Amber Across America (AAA) – A Fitting Tribute To Ivoryman

[knifeaddict1965]

Amber is looking fantastic, Kevin! It's evident that Mark took great care of her. Thanks for the mention on the sharpening, Mark. I'm well setup with a great guided sharpening system and top of the line hones. I'm always learning and trying different sharpening techniques and the process has always been rewarding.

Agree with Mark that you did a Fantastic job sharpening her up, Bryon.
Here's a shot of her out with me for a healthy seafood dinner.

[knifeaddict1965]

Just arrived home from a trip to Gulf Shores last night. Amber didn't need to do much cutting while we were there, but she was always by my side and ready to pose for a picture.
Thanks again, SSK Mark, for sending her a couple days early so she could accompany us on our trip and not have to sit in a pile of mail for a week.

[knifeaddict1965]

I was hoping to get a good Amber Sunset shot while on our trip. The attached photos were taken the second night, but the sunset was not near as good as we saw there last year. Unfortunately, it was very cloudy, and we had some extremely heavy fog set in the last few evenings, so I never had another opportunity to get a good shot.

[QTCut5]

Great vacation photos, Kevin It was very considerate of you to take Amber along; I'm sure she appreciated the R&R in nice warm weather after serving hard time in the cold and snow with some of her previous caretakers. Looks like you also maintained the gourmet food and drink regimen she is apparently becoming accustomed to as well

[1967redrider]

Most excellent.

[bestgear]

Just arrived home from a trip to Gulf Shores last night.

Pictures of marine wildlife and cold beer abound but where are the friends & family are you having a love affair with Amber Kevin you know she’s only yours for 3 more weeks and then she’s leaving you with just memories sounds like I might be convening an intervention

[glennbad]

Wow Kevin, I'm jealous of Amber! She's getting to see some great sights!

[wlf]

Thanks for the pictures.

[Sasquach]

Wow Amber with a view and a cold brew!!! Doesn't get much better than that.

[knifeaddict1965]

Appreciate the great feedback fellas!
And you are correct, Tom... What's not to love about a Beauty like Amber with such wonderful curves.

[knifeaddict1965]

Amber hasn't done too much heavy cutting while in my care, but she has opened a lot of packages containing new knives.
At least I can express Amber's desire to do some work as an excuse for my excessive knife buying to my better half.

While on vacation, I used Amber to cut some strawberries in an attempt to add some colorful patina to the secondary blade. Unfortunately, she started developing a dark spot within a couple of minutes, so I bailed on the process and cleaned up the spot. I looked back through the journal at some other methods that were used on the main and may give it another shot later this week. We can obviously let her develop her own patina over time, but I was hoping to get some beautiful colors to honor I-Man's outstanding skills like her previous caregivers have done on the main Spear blade. With Amber being such an amazing tribute to our friend, I am practicing a higher level of caution with the carbon blades than I would if she was just a normal EDC.

[QTCut5]

Glad to see you're giving the little blade some chores to do, Kevin Wouldn't want him to feel left out of all the fun. Too bad packing tape doesn't leave a patina underneath the sticky residue it leaves on a blade

[Sasquach]

Wishing Kevin and Amber a HAPPY ST. PADDY'S DAY!

[knifeaddict1965]

Amber has been on the road today accompanying me on a trip to see my folks. They have both struggled with health issues with their age, and so I make the 100 mile trip just about every week for a couple days to help them out. My dad is the inspiration for my knife collecting for the past 40 years. He’s almost 87 and started collecting when he was in high school. I always show him my newest acquisitions when I visit, so I let him inspect Amber and as usual he declared her “a beauty”.

Appreciate the feedback fellas and Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!

Bryon, it was a fantastic idea to post a picture of Amber with your dad, so I am going to follow your inspirational lead.
I was at the parents today and shared Amber's story with my father, so he was happy to pose for a shot with her. He just turned 87 last month, so it sounds like our dads may have been born only a few weeks apart. He never was a knife collector, but still has several old, worn, broken bladed and well-loved knives from the 30s and 40s that carry a ton of sentimental value. I've been collecting for 20+ years, and he has always loved to look and my knives and hear the stories that go with them.

