Updated, winners announced! Giveaway! Who inspired you?

[glennbad]

I've never done one of these. Been a little nostalgic lately, and reading about Chris' mom got me thinking. We have all had people that have impacted us in our lives, whether while growing up or even currently. Someone who perhaps helped mold you into the person you are today.

So for this giveaway, I'd like to hear about who inspired you, currently inspires you, or had an impact on your life. Could be a parent. Could be the uncle that took you fishing. Could be the scout leader. Could be a teacher that pushed you to work harder. Could be your best friend that you always got in trouble with growing up. You get the idea. Please let us know why this person inspires you, and stories are always welcome.

Anyone can participate in this giveaway. Drawing will be random by your first post number. (ETA, there will be three winners, one for each knife. I didn't know if that was clear)

Now for what I am offering. Sorry, no safe queens or minty knives. I've got three "used" stockmans. There's a Schrade Walden 879, an Old Timer 34OT, and an Ulster Old Timer. All have carbon blades. These knives have been used, but not by me. They are offered pretty much as I received them. There is some blade loss, peppering, etc. However, all the knives have solid snap and will make fine users. It's getting tougher to find the older Schrades, unless you are willing to pay for them. I have not really "cleaned" them, other than to remove some surface rust and gunk. I will leave that to the winners, if they wish. That's half the fun of getting something "new". Pic of the knives...

I'll start this off. My dad inspires me, but not necessarily from when I was younger. It's been more recent. He has been battling illness over the years, and we have come close to losing him more than once. He was on dialysis for several years, but last year got a kidney, and things are going better for him. What inspired me is his attitude about everything he's had to go through. He never seemed to get down about stuff, even when things were not looking good for him. That spririt I'm sure helped him (and us) get through the tough times. It helped me when I needed my bypass in '09. It was a shock for me given my age and decent health, but reminding myself about what my dad went through kept me from getting depressed and kept my spririts up through my recovery.


I'll let this go at least a week, maybe more if there is good interest.

Thanks for looking.

The winners, picked by a random number generator, are:

Hughewil
Orca8589
RWC53
Smebbin

I wil be contacting you each separately. There were so many great responses, I threw a 4th knife in so there could be 4 winners.

Glenn

 

[mnblade]

Cool idea for a giveaway! My mom's dad dropped out of school in around the third grade. As a kid he ran a bit of moonshine in Kentucky and then, as an adult, moved up to Chicago, where he played sax in a dance band and worked in a department store (where he met my grandmother). With four little ones at home, he volunteered for the army during WWII and came home with one arm and two Purple Hearts. About the time I was born, he finally came to terms with his alcoholism and was dry for the last 20+ years of his life. He also went back to school in his 70s and earned his high school equivalency diploma and then his two-year associates degree from a community college. He was working on his bachelors when he died. He was my best friend and I miss him every day still.

-- Mark

 

[Chinpo]

Great giveaway.
I don't think anyone has had such a GREAT influence on me, but when I was around 10 years old I had a school teacher called Mr. Cooban. He had been an officer in the Parachute regiment until injury had forced him out. He went back to school and became a teacher. He was a strict disciplinarian, but if you were straight with him, he was a helpful, inspiring and kind man. He's the one person that really got me into reading. He liked fantasy and Sci-Fi, so I started reading books he recommended. I still love reading to this day and it's all because of him.

 

[wintermute]

One of the biggest positive influences in my life was my high school German teacher. He's one of those teachers that believes that teaching doesn't end when the kids leave the class, and that eventhough he was a German teacher, that wasn't the only subject that he should teach. He taught me to be cultured and respectful, how to enjoy and learn from everything around me. How not to let peer pressure, machoism, etc. get in the way of learning, how to be an open book that needs to be constantly written in. He gave us kids a world-class education that he got even the most tough stubborn knuckleheaded kids to appreciate. He brought us to Germany and showed us things that a tour guide could never find. He got us in tails and bowties and ball gowns and had us perform formal dances in front of ambassadors. He took a bunch a bunch of punk-a$$ kids and made us into ladies and gentlemen.

Shoot! While waxing nostalgic I forgot to thank you for your generosity Glenn. Thank you very much!

 

[crbauhs]

The biggest influence on my life has been my dad for sure. First off his father left when he was three, his brothers were all 15+ years older than him. He had no real male influence in his life. He taught himself how to repair cars, use tools, do basic man things all on his own. During his senior year in highschool, he played football. He had a full ride scholarship to The Ohio State University. He was rated the number 2 tightend in all of Ohio. His last game of his senior year i the 4th quarter his knee got blown out. There went his scholarship. To double the trouble his mom got cancer. She died soon after. Then my dad decided to join the navy. He married my mom, and had three kids in 5 years. He raised us all, without my mom working, on enlisted pay. He missed birthdays, holidays, anniversaries. But he pushed through. He retired as a Senior Chief. Right before he retired he finished his second masters degree from Oklahoma University while we lived in Japan. His hard work finally payed off as he hot a great job he enjoys, a huge beautiful house he loves, and he is celebrating his 26th wedding anniversary this week. He is also starting up his own business that he has talked about as long as I can remember.

