USMC Steps Up for the PMan

[pianoman9701]

I have very few close friends who I trust implicitly. For some reason, more than a few of them are Jarheads and I feel lucky to call them friends. All are rock solid and would have my 6 at a moment's notice. One is Rocky. I met Rocky when I was selling Aviation medical interiors back in 1999-2001 for a Woodland, WA company. When Rocky came to the company, he was living in an Airstream trailer down on the Columbia, year round. My then wife, (her from a military family and daughter of a POW/MIA - Laos) and I started having him stay over quite a bit because living in an Airstream for a long period of time sucks. We've been close friends since. Rocky was one of the first USMC Scout/Snipers, an Aikido master (he has a cool personal video of Steven Segall when he was a young man training in Japan), an accomplished pilot (25K hours in each rotor and fixed wing), hunting guide for the stars, crop duster, and guided MT elk trips up until 3 years ago when he turned 80. He's an all around amazing human.

A couple of years ago, he gave me this Skrama knife from Finland for a camp utility knife. It's a pretty cool chopper and keeps an edge like crazy. Then last week, Rocky informed me that he'd be joining me in elk camp with his girlfriend (20 years his junior) for two or three days. He always brings sourdough cultures that are anywhere from 70-110 ten years old to make biscuits and pancakes. Should be great with my bourbon barrel maple syrup! He said he had made a present for me and sent me the second picture. I'm a rich man for the friends I have and so very thankful. I thought you'd like to see these knives.

[pianoman9701]

A neighbor of mine who was a Ranger in Kosovo, made this for me a couple of months ago. It was the last knife he made, as he has RA and can no longer fashion steel. The handle is elk antler and the steel is 1095 carbon.

[elkboy]

Piano, very cool.  Thank you for sharing.  Thank your friends for their service to the USMC and our country.  And good luck on the elk hunt this year! 

[Blacktail Sniper]

Those are nice knives!  I am sure that he appreciated your acts of kindness and friendship much more than can be measured!

What is in the area on the blade that he s circled?  Is it a divot or raised part of the blade or just a funky reflection from the picture?

[pianoman9701]

I'm unsure. I've only seen the pics so far. I noticed that, too.

[pianoman9701]

Piano, very cool.  Thank you for sharing.  Thank your friends for their service to the USMC and our country.  And good luck on the elk hunt this year!

Thanks buddy. It's great to have gear that has a story behind it. Heirloom stuff.

[PlateauNDN]

Awesome P-man.

[Alchase]

The best part, it means so much to you!

[pianoman9701]

Yeah, it does. Rocky's the same guy who gave me a hardcover of Marine Sniper with a personal inscription from Carlos Hathcock. What a treasure!

[PlateauNDN]

  I'm jealous. I'd put it in a clear case and display it.

[boneaddict]

Words like neat,  cool, awesome, really don’t give this justice, but you get the picture.  Thank you for sharing.  Folks like this is why I’ll always Stand.  God Bless them!

[bracer40]

Sounds like you are a wealthy man! No amount of money or fame can buy friendships like yours..thanks for sharing

[pianoman9701]

I'm jealous. I'd put it in a clear case and display it.

It's going in a shadow box next to Uncle Robert's service flag.