A Special Knife for My Son... Courtesy of Glenn!

[deo-pa]

Back in June of 2017 I gave away some piano key ivory to a half dozen or so AAPK knife mechanics:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=52546&p=576551#p576551.

These came from a grand piano we had restored years before. It was my son Matt's piano and served him well from high school through college. He now works for the Berklee College of Music in Boston and plays piano and cello with the Cambridge Symphony.

Later that year I posted here on AAPK asking If anyone who received the ivory would be willing to undertake a commission to make a knife for Matt that would incorporate the ivory. So even though the piano was no longer in the family he would always have a piece of his musical heritage. Glenn Trowbridge (aka glennbad) agreed to do so.

I met Glenn at a knife show in MA in 2018 and we kicked around some ideas. He suggested playing off of the idea of ebony and ivory piano keys by making a black handled knife with an ivory inlay. The finished knife, a Camillus 71, is shown below. It's simple and elegant with deep black handles and an ivory bar shield. It's the kind of knife I can see Matt slipping into his tuxedo pocket when he is playing in the symphony. To top it off he added, "No charge for this one. It was a pleasure to do it for you and your son. Enjoy!"

Wow, is this a great story or what? Thanks Glenn!

Dennis

[Old Hunter]

Beautiful Knife - made by an artist of steel and ivory for an artist of music - how cool is that! OH

[Railsplitter]

It just doesn't get any better than that. A heartfelt congratulations to you and Matt. What a wonderful gift.

Glenn, you da man!

[philco]

Impressive on so many levels. Well done Glenn.

[tongueriver]

Great story; great people.
A man wants to give me an antique upright piano, 1890s, quartersawn oak and, of course, ivory keys, unbroken, for the hauling. I have no place to put another knife (that might be a fib), much less a piano, and the move would be expensive and difficult. Oh, well. Let it go. The right man could make a knife display cabinet out of that piano that would be 'grand.'

[Colonel26]

Very beautiful knife!

[rea1eye]

Great storyline and knife guys. I hope your son likes it as much as we do!

Make it a momentful presentation ( like the knife deserves)

Bob

[#goldpan]

Awesome job! A knife to be proud of and a cool story to go with it!

[woodwalker]

Awesome story! That Glenn is a fine gentleman and a true artist of cutlery!! Congratts on a beautiful knife.

[Doc B]

True heirloom piece!!!! Classy job Glenn!!!!

[FRJ]

Very nice story and fabulous knife.

[SteelMyHeart85420]

I tip my hat to the main players in this tale....well done, sirs!

[doglegg]

Always like a happy ending. Congrats to all three participants.

[Jody744]

Thanks for sharing, kudos to all

[zoogirl]

Oh my goodness! That’s one classy knife!
I can only imagine playing an instrument at that level, let alone two so different. Piano and cello?! I have enough trouble with guitar and ukulele!
It seems like your son and that one of a kind knife are truly made for each other.

[jmh58]

Very NICE!!!
John

[bluecow]

WOW

[wlf]

Great idea Dennis ,and congratulations for your talented son.

Glen I've always known you were ok ,especially since the wall.

[Paladin]

Great story and great knife. Fine men all around!

Ray

[deo-pa]

Thank you all for the kind words. We have a family dinner at our house every Sunday with kids and grandkids and I'll make a little presentation this Sunday to Matt. Plus I'm going to print out this message string as I think he'll get a kick out of all your nice comments.

Dennis

[steve99f]

Well done Glenn and Dennis!! That's a beautiful knife!