2015 Blade Show Custom Knife Award Winners

The Amazing Virginian

The Amazing Virginian

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Feb 24, 2010
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If this was already posted elsewhere here, I apologize. I looked but did not see it.

Here were the winners:

Yvon Vachon Best Miniature Award: Shigeru Tozaki

Best New Maker: Raphael Durand

Best Bowie: David Lisch

Most Innovative Design: Gustavo Cecchini

Best Knife Collaboration: Ladysmith Dagger by Audra Draper, Haley DesRosiers, Dellana, Julie Warenski-Erickson, Grace Horne

Best Sword: William Lloyd

Best Damascus: David Lisch

Best Art Knife: William Tuch

Best Fixed Blade: Steven Rapp

Best Utility Hunter: Mike Quesenberry

Best Folder: Bill Ruple

Best Tactical Folder: Brian Nadeau

Best Fighter: Neil Schutte

Best Handle Design: Sam Lurquin

Best of the Rest: Grace Horne

Hugh Bartrug Best of Show: Bill Ruple


I believe that Kohai999 (aka STeven) was one of the judges, so maybe (?) he can stop by and offer some remarks about the winners for those of us who were not there and/or did not see them.

And if anyone has any pictures of any of these pieces, maybe they could add them here. I would especially like to see a picture of Bill Ruple's "Best of Show" winner.

I can start by adding a picture of the Best Knife Collaboration, which was posted here earlier by Dr. David Darom from his latest book:

Ladysmith-Knife.jpg
 
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Hello Ken!

Thanks for posting this! Great info! Hope to see the knives in here as well!

All the best,
Alex
 
Thanks for posting this Ken, I don't believe we have had the full list in one place. Congrats to all the winners!
 
Seen this one he had at the show and he showed me another one the night before. The guy is a true Master. -:thumbup:
Look forward to seeing the knife that won.



11391154_1610861759200585_1356886715453346308_n.jpg


Congratulations to all the winners. - :thumbup::thumbup:






.
 
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The Virginian said:
I believe that Kohai999 (aka STeven) was one of the judges, so maybe (?) he can stop by and offer some remarks about the winners for those of us who were not there and/or did not see them.
Click to expand...
One of the few times I got away from the booth on Friday was to participate in the judging of the categories.

Rather than blather randomly, if anyone has a question, would be happy to answer it. Just got back last night and there is mass pandemonium at Casa Garsson.

Phones are encouraged to be turned off in the judging room, so I have no pics.....the B.O.S. Ruple was a split spring three blade Sowbelly.....quite spectacular really....took Best Folder as well. Second place in the folder category was a Richard Rogers liner lock. Truly exceptional.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
One of the few times I got away from the booth on Friday was to participate in the judging of the categories.

Rather than blather randomly, if anyone has a question, would be happy to answer it. Just got back last night and there is mass pandemonium at Casa Garsson.

Phones are encouraged to be turned off in the judging room, so I have no pics.....the B.O.S. Ruple was a split spring three blade Sowbelly.....quite spectacular really....took Best Folder as well. Second place in the folder category was a Richard Rogers liner lock. Truly exceptional.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...

Can we look forward to a uniquely Garsson show review? Swung by your booth a couple times Saturday but didn't catch you there. Hope it was a great show for you my friend.
 
PocketKnives4Sale said:
This is a beauty. - :thumbup:

I'm sure we will see it professionally photographed.

Bill Ruple
Click to expand...

{pics omitted}

Thanks so much for posting that!

Kohai999 said:
One of the few times I got away from the booth on Friday was to participate in the judging of the categories.

Rather than blather randomly, if anyone has a question, would be happy to answer it. Just got back last night and there is mass pandemonium at Casa Garsson.

Phones are encouraged to be turned off in the judging room, so I have no pics.....the B.O.S. Ruple was a split spring three blade Sowbelly.....quite spectacular really....took Best Folder as well. Second place in the folder category was a Richard Rogers liner lock. Truly exceptional.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...

I have a question about the Best Tactical Folder.

This is the second year in a row for Brian. If I am not mistaken, last year he won with his Typhoon model. What model won this year? Was there anything in particular about it that stood out, and how could you compare and contrast it to the Typhoon?

OK, I guess that is a couple of questions. :o

Anyway, TIA!
 
I have a question. Is the sword category a category that has a lot of entries? Is there a picture of the best of show sword?
 
The Virginian said:
{pics omitted}

I have a question about the Best Tactical Folder.

This is the second year in a row for Brian. If I am not mistaken, last year he won with his Typhoon model. What model won this year? Was there anything in particular about it that stood out, and how could you compare and contrast it to the Typhoon?

OK, I guess that is a couple of questions. :o

Anyway, TIA!
Click to expand...

It was a Typhoon this year as well, with improvements to the blade finish, some fullering, and rounding/tuning of the lockbar. It stood out because it was just as awesome this year as it was last year, and bettered the rest of the field.....revolutionary or earthshaking? No....just a superb knife in the category.

