Indeed he did. He was also a great friend and person. I spent quite a bit of time in his shop when I was 18-20 (he lived just around the corner from a girl I was dating then). I helped him make knives. Really, he taught me how and I tried to not fuck it up. This was back before his work commanded the premiums it did just before his death. Even after I moved to Austin, I’d try to drop by and see him when I was in town. His death was a loss to us all, from the perspective of losing a great man, a great friend, and a talented knife maker. Despite helping make a few knives and staying buddies, I didn’t have a piece by Ram to my name when he died. I guess I always thought there would be time to get one. When the kwaiken above was offered to me by another friend of Ram’s who was in need, I immediately grabbed it.
This knife, along with my father’s 1911, my grandfather’s Zippo, and a watch from a good friend are going to remain with me until I die. I’ll probably bequeath each piece to a niece and nephew on my death. But I might just take them with me.