David Dodds: A Personal Tribute

David Dodds who became one of my cherished friends has passed on. To His lovely wife Cathy, we send our sincere condolences.

David was well known within the Contemporary makers world. He possessed an amazing character, humble and unassuming and had a wonderful sense of humor. He was an avid hunter and sportsman and a crack shot. His gun work also reflected his skill as a marksman, as John Ennis once commented when he first looked at a Dodds rifle: "I can tell you right off the guy who made this is a very fine gunsmith". He did some wonderful copies of antique guns, and I used to kid him about his old "whale eye" who sees all the nuances. The Reading copies he produced are in a class by themselves.

Thanks for the memories and the laughs, thanks for the great work, and thanks for the lessons in simple humanity. We all miss you Pal.

Copy and photos supplied by Robert Weil.