I'm 43, & I may be wrong but I think he was younger than me, young enough for his passing to be a shocker. I'm a fellow NoCal knife lover, talked to him a few times...I didn't love his knives, but I loved his spirit. All of these people, most of us didn't know him but a bit, yet we're all compelled to share our thoughts of him, because there was something about him, something that struck as authentic & approachable. A flawed man, for sure, but he owned it all, we all know he showed it all...he strove to make human connections, & that's why I'm writing this...we connected, & I'm better for it - thank you brother.