Writing to let you all know we have yet another outstanding human being among us.
I'll keep it as short as possible, I know you need your hunting sleep!
I had a bad year as some already know. Maineac (Mike Stenstrom) here on Tradgang was one of the guys I'd chat with now and then. We discussed antler burr knobs and skinning bows and such, and my health issues came up.I also mentioned I saw his knifework and would be having a custom knife done up when I heal up.
Well good old Mike goes and makes my year. Out of the goodness of his heart, and without me knowing anything about it...he does this:


 


I had a very special Silvertip made for me in January. I have barely shot it due to my injuries. It was from a piece of cocobolo that I bought 8 years ago. Very rare chunk of wood.
Mike goes and decides to build me a knife to match my bow. So he calls Dave and Beth and gets the piece cut out from my sight window. Then crafts me up an incredible work of art with it.

A box shows up one day when I was really down, and ready for another surgery. I open it and see this , and instantly recognize the knife scales as from my prized piece of cocobolo.
This guy went through a lot of trouble to come up with this idea, chase the material down, craft the work of art, build a sheath for it and ship it to me, all as a gift with a  get well soon note!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My wife commented how my friends from that Tradgang site are some of the nicest most giving people she's heard of.
Thank you Mike, words cannot describe my friend!
Please give this guy a big pat on the back!
When I have both hands back I'll take better pics so you can see how nice this knife really is.

Simply awesome...

-Jeremy  

Great story.  Thank you for sharing    

Awesome!!!

Very thoughtful and generous of you Maineac to craft such a beautiful knife and give it to your deserving friend.  There ain't enough thumbs up to cover this one.

That made my day, good on both of you!

I have to agree, the guys on here are second to none!  That is a great story, get well soon David and God Bless.-Brad

Beautiful knife, beautiful friend..awesome stuff happens here on Tradgang!

Excellent.        

   

Outstanding generosity, great recipie for making a guy mend alittle faster. David I hope and pray you are 100% soon.  Denny

Michael has a giving nature to friends and to his students - a sacrifice of himself and his time to others, and a good example to us all.


 

Funny thing was, I didn't know him other than a few chats here and there. Its not like we were life long buddies, he's just a great guy.
Definitely a friend now!

wonderful...simply, wonderful...    
I hope this speeds up your recovery.

All my best,

Goes to show the kind of people here on Trad Gang

Ah the kindness of humanity that never makes the evening newscast.

Thanks for posting. Good stories like this are good for the soul, even for those not involved.

Watching the 6 PM news every night and seeing the focus on thugs & drugs (and recently "Zumba" classes in Kennebunk!), kind of paints a dark cloud over the State of Maine.
 Reading this Makes me remember the positive folks around here who make a difference, the good people in this State. I am proud to reside in the same State as Maineac! Way to go Mike!!!!

Cool knife and great post!    

I am proud to be associated with Trag Gang.  This is my Facebook.  Congrats to both of you guys.

That made my day!