that she's more POed than hurt, right?"

Yep, Got to tell you, the tears I cried were of pure anger!
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The thought of not being able to finish my last test blade, took it's toll on me. I really had to take a moment and gather myself together, before I could even get to town. I knew what the Dr. was going to say to me. ( your going to have to let it heal) in other words don't use it! I didn't go to the hostpital, instead I went to my local Dr. She knows me pretty well, and always works for knives! As she was stitching she began to say the words.... I just said to her " then you had better stitch it up tighter than that, cuz I got one more knife to finish! It will have to heal later.
I really isn't in a place that will give me any problems.. Knife landed between the thumb and the index finger. Only problem is when I move the thumb or index finger! I really appreaciate all the get well's from you guys.
Really doesn't hurt. except when I use it!
I will finish my last knife! But I think that the silver inlay isn't gonna happen, hopefully the judges will keep an open mind to a very simple handle.!
As for the other knives I have done, VG I tried to read up on how to post a picture , but I got to tell ya I don't have time to figure it out right now! so... If you want to see them go the photopoint.com and type in my E-mail address adraper@wyoming.com and you can see the three knives that I have finished and the dagger that I made and passed last year. Thanks friends.. got to get back out to the shop! gonna go pretty slow left handed! Audra Draper
 
Audra, you certainly seem like an inspirationally determined woman who is dedicated to her craft. I wish you the best of luck and a speedy recovery.
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Hi Audra,

I received the Blade Show Pass that you sent, Thank you very much!

Very Sorry to hear about your accident. The main thing is that you were not seriously injured! I'm certain that the incident hurt twice as much since you were so close to finishing your project! I respect your determination.

Hopefully your hand will be healed (despite your best efforts
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) by the time the Blade Show arrives. I hope to meet you and see your knives, but I wont force you to shake hands.
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Take Care.



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Marine Sniper Motto:
There's no use Running, you'll only Die Tired!
 
Audra! Sorry to hear about your "accident", good thing you are a woman and can handle the pain!
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Good luck at the show - I'll see you there.

Everyone else: look for the Draper Knives ad in the August Blade Show edition of Blade Magazine.

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Wow, nice set of MS blades Audra,I dont think you will have a problem getting the stamp! Good luck, and speedy recovery. A couple weeks ago I cut my left forefinger real deep while peeling Tipi poles with an old drawknife of all things. I put a couple stiches in it and it is pretty much healed up. Dosent it always seem to happen right when the crunch is on?
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See you at Blade!

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www.simonichknives.com
 
Hope Audra heals quickly and well. Sometimes ya gotta give some blood to your craft. Unluckily for me, my craft requires a bleeding stomach ulcer. I could only dream of the day my wife is busy grinding blades. God bless!

Professor.
 
Men feel strong.
Women are tough.
That's why homo sapiens still exists.

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D.T. UTZINGER
 
Salut! Those are some beauuuuutiful blades, I hope you are very succesful this time! Sorry to hear of your injury. Take care of those hands because I need to see more of those blades!

Take care!

Brandon

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I've got the schizophrenic blues
No I don't
Yes I do...
 
Beautiful knives, Audra! Best of luck, and get well soon!

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AKTI Member #A000832

"Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes, the bear eats you."
 
VG,

Some of the Drapers' work... Audra Draper has one page near the top, and the Draper kids have another page toward the bottom because all of their knives are sold.

http://www.bladegallery.com/maker.htm

Ryan

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For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23


 
Audra - Better hurry up and heal cuz I think there's gonna be a buncha new orders in the mail soon!
By the way, if you want to minimize the scarring, get some Vitamin E cream and rub it on the spot after the cut seals up. I tripped over my dog a couple of years ago and rammed my arm through a plate glass table. The cut was about 4 inches wide and about an inch deep. I calmly called 9-1-1, then called my neighbor and asked him to stop by and assist, walked downstairs to my truck, got my trauma bag ( I B A EMT) then told him how to bandage it. I was cool as a cucumber until the ambulance arrived. They removed the bandage to have a look, so naturally I looked too, and promptly passed out.
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Anyways, after it closed up, I liberally doused the wound with Vitamin E and while the scar is still there, it's definitely something you have to look for in order to notice it.
Get better soon, Audra.
VG
PS, Zut&Zut- You said:
Men feel strong.
Women are tough.
That's why homo sapiens still exists.
Click to expand...
There's another quote from a famous American Philosopher, George Carlin that goes....
Women are crazy.
Men are stupid.
Women are crazy because men are stupid.
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