Loss of a Legend

[Crex]

I'm not sure if anyone here knew this. It caught me by surprise as well as most of my fellow sheath and knifemakers.

My mentor and dear friend "Dad" Sandy Martin Morrissey passed away back in July of last year. I as well as many others, learned our way around cow spending time with Dad.
As time passed it became increasingly harder for a lot of us to keep in contact. We reached out to his daughter and she finally responded with the news of his passing.

RIP my friend, my mentor, my adopted Dad.

Here's a pic with Dad and his boys fall of 2010 during the Fall Trackrock Hammer-in.

[TexasJack]

He was a terrific guy who helped a lot of people with their leatherwork. I once asked him about a snake skin pattern that he die on a sheath and he told me he made the die for it. I asked if I could buy one and he told me no. Instead, he sent it to me for free - wouldn't take a dime! The best part was the he showed me a trick I that had never occurred to me. He simply went to the hardware store and bought a long hex bolt, then filed the die shape he wanted in the head. You can make your own custom leather die easily and cheaply! "Old Dad" was a mentor and friend to many, many people in his lifetime.

PS. I don't know why the software keeps changing what I sa## to ##'s. Hopefully this edit fixed that.

PPS, No, it d##n't it keeps changing the "i" and "d" in "s-a-i-d" to hashes. Weird.

PPPS, now it's doing it to other words. I give up. RIP, "Old Dad".

[M&J]

Sad.
Similar feelings for those makers-mentors that have passed on. The knowledge and love of the craft has inspired many. Our community is better because of them and their generosity. RIP

[Crex]

Just a note for the rest of you leather heads - another extremely talented leather craftsman is putting up his feet this year. My long time friend from Texas, Paul Long has announced he is "retiring" at the age of 90. Just can't keep his work up to his high standards due to arthritis and such.
"Dad" always called him Sandy Jr. - he was 10 years younger.

I have great respect for Paul and his work was exceptional to say the least. Thanks for all you shared with us.

[TexasJack]

I've got Paul Long's videos on sheath making, along with those from another former member of TKN, Chuck Burrows. Paul is an amazing leather worker and has always helped those of us less talented folks. One of the best, as a human and as a sheath maker.