Vintage Knife Shop – Out of Business

Roy Matthew Blaum passed away on Thursday, July 3, 2025. He was born in New Orleans, LA on April 8, 1935. He is survived by his children, Kelly Blaum Short (Darin), Krista Lane Blaum, and Chad Matthew Blaum; grandchildren, Collin Gerard Moreau, Matthew Arsene Blaum, Riley Blaum Corkern and Mason William Blaum. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Francis Blaum and Della Olga Haase Blaum; and siblings, Louis “Buddy” Arthur Blaum and B. Conrad Blaum. Roy was born in New Orleans Louisiana where he attended Holy name of Jesus Grammar School and De LaSalle High School. He attended Tulane University majoring in Architecture and Business Administration. He enlisted in the Army in 1956 where he served as a radio operator in Korea. It was in Korea that he discovered his passion for photography. After his honorable release from active duty he attended San Mateo College in California in order to study photography. He was then accepted to Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, California for his advanced photography studies. He later worked as a cameraman for Channel 8, WVUE-TV filming news and sports, and producing commercials. He became the Chief Cameraman with channel 4, WWL-TV and WYES-TV, filming news, documentaries, commercials, production and special features for Walter Cronkite and Mike Wallace shows on CBS News. He was also a Cameraman and Stringer for United Press International and UPI films, Newsweek, Time and Life Magazines as well as the Associated Press. He completed a film for Plaquemine Parish on life styles and industry. He was a staff photographer for the Times Picayune, Daily Record and States Item newspapers in New Orleans. It was around this time that he began to learn the Harmonica and was the Cameraman, Editor, and performed the original harmonica music over film for a documentary called “Help”. Shortly thereafter Roy began to master the guitar. He moved to the north shore in 1978 and began his life at the shop. He started making knives and opened 2 knife shops then the 3rd shop in 1978 on North Columbia St. in Covington. He was an avid bass fisherman and traditional bow hunter. He carved amazing and whimsical figures and shared them with so many people. He loved the Covington Community and the people. “The Shop” was his home where he would always be available for a quick joke, a song on the guitar or an important life lesson. He continued to run his business living his entire life on his own terms until he was 90 years old and went to glory. He has left a huge void in the community and will most certainly be missed by all who knew and loved him. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mr. Blaum may be made Wish to Fish https://www.wishtofish.org/