2007 Knifemakers' Guild Show & images

SharpByCoop

SharpByCoop

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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Oct 8, 2001
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Hi folks,

We had the privilege to be invited to do this years show. Gil Hibben (2007 president of the Guild) and his wife Linda really did their best to run a great show. My wife Susan and my son joined me. We made a short vacation out of the week. (See below why... ;))

Show was held at the Buena Vista Palace in the Disney World resort, which had a beautiful and ample convention hall. It was pricey, but everything in that immediate area was.

I attended the Gala on Thursday evening, and that was a smart affair: A full buffet dinner for all members, and there were about 40 knives placed on display tables with draw boxes for an opportunity to purchase at the listed price. At 9:30pm the names were drawn and lots of transactions were made. It was a VERY nice start to this show.

We were situated one floor above the show hall, but we had PLENTY of spacious room inside. I hung a poster/sign just outside of the main Men's bathroom. Sooner or later EVERYONE had seen it... :eek: :thumbup:

The Show was on Friday and Saturday, with seminars and a Blade Sports International Cutting Competition held on Sunday. I am told they will revert back to a three day show for 2008, and relocate, but I am not dead positive.

Anyway, I had many great knives to photograph. It wasn't as nutty as Blade, and so I enjoyed the relaxed schedule enough to actually wander the aisles on saturday afternoon. Saw many more great knives and people. That was a blast!

Top Award was the WW Cronk Art Knife award which went to Ron Best for his one-piece integral. Ron is a younger maker who is a cement worker by trade...! :confused: :eek: :D

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Don Hanson III takes an award for Best Art Knife with this incredible knife, dubbed 'Killer Hamon':

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Here is a selection of the rest of the images I finished for this show:

Guild Show photos

I spent time on Sunday watching the participants in the Blade Sports cutting competition. I don't know enough about this organization to even give many names but I tried to capture all the contestants at one point or another. (Just about the first time I used my camera outside, too!) Please fill in the names and the winners, those who know.

Click here for the cutting competition photos.

So, once again, I try to bring the show to you. Many of these images could be considered illegal. Cart me away.....! :p ;)

Coop
 
I have to admit, I am a bit at loss for words on the knives submitted for display.:o

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Thanks for the post Coop. Looks like our pal Don Hanson had the usual Fantabulous selection. Very nice!
 
Had not run across work by Mike Tison before, could not believe his folder you shot. Thanks for bringing the show home to us who could not go.:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
Jim

ps Already sent him an email to get information on his knives and availability.
Thanks, Coop, JOB WELL DONE
 
Kohai999 said:
I have to admit, I am a bit at loss for words on the knives submitted for display.:o

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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Hello STeven,

I am curious as to how you meant your above statement - at a loss because you really liked the knives or because of the opposite?

Thanks,
Thor
 
Very good photos as usual Coop.

My table was next to mike Tyson's. It was the first time I had seen his work and he makes some very impressive slipjoint folders. He is a great guy too.

I have been a fan of Ron Best's integrals since I first saw them a couple of years ago. Nobody does them better. I was really glad that he got the WW Cronk award.

Mike
 
Thor I am said:
Hello STeven,

I am curious as to how you meant your above statement - at a loss because you really liked the knives or because of the opposite?

Thanks,
Thor
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At a loss, because I don't understand a lot of it. S.R. Johnson and John Young's work are in general, some of the best, and here we have some strange looking knives.

Like Don Hanson's lines very much, but not the handle material or treatment, so much.

Loved the blade on the Hibben, but not the handle.

WITH the exception of Don's pictures(this is PURELY a matter of what you do/do not like in aesthetics), I am seeing a lot of unusual for unusual's sake, which I have never liked.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Don got Best Art Knife! :thumbup: :cool:
And yep,I have to agree with STeven about the knife designs on the Johnson/Young knives,a better word than unusual I couldn't come up with.
The Steve Gatlin looks more true to the style/design,Loveless,right? :confused: Someone feel free to correct/enlighten me. :o
The Hammond 30th Anniversary is pretty WOW.The grinds,the work on the top half of the blade and spine show a painstaking attention to detail,all the knives shown do.:o
Cool to see a couple of the Mathews boys knives.
Olive wood on the Tabor Bowie?
The Damascus is striking on the O'hare with that nice little plunge line,
nice sheath too.
The Billy Mace Imel interframe wharnie is all flow and beautiful imo.

Many thanks again Coop! :thumbup:

Doug
 
Nice work, Coop, I expected nothing less........
Edmund Davidson is playing with his knives in pictures 2091 to 2101........

David (ddd)
 
Wow, not a bad way to start a Sunday morning. A steaming cup of Jamaica Blue Mountain and an intense dose of knife candy. Sweet. Quite an interesting variety of pieces. I can't seem to tear my eyes away from Don's damascus and ivory bowie though - that thing just blew my socks off. I want it bad.

Thanks for the treat Coop.

Roger
 
Thanks for the great work Coop!

I can see where STeven is coming from. This is a, some what different looking group of knives, Johnson and Young are doing more hidden tangs lately.

The Guild show was interesting and there were a lot more knives at the show that didn't get photographed.
 
Don Hanson III said:
Thanks for the great work Coop!

I can see where STeven is coming from. This is a, some what different looking group of knives, Johnson and Young are doing more hidden tangs lately.

The Guild show was interesting and there were a lot more knives at the show that didn't get photographed.
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Kind of had me wondering that it must have been a slow show.:confused:
 
Don Hanson III said:
I did OK but it was the 2nd slowest show I've ever attended.
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That is unfortunate, but not the first time that I have read something about how slow the Guild Show is. This seems to have been the trend over the last few years,

I like seeing Johnson and Young making knives in something other than straight out Loveless designs.
 
Joss said:
He he he... I'm the mirror image here. I love the handles but not so much the blade lines... :D
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Well that's what opinions are all about; I love the blades and handles. Guards aren't too shabby either. :D
Three collectors with three totally different opinions. Don't you just love it. ;) :D

Don Hanson III said:
I'm trying to be nice, Kevin :)

My observation is, it was good for the makers in the lower price range.

I did OK but it was the 2nd slowest show I've ever attended.
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I'm a Honorary Guild member and try to support them, however the last show I attended was in 2002 which was substantial, however I have heard attendance has been falling off.
 
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