Blade-to-handle ratio on a folder is a major issue for me....all other things being equal if you have a spectacular looking folder with a short blade and a bit more ordinary looking folder with a longer blade, it will get my vote.

It was not unanimously a favorite......a Todd Rexford with GOLD inlay in the spine and a damascus blade was....however, there was an issue with the entry. Not sure of the contract wording, but as far as I know, you have to have a table in your name in order to enter into the "Best Custom" contest.....One of the judges in particular is more of a media attentive individual and made the point that the Rexford would photograph better and look better in print, which I didn't give two farts about.

David Stifle said:
I have a question. Is the sword category a category that has a lot of entries? Is there a picture of the best of show sword?
Click to expand...

The sword category probably has the smallest number of entrants besides "miniatures".....maybe 8 max this year. I don't know what pictures were taken. It was a long European sword with maximum embellisment. It was a spring tempered blade and VERY whippy....I hate whippy swords, so it didn't get my nod.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
It was a Typhoon this year as well, with improvements to the blade finish, some fullering, and rounding/tuning of the lockbar. It stood out because it was just as awesome this year as it was last year, and bettered the rest of the field.....revolutionary or earthshaking? No....just a superb knife in the category.

Blade-to-handle ratio on a folder is a major issue for me....all other things being equal if you have a spectacular looking folder with a short blade and a bit more ordinary looking folder with a longer blade, it will get my vote.

It was not unanimously a favorite......a Todd Rexford with GOLD inlay in the spine and a damascus blade was....however, there was an issue with the entry. Not sure of the contract wording, but as far as I know, you have to have a table in your name in order to enter into the "Best Custom" contest.....One of the judges in particular is more of a media attentive individual and made the point that the Rexford would photograph better and look better in print, which I didn't give two farts about.



The sword category probably has the smallest number of entrants besides "miniatures".....maybe 8 max this year. I don't know what pictures were taken. It was a long European sword with maximum embellisment. It was a spring tempered blade and VERY whippy....I hate whippy swords, so it didn't get my nod.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...

Thanks, STeven!
 
I just want to add pictures of some of the other winners here as I find them, to see as many of them as possible in one place.

So, here is . . .

Shigeru Tozaki - Best Miniature

Henry_fmw700.jpg
 
Thanks for this post Ken... I really enjoy getting these recaps, and your "best of" list was one of the first things I go searching for after a big show like Blade...

Please do post more photos of the actual knife that won in it's category when you can...

Thanks again Ken, Rich Slaughter
 
Thank you Ken for posting this and Steven for the insight on some of the pieces that were judged!!

Very cool, Jeff
 
Kohai999 said:
It was a Typhoon this year as well, with improvements to the blade finish, some fullering, and rounding/tuning of the lockbar. It stood out because it was just as awesome this year as it was last year, and bettered the rest of the field.....revolutionary or earthshaking? No....just a superb knife in the category.

Blade-to-handle ratio on a folder is a major issue for me....all other things being equal if you have a spectacular looking folder with a short blade and a bit more ordinary looking folder with a longer blade, it will get my vote.

It was not unanimously a favorite......a Todd Rexford with GOLD inlay in the spine and a damascus blade was....however, there was an issue with the entry. Not sure of the contract wording, but as far as I know, you have to have a table in your name in order to enter into the "Best Custom" contest.....One of the judges in particular is more of a media attentive individual and made the point that the Rexford would photograph better and look better in print, which I didn't give two farts about.



The sword category probably has the smallest number of entrants besides "miniatures".....maybe 8 max this year. I don't know what pictures were taken. It was a long European sword with maximum embellisment. It was a spring tempered blade and VERY whippy....I hate whippy swords, so it didn't get my nod.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...

Thanks, STeven.

But I am confused about what happened with Todd Rexford. He is listed as an exhibitor, and I found this picture.

16sb28.jpg


Was that not "good enough?"
 
The Virginian said:
Thanks, STeven.

But I am confused about what happened with Todd Rexford. He is listed as an exhibitor, and I found this picture.

16sb28.jpg


Was that not "good enough?"
Click to expand...

You are asking the wrong guy, Ken....I THINK that booths were traditionally for factories and dealers....not custom makers, and there will most certainly be clarifying verbiage for NEXT year....but for this year...there were a couple DQ's.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Thanks, STeven. As you and I both know, more than one custom maker operates out of a booth. So, yeah, it would be nice if they would clarify that and be more transparent. I do think that several aspects of the way they run the awards diminish their prestige just a bit, and that is a shame. It would be nice if they actually posted clear rules and even "guidelines" for all of the awards on a website before the show. But their show; their rules, right? I doubt anyone who matters really GAF what I or any other collector thinks about it, as long as the cash keeps rolling in.
 
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