2016 Blade Show • World Class Knives!

[Waxingmoon]

I love the homon in the bottom knife in this selection

 

[NorthernSouthpaw]

It's a pleasure to view your post Blade threads Jim.
It is greatly appreciated.
Especially by those of us who were not able to attend.
Your photos are always the closest I could ever get to "handling" one of those exquisite blades.

Honestly and truly, I thank you.
Dave

 

[IronMedicineBlades]

Incredible photos of some incredible work. Absolutely amazing. Thank you.

 

[Steve Nuckels]

What a great thread!

Such interesting work by all the makers, and great images by Coop!

The Hamon on the last DHIII piece looks like it's floating just above the blade! Outstanding!

Steve
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Member, W.F. Moran Foundation
ABS AP

 

[bflying]

Wow! This is my new favorite Eye Candy thread. Not only are all the blades magnificent, but Coop manages to find just that right color of backdrop to compliment each style. Amazing photography.





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People are Strange, When You're a Stranger....

 

[Kevin Jones]

Another amazing photographic review; Thanks for all you do Coop!!!!!!

 

[Don Hanson III]

Thanks Coop!

 

[canineforge]

Always a treat, Coop! :thumbup:

- Joe

 

[Bigjohn]

Thanks Coopster....you rock

 

[RogerP]

Sooooo much awesomeness here.

The Montenegro hunting sword reminds me that this is a cutlery wish of mine that as yet stands unfulfilled.

The small Lisch ivory laminate is just perfection.

The long Hanson ivory (d'uh) fighter is just exquisitely elegant.

LOVE the placque for the Lurquin Musso Best Bowie!

Tad Lynch's ladder pattern on that fighter explains very succinctly why I will always love ladder pattern.

Chen-Wei Chang has skillz.

 

[SharpByCoop]

Thank you all.

Now that the excitement has settled and we've all had a good filling of visuals, I'm reminded of two instances of PEOPLE who made me very happy--but now have made me sad.

In my past few shows a private older collector, Tom Ruby, would contact me and arrange a time where I could do work for him. One year it was a cache of SR Johnson knives, One year was Morans, and last year was this incredible array of genuine Case V42 WW2 daggers and assorted memorabilia. He had a reserved Sunday morning spot for an hour. See his special work: Click here.

He was a wonderfully kind man, with a penchant for quality and a willingness to learn by watching, yet stand back. So warm I allowed him into my normally-closed kingdom. He always promised a return visit.

This year I had no email response and no visit. Last week I was curious and sent an email asking how he was, because he was missed by Susan and I. No response. I did some googling and searching on Facebook. He has a page....

There were five or six identical entries on his page from his friends last November: R.I.P Tom, We loved you.

I was floored. I loved this gentle guy and his kind manner. If any of you know of him please tell me more warm stories.

Second heartbreaking memory was an actual visit by my (OUR!) good friend A.G. Russell. In the past 9 years AG takes time out of his show to swing by for a short hello. He's an icon in our world, why he would search me out to pay thanks and say hi was flattering and humbling at the same time.

Sometimes with Goldie, and sometimes alone, but this time with his brother Bill. He was on one of those smart little electric scooters now. Two years ago he gave me this little lockback Delrin folder he'd been using "I want you to take this. I designed it and it's served me for a while, and I want you to use it." And I have. Often. Ironically, it was my only pocket folder for this Show.

Here's what's poignant: AG tells me that's it, no more for him coming to Blade. It's simply too much now, and this will be his last show. And unless I come to the Arkansas show we may not see each other again, at least not at Blade. Long pause, I understood. I actually asked him for a hug, and two grown men embraced in honest appreciation and respect. As he wheeled out of there and away, my wife asked me "Are you OK?" I couldn't talk. I was too choked with tears.

We've all said it: It's about the people as much as it is the knives, but I've never cried over a knife.

Anyway that's more than you were expecting, but i wanted to say how much these two people have affected me.

AG: I look forward to our next handshake! Tom: Godspeed. :thumbup:

Jim

 

[Matthew Gregory]

You're a good egg, Jim.

 

[Critter]

Coop, thanks again for your generous contributions of photography for our 2016 Ultimate Steel™ fundraiser. And, thanks to all the generous makers who have contributed knives to help us forge a Sharper Future for all Americans. Just to clarify, the Ultimate Steel™ is not an auction, rather it is a drawing.

Also, we had a number of additional contributions of knives at BLADE Show and those who donate between BLADE and end of the fundraiser, July 31, 2016, are eligible for the Tail End Bonus Drawing with over $7,000 worth of prizes on top of the over $170,000 of prizes in the main drawing.

We could not do what we do without all of your generous support, thanks so much!

Before I close my Blade Show thread, I'll post a few of the knives which I shot at Blade and just before, for Doug Ritter and the Knife Rights organization.

He holds a yearly fundraiser to support OUR causes. VERY generous makers have crafted/built and submitted knives as a donation to the drawing. I've photographed these and more for the benefit.

www.KnifeRights.org/UltimateSteel

Here's some of the knives being offered for auction and the images I've just done:

Please visit the link to donate for chances to WIN these knives!

 

[betzner]

Great knives, great work, great thread. Thanks for all you do, Coop. This thread is always the very best display of a full array of knives of all styles other than Blade Show itself.