[BuckSharp]

That's an awesome photo, Kevin and I'm so glad you shared Amber with your dad. Thanks for posting that one

[rea1eye]

Looks like you really continued a great tradition there Kevin. Great
photo of your dad.

Bob

[knifeaddict1965]

Thanks Bryon & Bob!
Amber accompanied me to the knife show in Shepherdsville and I introduced her to rea1eye Bob. I should have took a photo of us with Amber, but unfortunately, the thought didn't cross my mind with all the trading and such going on at the time.

However, I have attached a picture of some T. Cosgrove Jr. custom knife slips and a fixed blade bomb straight from bestgear Tom's workshop.
He was kind enough to send me several prototype slips to try out and one to accompany Amber on her long journey across North America.
Great job on the slips, Tom, and your custom knife skills are getting better with every knife. I love the design of this small fixed blade with the perfectly shaped micarta handles and fantastic blade grinds & makers stamp.
Excellent work and Thanks again, brother!

[Corn Creek Cutlery]

Thanks Bryon & Bob!
Amber accompanied me to the knife show in Shepherdsville and I introduced her to rea1eye Bob. I should have took a photo of us with Amber, but unfortunately, the thought didn't cross my mind with all the trading and such going on at the time.

However, I have attached a picture of some T. Cosgrove Jr. custom knife slips and a fixed blade bomb straight from bestgear Tom's workshop.
He was kind enough to send me several prototype slips to try out and one to accompany Amber on her long journey across North America.
Great job on the slips, Tom, and your custom knife skills are getting better with every knife. I love the design of this small fixed blade with the perfectly shaped micarta handles and fantastic blade grinds & makers stamp.
Excellent work and Thanks again, brother!


Cosgrove Slips & Knife.jpg

Wow Kevin ... that is a beautiful fixed blade ... Congratulations!
Very KNICE detailed handle work and blade grind Tom! Many

[rea1eye]

Amber is certainly going to be comfortable in that slip.
I got to hold Amber for a minute at the knife show.
Certainly a good feeling from all the love and care she
has felt since the first stop.

Bob


p.s. Kevin had Amber wrapped up in his pocket like
it was a million dollar baby. I was impressed.

[glennbad]

Wow, that FB from Tom is a banger! The slips are pretty nice too!

[knifeaddict1965]

Ol' Amber is well on her way to West Virginia now to spend the next month with "wlf" Lyle.
I really enjoyed my time with her and look forward to seeing what other adventures await her in the next few months.
Here is another shot I got at the Shepherdsville Knife Show and one I got yesterday on my wife's Easter tablecloth with bestgear Tom's custom knife slip.

Take good care and enjoy your time with her Lyle!

[wlf]

Thanks Kevin.
I'll try to make the knife proud.

[Sasquach]

Well gentlemen, Amber is on the next leg of her journey and all is well. Thank you Kevin for your excellent cornicle of Amber's adventure with you! Lyle, you are next and I'm sure that Amber will love wild and wonderful WV. A shot of her on top of Seneca Rocks would be beautiful if you're up to the clime. This is a great way to remember our friend Ivoryman, keep us informed and enjoy your time with Amber.

[bestgear]

In hindsight, having Amber with danno50 in April would have made a lot of sense as he could have towed her to the OKCA show much like Brian would have done this year. This would have made Amber‘s journey that much longer and a bit riskier.

Enjoy your month with her Lyle and I hope she reminds you of Ivoryman and his love of ACSB bone and the GEC brand.

[knifeaddict1965]

In hindsight, having Amber with danno50 in April would have made a lot of sense as he could have towed her to the OKCA show much like Brian would have done this year. This would have made Amber‘s journey that much longer and a bit riskier.

Enjoy your month with her Lyle and I hope she reminds you of Ivoryman and his love of ACSB bone and the GEC brand.

Appreciate all the feedback last month fellas! She sure was a pleasure to carry and use.
Totally agree, Tom! Hindsight is always 20/20, but it would have been Awesome to see Amber at the OKCA show spending some time with Ivoryman's knife show buddies.