As long as everyone has been talking about gifts from the heart, in the giving spirit of Christmas, I wanted to mention what one of own did recently for me. A couple years ago while on the Bear Quest hunt in Quebec, Ray Hammond's knife caught my attention. Not only was it absoluely beautiful, but it just felt great in my hands. I jokingly said to him, "If you should kick the bucket make sure you will this baby to me." Obviously I was just kidding, but on November 9th when I went to field-dress my Iowa buck Gene said to me, "Here.. Ray wants you to use this" and hands me the knife. I was really dumbfounded. You have to realize this was Ray's knife and a gift entirely from the heart for no reason at all... just because he knew I loved it. It's a stag handled Damascus with an insert of stabilized Burl with silver spacers/cap, enclosed in a snakeskin/leather sheath. Anyway, I just wanted to make known the generocity we have within the ranks of Tradgangers. It makes me proud. Thank you again Ray and Merry Christmas to all. BW
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Funny thing is,this is not at all surprising.Ray is very generous.Needless to say,I owe him one!He knows what I mean.
Bill
Awesome--the more I am here and the more I read here--the more I am always amazed. :)
Thats great...but I think that would be worth at least a photo, what do the rest of you folks think...lol!!!!! Well Barry???
Now, thats the spirit! Simple,but powerful gesture---a simple gestures often are. -- Soul Sharing. Thanks for sharing the story--uplifting.
I second the nod for a photo!
pete
Great guy like alot of fellow trad gangers ;)
A really lovely gesture, with what sounds like a beautiful knife. Now...Barry, if you should kick the bucket would you will that baby to me?
Merry Christmas Brother!
Best regards,
Chuck
You obviously think I'm computer intelligent enough to post photos. I already forwarded a couple pictures of the knife to Hogdancer and asked him to post them. They should be coming whenever he checks his emails. Thanks. BW
That's pretty cool. Good friends are priceless.
Great story. My son and I are going to hunt hogs with Ray in May 2010. Looking forward to meeting him and spending time swapping stories, oh yow and hopefully getting close to a couple hogs. There really are a lot of good people here.
Merry Christmas and Happy healthy New Year to all.
Bob
I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Ray (yet) but I'm not a bit surprised just based on what I do know of him.
Very cool! :cool: :thumbsup:
That is my brother Ray, great man.
Danny
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/hogdancer/4%20sale/DSCN1155.jpg) (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/hogdancer/4%20sale/0491.jpg)
That is a beautiful knife. very cool thing to do.
That is one incredible looking knife right there!
While I havn't met Ray face to face, I sure hope to one day. Indeed he is a generous fella, I have a GPS unit that was his that he sent me on the original White elephant exchange. It had some interesting waypoints marked in it when it arrived to I might add!
Wow! What a great and generous gift. That Ray is alright.
Your kneecaps were in deadly peril, Uncle Barry, until Hogdancer came through! Beautiful knife, reflecting the beauty of the archers' spirit.
This place is magic.
Killdeer
most excellent. we have good people in our lives.. amen...
Joe Ashton DC
ray is a great guy.i owe him also
Beautiful looking. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
nice knife :thumbsup: :campfire:
nice knife,not a bad deer,either
Awesome looking knife and deer!
The generous spirit of the people that call this place home never ceases to amaze me. :notworthy:
Both are beautiful!!!!
great story, great folks!
A wonderful gesture. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I told Ray I really liked his truck. I'm still waiting..........
:biglaugh:
I have not yet met ray but I know that he is a great man. He worked like crazy to get my knife done for a very special hunt. I have carried on every hunt since then.
Nice Knife
Barry....now you went and done it!
How's a gangsta gonna keep his rep wit' stuff like DAT goin' on??? :o
You're welcome buddy. Don't forget to keep a little oil on her with all that snow you're gettin' up there!
Thanks for the photo, that is just a fine looking knife. Thats not a bad looking deer you shot either.....nothing bigger came around...lol you guys never stop amazeing me. Ray did a nice job on that knife.
I have seen that knife in person. Pics don't do it justice.
Good on ya Ray. :thumbsup:
Benny
To make sure no one gets the wrong idea- that knife was not MADE by me. It was my personal knife- but it was built by Herb Derr- a much better knife maker than I!
It was actually what inspired me to BE a knifemaker.
I can build a knife like that now, but I didn't build THAT knife.
QuoteOriginally posted by Biggie Hoffman:
I told Ray I really liked his truck. I'm still waiting..........
:clapper: :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
I haven't been around very long but it is easy to see it is a good group.
That's a good look'n knife,and a real nice deer.
Nice gesture a present that comes from the heart,congrats Ray
I have yet to meet Ray, but from what I have heard he is top notch people, and this is just a little more proof of that fact!
:clapper:
"Substance" is what I call a act like this. You can't buy it, borrow it, steal it, or fake it. You either have it or you don't. Evidently Ray's got it. Fine gesture sir.
Way to go Ray. :clapper: Lin
Biggie- I REALLY like YOUR truck. How 'bout we swap??????