Battle Horse Knives Fall 2020 Gathering!
Jamie Burleigh & Dan Coppins
#biblife
#planetsurfing
I recently got back from the BHK Fall 2020 Gathering that I went to with Jamie Burleigh, and all I can say is, “Wow!”
I reckon it wouldn’t be much of a blog post if I left it at “wow,” so I’ll elaborate…
First of all, an event like this doesn’t happen without people showing up, and showing up people did! There was a genuine sense of family that not only speaks highly about the loyal BHK following, but it speaks volumes about the company itself, which claims to be family - “if not by blood, then in Christ.” As an ordained clergyman, either that statement means nothing - or it means everything!
Particularly touching were the many young children playing together like the best of friends - many wearing BHK neck knives, some cutting themselves, and even a trip to the ER for stitches. They spent hours practicing fire lighting and having a great time - mostly minimally supervised, as there was a whole village to take care of them.
As for me, I got to take a tour of the shop, and then the store, but more importantly than being welcomed to visit the facilities (even Dan’s hallowed basement), I was made to feel welcome from start to finish.
Adam Lemon, the BHK sales manager, and I stayed up around the fire until after 4:00 AM one night as the conversation took us in some interesting directions. Adam is such a wealth of information because he’s a lifelong student and willing to learn even the most unnecessary skills like how to use a semicolon; being a perpetual student makes Adam an excellent teacher - especially when it comes to teaching basics to beginners.
John McQuain, co-owner and general manager of BHK, couldn’t have been a nicer feller, and John made me feel like, despite this being my first BHK event, I’ve been family all along. He also restored a truly wicked spine to the BHK Bushcrafter that has been my main camping and bushcraft knife since 2014.
John’s wife, Alicia, who is the co-founder, co-owner, and CEO of BHK, made me feel like I have another little sister that I have a duty to give a hard time to and lovingly pick on. If you get the chance to meet Alicia, you won’t regret it!
Alicia’s parents, Dan and Judy Coppins, were both true gems, and it was a privilege to have met and spent time with them both. Dan, who founded Blind Horse Knives years ago with LT Wright before they parted and became two companies, offered wisdom and insight that only comes from experience and hard work, but what impressed me more was his vibrant spirit, endless stories, and witty sense of humor that proved him to be a man who knows that life is too short to take himself too seriously! Judy was a sweetheart and her hospitality revealed a depth of love for her family by blood (and marriage) and her family in Christ.
To be sure, I made other friends, and I’m very much looking forward to going to another event in the future to reconnect with them.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the excellent knives that Battle Horse Knives make, but on so many levels this event wasn’t much about knives. Sure, there were knives everywhere, knives were definitely talked about profusely, and knives were used incessantly, but the BHK Fall 2020 Gathering had far less to do with knives than it did with family, friends, and fellowship.
If you’re like me, and BHK is the kind of company that you want to do business with, I encourage you to check them out:
http://www.battlehorseknives.com
Made In Ohio!
Lifetime Warranty!
I couldn’t let this one go back to the shop unsold!
