The other side of Terry Vandeventer

[John M Cohea]

We all know that ABS Mastersmith Terry Vandeventer makes a great knife,and a few of us know that his "real job" is as a herpetologist.
This week end Terry and his lovely wife were in my local area putting on a few shows at a Sportsman's Expo that was going on,and for the first time in all the years I've known Terry,I finally got the chance to see waht he does for his main living.
Now I have never been one that has liked snakes,and followed the old ideaology that the only good snake was a dead snake,and would not hesitate to take one out if I encounterd one.After this week-end,I no longer feel like that.Terry is passionate about what he does,and it clearly shows in his work.He certainly changed my views and opinions about snakes,and me and my family enjoyed Terry's programs this week-end!The tall lanky kid in the last picis my son Dakota.

 

[kimsalls]

Thanks for posting. I love his snake makers mark.

 

[M.Griffin]

I posted a thread about a rattlesnake in my shop a few years back, and Terry chimed in with some interesting info. Changed my perspective a bit too, but that is usually the case when you talk to someone who knows what they are talking about. Here is the thread: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/683538-Unwelcome-shop-visitor?highlight=rattlesnake

-Mike

 

[Bruce Bump]

Very interesting. I had no idea Terry could handle snakes. I kinda feel bad about my rattle snake inlays on my new gun rig Kid Terico made me. They sure are nice though.

 

[Allen Newberry]

That's pretty cool!

 

[peterinct]

I've always liked snakes and had heard about Terry being a herpetologist, which is cool.

Funny how so MANY people have numerous false beliefs about snakes, such as them being "slimy".

Steve Irwin (aka Crocodile Hunter may he RIP) was a master at wrangling/handling snakes, and his enthusiasm was contagious.

Peter

 

[D lisch]

That is cool John I had no idea Terry was into snakes like that I keep snakes as a kid and we would eat a rattler now and then.

 

[cj65]

Awesome!

I have a friend that I went out herpin' with and we found 22 snakes in 2 hrs. It was a blast. All the snakes were photographed and put back where we found them. Truly a great time. I look forward to next spring where herpin' is at it's best in So Cal.

Thank you for being an ambassador. I get upset when people say they kill snakes any time they see one, even a rattler.

Here are some photos of 2 trips, one is in Mohave CA at night, and the other is in Camarillo CA
CJ

 

[Terry L. Vandeventer]

Thanks John,

Good seeing you last weekend, and Ginger is thrilled by the ear rings.

Glad to see that there are so many snake fans out there. Just for everybody's interest, "Little John" the big Eastern Diamondback in the photo series is, to the best we can determine, currently the largest rattlesnake in the world. Not a record but he's a whopping 6 foot, 9 inches and 24 pounds in weight. John will tell you that he's a big pussy cat.

Cheers,

TV

 

[RogerP]

Snaketastic!

 

[B . Buxton]

Cool Pics John, My mother in law has an old farm house that gets a few snakes as visitors every year, my wife has talked with Terry several times at knife shows about ways to keep them out and he's been very helpful.

Bill

 

[Matthew Gregory]

Just for everybody's interest, "Little John" the big Eastern Diamondback in the photo series is, to the best we can determine, currently the largest rattlesnake in the world. Not a record but he's a whopping 6 foot, 9 inches and 24 pounds in weight. John will tell you that he's a big pussy cat.

Cheers,

TV

I KNEW it was a crotalid, but holy COW is he huge!!!! I've never seen one that big before! Kept looking at the markings in the photo and thinking "well, what else could it be...?".

Mr. Vandeventer, was he captive born or wild caught? My experiences with North American pit vipers is woefully lacking, although I once owned a mated pair of sistrurus miliarus barbouri. Never got comfortable with keeping them...

 

[Paul Savage]

I've always been very leery and plain out scared to death of those slithering satanistic demons but Terry gave me a whole new appreciation "gulp" for these cute little things. His passion for them kind of peaked my interest albeit on the cautious side.