Tragic death of one of our own

[TripleF]

OMG.....so, so, sorry to hear this.
Such a great person!!!
RIP our brother!!

[ken98k]

It's always unnerving when we lose someone that was a part of our daily lives. Reminds us how precious life is.

My most sincere condolences to Brian's family.

[toomanyknives]

I am just seeing this. My wife's brother just passed a few weeks ago, so I haven't been on in a while. This is just terrible news. There are many members that make amazing contributions to the page, but Iman was one of the special ones. He always posted fantastic knives, and I always looked forward to his super photography skills. I just can't believe it. I am very saddened. RIP, Brian.

My condolences to his friends and family. I was proud to have known him, even if it was just on the forum.

Kerry

[bestgear]

My wife's brother just passed a few weeks ago

sorry for your loss Kerry.

[woodwalker]

I'm sorry for your loss as well Kerry. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

[toomanyknives]

My wife's brother just passed a few weeks ago

sorry for your loss Kerry.

Thank you Tom. We lost two good ones. I probably shouldn't have put it in my comment. I don't want to take away from what a loss Iman is to everyone. I was just stating why I haven't been on and missed the sad news.

[toomanyknives]

I'm sorry for your loss as well Kerry. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Thank you Kev. We will miss him, as well as Iman. Very sad couple of weeks.

[Lansky1]

Very sorry to hear this news. My heartfelt condolences to his family & friends. Brian was a big part of this community, and we will collectively miss him very much. RIP Ivoryman

[RedRaiderRick]

Losing Iman. So sad. His eye and photographic skills for great knives were unmatched. He was always complimentary of my acquisitions, and I of his. Q, I wonder if we could get his son Donovan to join the forum? After all he will likely inherit his father's collection. Would be cool to see the legacy continue.

[Rookie]

I somehow didn't see this until today. Very sorry to hear Iman has passed. He had great knives that he liked to show off with fine photography. I hope his family and friends are able to remember all the good times with him. Sorry Q that you lost your friend.

[Quick Steel]

Iman contributed so much to so many of us. A great loss.

[glennbad]

I have to embarrassingly say that I am just seeing this thread today. The past month of work has been unbearably stressful for me, so I had not been paying much attention to the forum recently. I am shocked and speechless to learn this sad news.

Brian was a huge contributor to this forum. He always had the best knives to share here, and a good word or answered question when he could.

I have had several dealings with him over the years, doing a handful of projects for him. He was always complimentary, gracious and generous(to a fault). He was always a huge cheerleader of my work, which really meant a lot to me. Although we never met in person, I consider him a friend, and I am saddened by his sudden passing.

I always have huge admiration for those with artistic skills, and I am honored to have some of his amazing carving work. I'll take some pics to share soon.

My thoughts and prayers go out to you Q, as well as Brian's family.

[QTCut5]

As one more piece of evidence that proves the first line of the AAPK mission statement where it states, "At AAPK we're not just about knives - we're about stories, history, and connections", I would like to share this story of a connection that was made through AAPK ten years ago and the impact it has had all these years later.

Back in 2015 when Brian and I were still relatively new to the forum, we were searching for our "holy grail" knife, the one knife that possessed all the characteristics and attributes we desired most. Some of the characteristics we wanted were not hard to find such as Wharncliffe blade and lock back, but finding those features on a knife with an ivory handle was starting to look like a pipe dream. We considered commissioning custom handmade knives but quickly realized that was well beyond our financial means. Then we discovered glennbad! And the concept of having a factory knife modified with ivory handles brought our grail knife out of the realm of fantasy and into the realm of distinct (and affordable) possibility. We were thrilled when Glenn agreed to do the job we requested and create the grail knives we desired. I sent Glenn two Case Wharncliffe Copperlocks and Brian sent him the ivory slabs (because, well...he is the Ivoryman, after all!). Brian wanted his to be barehead and I chose to keep all the bolsters on mine. We were so excited that I think we must have pestered Glenn with a near daily barrage of PMs asking when they'd be finished! Glenn, of course, was very patient with the noobs and kept assuring us he was working on them (at that time we didn't realize that Glenn had a full time job and his knife work was more of a hobby). Finally the knives were completed and we had our grail knives (the first of many, as it turned out!). We couldn't have been happier; our shared dream had become reality.

Fast forward ten years. Brian tragically and suddenly dies on June 15, 2025, two weeks after his 58th birthday leaving his family, me and the AAPK community in a state of shock and sadness. One month after his funeral, I received a package from his widow. Inside is Brian's barehead ivory Wharncliffe Copperlock glennbad mod, the companion piece to mine. She knew Brian would want me to have it as a lasting memory of our friendship and mutual love of knives. Although Glenn may not have realized it at the time, he became part of a spiritual connection and a sentimental history. A more fitting and perfect memento than the knives he modified ten years earlier for a couple of AAPK newbies I could not imagine. Thank you, Glenn, and Thank you to all the AAPK members who commented in this thread and who make this such a unique, amazing, awesome online community.

Rest In Peace, Brother Brian. You may be gone from this life but you remain alive in our hearts and memories for eternity.

