2026 Badger Knife Show - Wisconsin

LastRodeo

LastRodeo

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I am excited to be attending my first Badger Knife Show! If any of you veterans of the event have any advice for me, please let me know. I would also be interested in meeting up with any BF members that are going. I am planning on downsizing my knife collection (including +150 GEC). If anyone is looking to pick up a knife or two while you are there, I can bring them along.
 
I have never been to that show.
However, based on the numerous gun/gun and knife shows I have attended over the decades, the only advise I can offer is:
1) Wear comfy shoes.
2) Arrive early.
3) Bring LOTS of cash along with any tradin' stock you may have ... and try not to spend it all at one table. 😓
4) Don't be afraid to ask someone walking around with a gun/sword/other medieval/"obsolete" weapon that you might want, if they are looking to sell or trade. That isn't against the rules ... at least not when I was going to them.
(The last show I attended was the Orlando (FL) Gun & Knife Show, held in November, 2001. 😭 I bough 5 arms ... all of witch were stolen by a scummy 💩bag who had ... may still have ... the Monroe County, Florida, Sheriff and a couple judges in his pocket. 🤬👎 The Sherrif refused to arrest that ... thing 🤬)

I also planed on attending every day the show was open.
(a) For larger shows it is difficult (at best) to visit all the tables in one day. (The Orlando (FL) Gun & Knife Show, for example).
(b) Since the various sellers are taking in trades, their offerings change throughout each day. They might have what you want at a price you are willing to pay, an hour or three after visiting their table that they didn't have when you visited.
 
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LastRodeo said:
I am excited to be attending my first Badger Knife Show! If any of you veterans of the event have any advice for me, please let me know. I would also be interested in meeting up with any BF members that are going. I am planning on downsizing my knife collection (including +150 GEC). If anyone is looking to pick up a knife or two while you are there, I can bring them along.
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I was there in 2024, set up at a friends table. It was a very busy show, almost so busy that it's hard to walk down the aisles because of how crowded. Lots of vintage knives, but also a lot of customs. Even some modern knife dealers sprinkled throughout. I would love to attend again sometime, unfortunately it won't be this year. Hope you enjoy! If you can, take some photos to post afterwards so we can all check things out virtually.
 
Rookie82 said:
I was there in 2024, set up at a friends table. It was a very busy show, almost so busy that it's hard to walk down the aisles because of how crowded. Lots of vintage knives, but also a lot of customs. Even some modern knife dealers sprinkled throughout. I would love to attend again sometime, unfortunately it won't be this year. Hope you enjoy! If you can, take some photos to post afterwards so we can all check things out virtually.
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I will take photos for sure. Is it less busy, if I arrive as soon as it opens on Friday?
 
LastRodeo said:
I will take photos for sure. Is it less busy, if I arrive as soon as it opens on Friday?
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The show is in the conference room attached to the hotel, and all the dealers stay right at the hotel. They all came in and started looking over each other's stuff before the doors opened to the public, and there was a line of people waiting to come in as soon as the doors opened. From all the different shows I've been to, it was one of the most well attended shows I've seen. It started off busy, and peaked around noon, and the crowd started dying down by 2pm. Then the same thing happened again Saturday.
 
I've been twice and can add that there is a lot of knives, old and new to look over. I plan on being there Friday morning at the opening along with some other members that I met for the first time a few years ago. Great group of fellows and we meet up earlier in the morning for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel that is nearest to the show. Hope to see you there.
 
sunknife said:
I've been twice and can add that there is a lot of knives, old and new to look over. I plan on being there Friday morning at the opening along with some other members that I met for the first time a few years ago. Great group of fellows and we meet up earlier in the morning for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel that is nearest to the show. Hope to see you there.
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Will see you at Cracker Barrel Greg .

