wsmallwood
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- May 1, 2015
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THE ARTIST
There was once a great artist who lived a simple life in a small nondescript house outside
Borden, Indiana proper. Although to my knowledge, the artist never held a showing or tried to sell a painting, his talent was undeniable. Inside the house were some of the most incredible pieces of art I have ever seen. Fortunately, I was allowed inside the house and shown the art and given the story behind each piece. It was a privilege. Not a lot of people were invited in his house
Oh, and just outside the house was a small machine shop with a dirt floor and 100 year old machines where this same artist put together some of the greatest rimfire rifles ever known. That was the artist’s passion and one at which he excelled. He never stopped thinking about ways to improve rimfire accuracy, and the rifles he built claimed many titles. The dirt floor is a subject of many conversations and controversy. Some do not believe the dirt floor story, for if that was true it would be improbable that through the doors of that little shop came some of the best rimfire rifles ever made, but they did. The dirt floor is true but probably a misnomer, for the artist had a leg problem from a long-ago accident. He simply removed most of the concrete to make it less painful to work. The machines sat solidly on unremoved concrete.
The artist was at times controversial, so some people, those that did not really know him, did not particularly like him, but that was okay with him too. He, like most true artists, did not really care how people who did not know him perceived him. For those he truly befriended there was probably no better friend.
He was my friend for over 32 years. A few weeks ago he passed to the other side and maybe not everyone will agree, but I think we were truly diminished. I know I was. I will miss him.
The artist, of course, was Bill Calfee, and my referral to him as an artist is real. That’s what he was. While some may think I’m referring to his gunsmithing work, I’m not. I’m truly referring to his art. Some may rightfully believe some of his gunsmithing work artistic as well.
I know this is late but everything else I tried simply became a story. I could probably write a book about my association with Bill, but that’s not what I wanted. I’m not generally prone to cliche` but Bill Calfee, may you rest in peace.
There was once a great artist who lived a simple life in a small nondescript house outside
Borden, Indiana proper. Although to my knowledge, the artist never held a showing or tried to sell a painting, his talent was undeniable. Inside the house were some of the most incredible pieces of art I have ever seen. Fortunately, I was allowed inside the house and shown the art and given the story behind each piece. It was a privilege. Not a lot of people were invited in his house
Oh, and just outside the house was a small machine shop with a dirt floor and 100 year old machines where this same artist put together some of the greatest rimfire rifles ever known. That was the artist’s passion and one at which he excelled. He never stopped thinking about ways to improve rimfire accuracy, and the rifles he built claimed many titles. The dirt floor is a subject of many conversations and controversy. Some do not believe the dirt floor story, for if that was true it would be improbable that through the doors of that little shop came some of the best rimfire rifles ever made, but they did. The dirt floor is true but probably a misnomer, for the artist had a leg problem from a long-ago accident. He simply removed most of the concrete to make it less painful to work. The machines sat solidly on unremoved concrete.
The artist was at times controversial, so some people, those that did not really know him, did not particularly like him, but that was okay with him too. He, like most true artists, did not really care how people who did not know him perceived him. For those he truly befriended there was probably no better friend.
He was my friend for over 32 years. A few weeks ago he passed to the other side and maybe not everyone will agree, but I think we were truly diminished. I know I was. I will miss him.
The artist, of course, was Bill Calfee, and my referral to him as an artist is real. That’s what he was. While some may think I’m referring to his gunsmithing work, I’m not. I’m truly referring to his art. Some may rightfully believe some of his gunsmithing work artistic as well.
I know this is late but everything else I tried simply became a story. I could probably write a book about my association with Bill, but that’s not what I wanted. I’m not generally prone to cliche` but Bill Calfee, may you rest in peace.