So all in all, my dad has inspired me the most. He pushed through the turmoil and showed me how a man is supposed to act. How I am supposed to do whatever I have to do, sacrifice whatever I have to to take care of my family. He inspired me to go to college and do well. Im now in my senior year at college with a 3.6 GPA because of him. Im here in Maryland helping him start his business with the intention of managing it for him when I graduate.

Sorry for the long post but if I turn out even half as good a man as he is then I consider myself a success.

 

[never too sharp]

I am currently inspired by my hardworking, caring, nurturing and beautiful wife, my brilliant, fun and silly 5 year old son and my retired father, who is going back to England next month to walk another 70 miles and work on his third book. They all make me try to be a better person.

Thanks for the chance.

Rog

 

[Blues]

I am inspired by Ken Erickson and have told him this many times over the past few years.

A lesser man would have allowed the misfortune that befell Ken to turn him into a shell of his former self.
Ken, like a phoenix, rose from those ashes and is probably the most "able" man I know.

From making incredible knives to getting out and snowplowing his neighbor's yard to fixing lawnmowers there is nothing, and I mean virtually nothing that this man cannot do. And he does it without asking for help or sympathy.

I am honored and humbled that such a man would bestow such a gift of friendship as he has shared with me. (And I'm not talking about the knives...I'm talking about respect and friendship.)

He truly is my hero. (And though I am older than Ken, he is right up there with my grandfather as one of the folks I've most looked up to in my life.)

 

[wagglebee]

Not an entry

I am inspired by Ken Erickson and have told him this many times over the past few years.

A lesser man would have allowed the misfortune that befell Ken to turn him into a shell of his former self.
Ken, like a phoenix, rose from those ashes and is probably the most "able" man I know.

From making incredible knives to getting out and snowplowing his neighbor's yard to fixing lawnmowers there is nothing, and I mean virtually nothing that this man cannot do. And he does it without asking for help or sympathy.

I am honored and humbled that such a man would bestow such a gift of friendship as he has shared with me. (And I'm not talking about the knives...I'm talking about respect and friendship.)

He truly is my hero. (And though I am older than Ken, he is right up there with my grandfather as one of the folks I've most looked up to in my life.)

Elliott, that is a wonderful post! I've never met Ken, but I'm sure he's every bit as amazing as you say.


The person who probably inspired me the most was my great-grandfather, he passed away when I was twelve, but there isn't a day that I don't think about him.

 

[Blues]

Elliott, that is a wonderful post! I've never met Ken, but I'm sure he's every bit as amazing as you say.


The person who probably inspired me the most was my great-grandfather, he passed away when I was twelve, but there isn't a day that I don't think about him.

Thanks, Rob. I've no doubt that you'd feel exactly as I do. And very much like your own case, my maternal grandfather remains my most fond relation and though he died when I was not yet 9 1/2, he remains in my thoughts daily.

(My apologies in advance for taking up a second post to respond to Rob...)

 

[glennbad]

(My apologies in advance for taking up a second post to respond to Rob...)

No apologies necessary...I am enjoying the discussion as well.

 

[Peruna1998]

Not an entry.

I am inspired by my dad. He always believed two things were important in raising a kid, education and being there. My parents scrimped and saved and found ways I hardly imagine to put me into private schools. We were by no means the cultural elite of Memphis, but I went to school with them. He pushed me to make the most of that opportunity, and I parlayed my excellent education into a full college scholarship, a Fulbright, and law school. Secondly, my dad believed it was important to be an active force in my life. My mom was often sick and went back to college when I was young. Even though my dad worked, he was active in my Cub Scout pack, becoming Pack Leader. He was active in my Boy Scout Troop, becoming Assistant Scout Master. He taught me to shoot, and we shot competitively for years. When I played sports, he not only made every game, he made every practice...EVERY PRACTICE. I could look up any break in the action at practice, and he would be there watching. After practice, never was there a harsh word, always advice and constructive criticism.

I try hard to live up to that example. I fail at it a lot. It is hard to provide for your family and be there all the time. I know, I try.

 

[hughewil]

My mom inspired me the most I guess. She raised me to be independent and tough minded. She told me not to care what others thought to just do what I knew was right. She also put family first, my dad had a drinking problem coming back from Nam but she stuck with it even through the tough times when she had every right to leave.