[bestgear]

Thank you for sharing that story Q which further personifies the bond that you and Brian had and continue to have. We should all be so lucky to have found and experienced what the two of you had which is truly remarkable considering that you were disconnected physically by the Pacific Ocean. Keep those blades covered in Vaseline and those joints lubricated with Ballistol otherwise the ghost of Lord Wharncliffe will pay you a visit Thank you for helping us connect more of the dots. Tom

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Nice story Q. Thank you for sharing that, it really personifies the person Brian was.

[doglegg]

Thanks for sharing Q. Gracious and thoughtful gift from Mrs Iman. Hope his family is coping. Treasure your memories.

[treefarmer]

This total thread is such an interesting read, a blessing when we see how all the pieces fit together and continue to do so with the gifting of that special knife to Q from Iman's widow.
Special friendships need to be celebrated and shared with others!
Treefarmer

[knifeaddict1965]

Fast forward ten years. Brian tragically and suddenly dies on June 15, 2025, two weeks after his 58th birthday leaving his family, me and the AAPK community in a state of shock and sadness. One month after his funeral, I received a package from his widow. Inside is Brian's barehead ivory Wharncliffe Copperlock glennbad mod, the companion piece to mine.

Beautiful knives Q, and the story is even better. Glad to see you have both of those gorgeous knives together that are absolutely priceless in sentimental value. Great work Glenn!

[toomanyknives]

As one more piece of evidence that proves the first line of the AAPK mission statement where it states, "At AAPK we're not just about knives - we're about stories, history, and connections", I would like to share this story of a connection that was made through AAPK ten years ago and the impact it has had all these years later.

Back in 2015 when Brian and I were still relatively new to the forum, we were searching for our "holy grail" knife, the one knife that possessed all the characteristics and attributes we desired most. Some of the characteristics we wanted were not hard to find such as Wharncliffe blade and lock back, but finding those features on a knife with an ivory handle was starting to look like a pipe dream. We considered commissioning custom handmade knives but quickly realized that was well beyond our financial means. Then we discovered glennbad! And the concept of having a factory knife modified with ivory handles brought our grail knife out of the realm of fantasy and into the realm of distinct (and affordable) possibility. We were thrilled when Glenn agreed to do the job we requested and create the grail knives we desired. I sent Glenn two Case Wharncliffe Copperlocks and Brian sent him the ivory slabs (because, well...he is the Ivoryman, after all!). Brian wanted his to be barehead and I chose to keep all the bolsters on mine. We were so excited that I think we must have pestered Glenn with a near daily barrage of PMs asking when they'd be finished! Glenn, of course, was very patient with the noobs and kept assuring us he was working on them (at that time we didn't realize that Glenn had a full time job and his knife work was more of a hobby). Finally the knives were completed and we had our grail knives (the first of many, as it turned out!). We couldn't have been happier; our shared dream had become reality.

Fast forward ten years. Brian tragically and suddenly dies on June 15, 2025, two weeks after his 58th birthday leaving his family, me and the AAPK community in a state of shock and sadness. One month after his funeral, I received a package from his widow. Inside is Brian's barehead ivory Wharncliffe Copperlock glennbad mod, the companion piece to mine. She knew Brian would want me to have it as a lasting memory of our friendship and mutual love of knives. Although Glenn may not have realized it at the time, he became part of a spiritual connection and a sentimental history. A more fitting and perfect memento than the knives he modified ten years earlier for a couple of AAPK newbies I could not imagine. Thank you, Glenn, and Thank you to all the AAPK members who commented in this thread and who make this such a unique, amazing, awesome online community.

Rest In Peace, Brother Brian. You may be gone from this life but you remain alive in our hearts and memories for eternity.

I don't know why I'm having trouble reading this, ~Q~. There seems to be some sort of liquid pooling in the corners of my eyes, making the letters blurry. This is exactly why I love the AAPK, and the knife hobby in general. I'm so sorry for your loss. I think it has affected many of us way more than we knew it would. What a wonderful gesture from Iman's wife..

[KLJ77]

Another awesome testimony about you and Brian, ~Q~. Thank you for sharing your personal relationship stories and giving huge Kudos to Glenn for his expertise and workmanship. It is wonderful that Brian's wife felt led to gift you Brian's Holy Grail knife. GREAT memories all around. Blessing to you and yours.

[1967redrider]

Awesome work by glennbad, and that was a really amazing way to memorize the friendship you both had.

[Corn Creek Cutlery]

Many thanks 'Q' and all others for sharing the wonderful truths about IvoryMan. I have been so busy this summer that I just found this thread a couple days ago. I have still been checking for new posts daily, but not commenting a lot because I was out of the flow.

'Q', I would like to share that Brian and I talked often via PM, and I know from the messages how close you and him were. He told me much about what a fine friend and brother you are. Both of you are a blessing to this forum.

A couple years ago, I was looking for a Queen Drake Well for I had sold mine with many regrets. Brian sent me a PM about the knife show in Oregon, saying there was always an abundance of these knives there, and he would get me one. But at that particular show, there was not one to be found. Some time later I received the Bomb pictured. which was one of his knives. That was our IvoryMan ... gracious, giving, and always a kind comment in any of his posts. Several months later, I was Bombed again with the IvoryMan carvings. These will always be in my collection.

Some people we meet, although not always in person, enrich our lives simply through knowing them.
Brian Sorensen was one of those people.

[Madmarco]

Just learning now of this truly sad turn of events. Brian/Iman brought his heart and soul to our forum each time he logged-in, he will be dearly missed.
My condolences and prayers to his family and friends.