In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Options
Help locating someone
jamesjo
Member Posts: 2,242 ✭✭✭✭✭
Several years ago, I spent a summer in Hattiesberg, MS. working.
I got aquainted with a crane operator on the job site, who also made custom knives.
I would like to find him again, but really have no clue where to start.
I do have an old phone # that is no longer in service.
I know there are ways to hunt people down, but have no clue where to start.
I've been buying a few knives again, and would like to add some more of his to my collection.
Google has about a million hits on his name.
If anyone can help me out, I'd appreciate it!
I got aquainted with a crane operator on the job site, who also made custom knives.
I would like to find him again, but really have no clue where to start.
I do have an old phone # that is no longer in service.
I know there are ways to hunt people down, but have no clue where to start.
I've been buying a few knives again, and would like to add some more of his to my collection.
Google has about a million hits on his name.
If anyone can help me out, I'd appreciate it!
Comments
I'm sending this to you so that you can follow-up immediate and see where it takes you. I can give you some more suggestions or pointers that I have used. And yeah, I've hunted down quite a few folks over the years.
There are many ways of putting in the request or the search. Some may not even find you, your self. Or someone that you alredy know the whereabouts of.
If you have specific questions ... drop me a email or give me your phone number through an email and I will call you ASAP.
Yeah, I have a couple of more ways you may want or need to go.
best, Alan
Good idea! I often do that ... start writing a response to a question, and it gets answered as I hunt and peck on the keyboard here! Your idea there could crack o[pen the info wanted.
also do a search under say, cutom knives, see if that route would lead back to him.
Found his name in a custom knifemakers book I found online, had same old phone # I have.
br, not classic...still havent logged him out
quote:Originally posted by montanajoe
also do a search under say, cutom knives, see if that route would lead back to him.
Found his name in a custom knifemakers book I found online, had same old phone # I have.
Take it to the next level. Search where he may sell his knifes. Like say,try, Gunbroker auction,and search custom knifes. See if you can find him through his products. Good luck.
quote:Originally posted by jamesjo
quote:Originally posted by montanajoe
also do a search under say, cutom knives, see if that route would lead back to him.
Found his name in a custom knifemakers book I found online, had same old phone # I have.
Take it to the next level. Search where he may sell his knifes. Like say,try, Gunbroker auction,and search custom knifes. See if you can find him through his products. Good luck.
Yeah, tried this already, but thanks!
Well you and a couple of the guys had the idea of following regarding the knives. Most of the knifesmiths belong to more than one knifesmithing guild, association, society, alumni group, etc.
Many are on quite a range of groups they seem to group together guite well.
Also the type of knives that he is known for ... can often broaden the target well for you.
Japanese blade styles,
bowie
Gothic,
damascus
patterned steel
Knowing knives, you probably know this sort of thing, but just brain storming some here.
Oh, also if he went to a particular school ... many of the schools and the students, stay in touch. And if he apprentised with anyone you know of ... that can be a great path.
Don't really know knives, just like them, and after I met him and saw some of his work, I kid of fell in love.
No schooling, self taught.
Builds anything, from paring knife, to Bowie, to some awesome hatchets.
No rush, but I will try a couple of your ideas tomorrow.
Then I may email you and see if you can help me out.
Heck, he could be dead by now.
But leave out your return adress on the outside.!!
Let the postal office find him [;)]
Meant to suggest that you do a search of the professional knife makers organizations. If there are any that he belongs to, that would be an avenue to approach or follow. They have membership rosters with all contact information, plus background etc. Now that may or may not included the gentleman in question.
If he did not belong to the organization and he were into one or more of the unique specialized styles, often fellow knife makers will know other individuals doing that sort of blades.
Who would have hired this crane operator for that job?
Do you recall if he was a local or a traveler?
Did he talk of his hometown or area that he hung out around?
Ex-military?
Any particular schools?
Was he into anything besides: cranes, knives and converstion?
I believe it was mentioned but I'm sure that crane operators must have specialized professional organizations, unions, hiring lists, etc, etc.
You better be working on this harder than all of us! ??? [}:)] [:)] [;)]
Unless you are too afraid of too much interest in his stuff, you ought consider giving us a follow-up regarding this knifemaker and his finished product. [;)] [?]
I went back through this thread looking some ... I do not see that you posted his name anywhere. I'd not think that is frowned on, but either try that or shoot it through the moderators.
Someone in the neighborhood may know or recognize the gentleman in question. Sometimes people will know the individual through some other interest or means.
He could be into some facet of firearms, shooting, hunting, woodwork, other metalwork, etc. as with our member here, forgemonkey.
You might look him up here and throw him an email. I don't want to commit anyone else to anything, but I'm sure he might have other ideas and probably better ideas and means than yours truly.
1.) What do you mean by "custom" do you just or simply mean handmade or actual custom work with customers' designs, specifications, and such?
2.) Did he only do "stock-removal", more or less like whittling the metal by cut, grind and filework, or
3.) Did he "forge-work", like you quessed it using a forge, anvil, hammers and such paraphernalia. Heating and pounding it towards what he wanted?
If he is not well known, like famous, or due to some particular style or type ... the folks then that do forgework ... can be a bit easier to locate. Many of them are members of:
www.knifemakersguild.com
http://www.knifemakersdatabase.com/CustomKnivesKnifemakersDB.html
If he does forgework, then there are national and regional and even state organizations of blacksmiths and blacksmithing. They tend to tie together more than some of the other blace makers. (IMHO)
http://www.abana.org/
http://www.calsmith.org/
There are also the knife supply outfits ... probably zip through half dozen to a dozen of them with emails ... and requesting a response back. May not send contact info directly, don't know, but would no doubt refer on to him your contact info if you indicated that desire.
www.texasknife.com
www.knifemaking.com
www.knifeandgun.com
Remember too that CBA in the Great State of Calif. has members from across the US and elsewhere.
Texas knife supply, supplies people from all over this and other countries.
ABANA, membership all over North America and elsewhere.
These are a few of the entities I've been a member or have personally dealt with myself.
If this guy is breathing and working, you can find him, even if he left the country. And maybe if he is hiding!
PS: The above lists are not complete nor comprehensive ... just giving you some suggestions in some of the directions to persue. Google and Yahoo are good starting places. And using email to your advantage will cover many bases quickly. When I am hunting someone, I write-up two or three "form" or template emails and then tailor for each outfit or source. You could easily and quickly cover several dozen outfits / organizations / sources in a couple of hours.
Let us know that you have done this and caught up with him.