Harry
 
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sunknife said:
I've been twice and can add that there is a lot of knives, old and new to look over. I plan on being there Friday morning at the opening along with some other members that I met for the first time a few years ago. Great group of fellows and we meet up earlier in the morning for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel that is nearest to the show. Hope to see you there.
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I would be would be grateful if I can join you at Cracker Barrel.
 
The Badger Show is a good one, you'll enjoy it! I think this will be my fifth year going. It's great to be able to look at old/traditional knives in person, there's always quite a bit there, and it's even better to meet up and talk knives with fellow enthusiasts.

As Carl mentioned, they really fill up the space, so it can get a little tight walking around, but it's not too bad. The aisle are really only wide enough for two people, so occasionally you might have to wait a minute if two people are back to back looking at something on tables directly across from each other, but it's not too bad.

They do sell an early bird pass for Friday (I can't remember what time that gets you in, an hour or two early maybe). I don't know that it's really necessary to get in early, I usually just do the cheaper 3-day pass and go in when the show opens at noon, especially if we kill a lot of time chatting over breakfast and don't get over there until 11:30 or so.

It'd be great to meet up with you, I'll shoot you a PM. :thumbsup:
 
I've never been, I'm maybe and hour, little more + away, but it unfortunately falls on my only wife and daughters birthday weekend.....

I figure if I'm ever "in" a show this should be the one..... I need to get in the scene More.

Are there lots of makers there, or is it mostly collectors with their goods?

Is there interest in fixed blades, or mostly pocket knives? I really need to see it.

Thanks.

*someday
 
SEArkHog said:
Last year was my first year going and I will be there again this year. Really enjoyed it.
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Yeah, me too!

Crag the Brewer said:
I've never been, I'm maybe and hour, little more + away, but it unfortunately falls on my only wife and daughters birthday weekend.....

I figure if I'm ever "in" a show this should be the one..... I need to get in the scene More.

Are there lots of makers there, or is it mostly collectors with their goods?

Is there interest in fixed blades, or mostly pocket knives? I really need to see it.

Thanks.

*someday
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There is really a broad mix. Lots of factory stuff, sheath knives and folders. There are custom makers ranging from the guy who bought a Harbor Freight belt sander last month to really high end stuff. Scale materials, steel, parts. Honestly, if you can name it it will probably be there.
 
dsutton24 said:
Yeah, me too!



There is really a broad mix. Lots of factory stuff, sheath knives and folders. There are custom makers ranging from the guy who bought a Harbor Freight belt sander last month to really high end stuff. Scale materials, steel, parts. Honestly, if you can name it it will probably be there.
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"from the guy who bought a Harbor Freight belt sander last month to really high end stuff."
Really that basic, too? I'm surprised beginners would be at shows
I'm not sure why I'm nervous about it.....maybe the face to face reactions of people?I
Thanks
 
Crag the Brewer said:
"from the guy who bought a Harbor Freight belt sander last month to really high end stuff."
Really that basic, too? I'm surprised beginners would be at shows
I'm not sure why I'm nervous about it.....maybe the face to face reactions of people?I
Thanks
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A bit of an exaggeration, but there is a wide variety of skill level on display.
 
Crag the Brewer said:
"from the guy who bought a Harbor Freight belt sander last month to really high end stuff."
Really that basic, too? I'm surprised beginners would be at shows
I'm not sure why I'm nervous about it.....maybe the face to face reactions of people?I
Thanks
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Man there’s some sellers on Etsy that make me go wow…my first knife wasn’t near as bad as some they sell…
 
Crag the Brewer said:
"from the guy who bought a Harbor Freight belt sander last month to really high end stuff."
Really that basic, too? I'm surprised beginners would be at shows
I'm not sure why I'm nervous about it.....maybe the face to face reactions of people?I
Thanks
Click to expand...

I do get what you are saying for sure and I probably would have similar feelings as well. But screw em, most people in the traditional knife world appreciate any form of craftsmanship and hard work when it comes to knives. I think that is what separates traditional from modern in some ways. If you do make it, let us know and I'll stop by.
 
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