Rob Simonich lost

Evidently, according to bladeforums.com, Rob Simonich died in a car wreck today while returning from hunting. Many of you own Simonich designed knives and are familiar with his 1911 grips.

I just got 2 sets of grips from Ron and love them. He was so helpful on the phone and I had planed on ordering a knife from him. Is this confirmed? Even though I have not personally met him I feal a great loss if this is in fact true. God be with his family.

Man, I hope not. Rob was something special. I only met him once and I doubt he'd remember it, but I got the chance to sit at a dinner table and listen to him talk knives and metallurgy with people who knew more than I. He would be missed!

For those unfamiliar, Simonich was one of those northern cowboys from what El Tejon calls the "hairy-chested square states." He could tell a great story and was not only an expert on steel but also willing to investigate new directions, as evidenced by his popularization of Talonite as a blade material.

I hope this is just an internet rumor. . . . I think he'd enjoy that.

(EDIT: I don't think it's a rumor. Spark and Doc Ron would know for certain. I don't want to think about what Rob's family is going through with his brother going into critical surgery and Rob dead. Rob was finally getting the chance to enjoy getting what he really deserved, too.)
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=282285

What major suckitude. :(

I just met him FTF at this last Blade Show, and he was a fun, quirky, eccentric kind of guy; the kind of person you'd enjoy inviting to a party just to liven things up.

Why does this never happen to real jerks? :mad:

Sorry folks, Rob did die in a car crash coming back from a hunting trip with his brother. Rob's wife and daughter and his brother (who is still in critical condition) certainly need your thoughts and prayers. Let's hope that the LLC that he and Christine set up allow the Midtechs and grips to continue to be produced and allow his legacy to spread.