 

[silenthunterstudios]

Thanks for the chance. Three people have inspired me in my life, in regards to work.

One, Mr. Paul, was the shop foreman for the body/fender and paint department of the dealership next door to my father's. Even after losing a leg, not many men I knew have worked harder. Even though he was in pain, he still made it to work. On crutches or in his golf cart he used to get around the commercial park, he was a worker. He was also a friend to many, including my father and I, and many people are still saddened to hear of his death, years later.

The other two were my managers when I worked at Walmart. My direct manager, for a time, was a lady named Deb. She came in all hours of the day, and pushed herself to the limit. We were part of the inventory control team, and you had to be flexible. She was another great example of a hard worker. She might jokingly complain and verbally spar with our store manager, but she always got the job done, and done right.

The third person who had a big impact on me, was our store manager, whose motto was always "Work smart".

I try to bring these values to my current job.

 

[orca8589]

Great stories so far. (And I'd agree: Mr. Erickson is quite an inspiration.)

Where I grew up in North Carolina, most families still had the 'Patriarch' or 'Matriarch' of the family, the oldest clear-headed member, aka:the 'Elder', the 'Keeper of the Word' (this person was the one who kept the old family bible & family history, that was passed to the next 'Elder' upon the previous one's death), the one we went to for help, for direction, who bore witness to all family occasions, who provided a swift kick in the butt when we needed it, and a listening ear when we needed that too. For almost twenty years, for my dad's side of the family, it was his mother.

So, with that little bit of history, I'd say one of my greatest inspirations in life is my Paternal Grandmother. Her name was Dixie, but her friends all called her 'Dick'; it was not a crude name at all, but an affectionate nickname bestowed upon her by her own family growing up, if I remember correctly.

Through my parents divorce, a lot of moving around, going to several schools, and trying to navigate through all the crazy gyrations of adolescence, my dad's mother was the one who helped me the most. She trusted me, gave me my solitude when I needed it, let me rant and yell about all the frustrations I felt at the time, and kept me (sometimes VERY sternly) aimed on the path that would allow me to find my purpose, eventually.

I lived with her for a time in Montana, and it was the best couple of years of my life. During this time, I learned to shoot, hunt, fish (she was the absolute arch-enemy of all fish - she was an amazing fisher-woman), and, when she felt is was okay for me to have a better knife than what I was carrying, she let me buy a Buck 119. (She liked the Buck brand, and she really liked my Buck Special.)

We always stayed in touch over the years, and she passed on in 2007. One of the greatest joys in my life was the day she got to meet my son, her great-grandson. She was like a kid again.

I could write a ton more, but I'll just say that for inspiration, direction, and general guidance, it would have to be my grandmother.

~Chris

 

[col902]

The person that inspired me in my life the most so far is my dad. He was born in Poland, and then lived until 2 in a Nazi work camp. His parents immigrated to the US to start a new life. They came to Georgia and became farmers. My dad was one of 11 children. He worked from the age of 10 on the weekends. He had to clean 3 chicken coops 100 yards long. He never complained about. working even though he was missing out on some of the things that children should do, like playing with friends. He was very poor while growing up. In school, he worked very very hard. He got to the top of his class. He got accepted to MIT and got almost a full scholarship (which he needed because his parents couldn't pay for it). He went through MIT and now is a very wealthy business man. He gives back to his community and family, which gave him a chance to make a new life here in the states. My dad showed me that you really can do anything if you work very hard and set your mind to it. He went from a poor farmer boy to a wealthy business man that graduated from MIT. This is how my dad inspired me throughout my life.

 

[Tahts-a-dats-ago]

Thank you for such a generous offer. But more importantly, thank you for creating such an interesting thread; it’s wonderful to read the stories of those ordinary people who have had an extra-ordinary impact upon our individual lives.

I’ve found inspiration from many throughout my life; among the most notable are the following:

My paternal grandmother – always full of life and eager for new experiences, she was a little ball of dynamite who truly lived life. Though she left me with many fond memories, perhaps the following short story best explains the character of the woman I so dearly miss.

Back when I was a young man in my early twenties, I had purchased a motorcycle and, being the proud owner, decided to ride it to my grandmother’s house so I could show it off. Though she was nearly 80 at the time, Grandma immediately asked me to give her a ride on my new bike.

I did, and true to form, Grandma absolutely loved the feel of freedom as we rode around for the next hour or so. Upon returning to her home, she announced that she had decided she was going to purchase her own motorcycle. (My father wasn’t too pleased with her decision, and it was only with considerable effort that he managed to convince her not to purchase her own motorcycle.)


My father – probably the hardest worker I’ve ever known. Growing up, we didn’t have much money and I witnessed many occasions when my father went without so his five children could have some of the luxuries children often think are necessities. He never hesitated to lend a hand whenever someone needed help and I’ve yet to hear a single word of complaint escape his lips. At 70 he still puts in a sixty-hour work week and he still makes the time to help anyone in need.

My Uncle – a rough and tumble bear of a man with a heart of gold. I don’t think he’s ever heard of the word “quit.” At 75 he’s still farming 500 acres of cropland and raising cattle, but – like my father – he’ll find the time to help anyone in need of a hand.

Little children – their eagerness to learn, explore and grow never ceases to inspire me. But most of all I am inspired by the very fact that they don’t know their own limitations, so they are constantly striving to achieve simply because they don’t know they can’t.

To me, that is a lesson we could all learn.

 

[festerfromnzed]

Phillip William Wallace was my mentor...I met him in 1990,deep in the bush of the Kaimanawas in New Zealand..He was a WW2 vet,sniper,machine gunner,N.Z middleweight boxing champ,logger,fencer,shearer and undoubtedly the HARDEST man ive ever met in my life..He lived in a 5x3 meter polythene hut in an extremely harsh environment,for more than 40 years..I idolisedthis man and he took me under his wing so to speak..I spent up to 4 months of any given year over a 15? year timeframe,with this legend.He took an experienced bushman (myself) and turned me into a master hunter (his words) during this time.What this man didnt know about the wildlife,fauna and nature in general,is not worth knowing...His hunting skills were superb and his affinity with the bush ,unequalled....he taught me the trade....I brought him out of the bush in his 81st year and he came and lived with me for nearly 3 years until his alzheimers got so bad that i couldnt look after him anymore (a very cruel disease)...he passed away 3 years ago ,and last year my 2 brothers climbed to 4500 feet in a bad storm and spread his ashes to the wind in the valley he so loved so much.....The SIKA head that he shot in 1957 hangs on my wall...it is 1/8 of an inch off perfect symmetry and has yet to be beaten...it is acknowledged as the best head of this variety of deer in the world,and is a true honour for me to be custodian of this.......It was a pleasure to have known this man and a true honour to have been his friend....deeply missed and always remembered....R.I.P PUNCHY WALLACE

 

[Bigfattyt]

First and foremost, thanks for the giveaway.

My dad has probably been the biggest inspiration to me over the years. He is a mans man! He can shoot, ride motorcycles, fix cars, paint, build stuff. Run a chain saw (spent a few years as a logger). He is a country boy that grew up on a farm, wrestling his pet bull. He played Iron Man football in college and was a Physical Education major with a minor in math. He went on to get his masters and then Doctorate degree, and spent 35 years at the same college as the Athletic director and the vice president of student services (both positions for more than 15 years or so overlapping!).

He is always up with the sun, and getting stuff done. He is a great dad, and a great grandfather to my own kids now!

 

[Campbellclanman]

This makes great reading...thank you for your most generous giveaway, those are some neat ol' knives being offered Glenn.

My mate Gary was a guy who inspired me tremendously, please dont get me wrong...its extremely easy to place a someone who has passed away and who you cared for up high on a pedestal -this isnt the case here...

Gary was a person who would drop anything to help you, a damned fine Gentleman in front of the ladies-would not swear in front of them...he had great manners, he also was a friend who I looked up to in so many ways the way he lived his life, his kindness, and his respect that showed so heavily to his friends.
I went through a real rough period for many a year...and this guy stood by me thick and thin, he just never gave up on me, and I feel cheated I cant pay him back.
I have taken a page from his book and I am very much a better person - mainly because of this friend of mine...so, I just couldnt hold someone more in such High Regard as I do to this person Gary Watson, my friend, and mate.
Another person who has my utter devotion and respect is my lovely lady Sue, this Lady inspires me so much, I consider myself extremely lucky to be with such a fine person.

 

[TLARbb]

Thanks for the give away.

I have had a lot of inspirational folks on both sides of my family and on my wife's side. They all contributed a lot to the person I am and my values. My dad specifically taught me a lot about making what you have do, and my father-in-law inspired me with his "can do" attitudes and "we'll do it now" approach. My mother always had faith in us as kids and kept us headed in the right directions. My grandfather on dad's side of the family was a wonderful man with a lot of children and a strong work ethic. He took great care of all of his tools and equipment. All of these folks have passed away, but I have two wonderful sons, Christopher and Darren, and a loving wiife, Linda, and a real peach of a mother in law, Mrs. Virgie (or mimi as we all know her). Each person brought to me traits, attitudes, support and instruction throughout my life; I have been and am truly blessed.

I hope I have passed on some good to my sons.

Ed J