- Joined
- Nov 16, 1998
- Messages
- 324
25 years of perfect attendance at Blade
This year marks the 25th straight year of myself attending the Blade show! The knives are all sharpened and everything is ready to go. The only thing left to do is get on the plane for Atlanta! Ive done this checklist every year now for the past 25 years. The Blade show has become as part of my life as the 4th of July and my birthday. Every year in May its time to get ready for Blade! That first show for me was in Knoxville Tennesee in 1989 where it used to be held at the Knoxville convention center. I remember walking in that first morning seeing all of the makers who I had only read about in the magazine. I was standing in awe and Im sure wide eyed as I pointed out to Lori, hey there is Darrel Meyer, and wow there is Gil Hibbon Then I was walking up to the registration table, getting my first show packet was like a coming of age, because of being accepted into the show I was a KNIFEMAKER! Setting up my table, putting my few knives out and finally putting my brand new nameplate on the table that said Rick Hinderer, Knifemaker
A lot has changed in the 25 years since, and a lot has stayed the same. The show was moved to Atlanta and of course has grown in size. The manufactures section is now as big as the knifemakers section and in the same room, reflecting the change in the industry and the close ties that are now there between the custom knifemakers and the manufacturers. Makers that were there 25 years ago are no longer with us or have moved on to other interests in their lives. Makers such as Hugh Bartrug who had a big influence in my early career, unfortunately is now longer behind his table.
And things stay the same at the Blade show. The camaraderie and feeling of family between makers is always a staple at the Blade show. While we all get our knives ready and look forward to the sales and meeting new customers we always look forward to hanging out with our fellow makers and their families at the show, dinners after the show,and walking the aisles and sitting behind tables getting caught up from all the happenings between then and the last show. Im sure this year there will be a lot of catching up going on in The Pit after the show!
A lot has changed for me and Rick Hinderer Knives since that first show 25 years ago. Number one I sure couldnt have predicted the change 25 years ago to today! Back then it was me and Lori and a few knives on my table. Now it is me and Lori and 5 employees in a booth with a lot more knives, pens, and accessories. While things have gotten a lot busier and our customer list have gotten a lot longer I still enjoy meeting and hanging out with all of our knife friends and customers at the Blade show! Getting caught up with old friends and meeting new friends at the show is a big highlight for me, and one that even after 25 years I never tire of! We were talking in the shop yesterday and reflecting on Blade show stories from years past and one of our new employees is joining us for his first Blade show this year, as we were reflecting on those old stories I told him that now when we return we will have written a new Blade show chapter and he will have been included in those stories. He smiled wide at that, but in all honesty he knows not what he is in for! Haha.
This year to mark my 25th straight Blade show we are coming heavy! This will be our biggest Blade show yet! Even though we have lotteries to sell the knives we will most likely be able to please everyone who is coming to the show to get Rick Hinderer knives gear! We are going to have a bunch of 25th Blade show merchandise and special items commemorating the show. So please stop by my booth at the show and say Hi to me and all of my staff. We would love to see you! And heres to the next 25 years at Blade show for Rick Hinderer Knives, and to writing new chapters each and every year! See you all at Blade!!!
Rick Hinderer
Myself and Hugh Bartrug in 1990
This year marks the 25th straight year of myself attending the Blade show! The knives are all sharpened and everything is ready to go. The only thing left to do is get on the plane for Atlanta! Ive done this checklist every year now for the past 25 years. The Blade show has become as part of my life as the 4th of July and my birthday. Every year in May its time to get ready for Blade! That first show for me was in Knoxville Tennesee in 1989 where it used to be held at the Knoxville convention center. I remember walking in that first morning seeing all of the makers who I had only read about in the magazine. I was standing in awe and Im sure wide eyed as I pointed out to Lori, hey there is Darrel Meyer, and wow there is Gil Hibbon Then I was walking up to the registration table, getting my first show packet was like a coming of age, because of being accepted into the show I was a KNIFEMAKER! Setting up my table, putting my few knives out and finally putting my brand new nameplate on the table that said Rick Hinderer, Knifemaker
A lot has changed in the 25 years since, and a lot has stayed the same. The show was moved to Atlanta and of course has grown in size. The manufactures section is now as big as the knifemakers section and in the same room, reflecting the change in the industry and the close ties that are now there between the custom knifemakers and the manufacturers. Makers that were there 25 years ago are no longer with us or have moved on to other interests in their lives. Makers such as Hugh Bartrug who had a big influence in my early career, unfortunately is now longer behind his table.
And things stay the same at the Blade show. The camaraderie and feeling of family between makers is always a staple at the Blade show. While we all get our knives ready and look forward to the sales and meeting new customers we always look forward to hanging out with our fellow makers and their families at the show, dinners after the show,and walking the aisles and sitting behind tables getting caught up from all the happenings between then and the last show. Im sure this year there will be a lot of catching up going on in The Pit after the show!
A lot has changed for me and Rick Hinderer Knives since that first show 25 years ago. Number one I sure couldnt have predicted the change 25 years ago to today! Back then it was me and Lori and a few knives on my table. Now it is me and Lori and 5 employees in a booth with a lot more knives, pens, and accessories. While things have gotten a lot busier and our customer list have gotten a lot longer I still enjoy meeting and hanging out with all of our knife friends and customers at the Blade show! Getting caught up with old friends and meeting new friends at the show is a big highlight for me, and one that even after 25 years I never tire of! We were talking in the shop yesterday and reflecting on Blade show stories from years past and one of our new employees is joining us for his first Blade show this year, as we were reflecting on those old stories I told him that now when we return we will have written a new Blade show chapter and he will have been included in those stories. He smiled wide at that, but in all honesty he knows not what he is in for! Haha.
This year to mark my 25th straight Blade show we are coming heavy! This will be our biggest Blade show yet! Even though we have lotteries to sell the knives we will most likely be able to please everyone who is coming to the show to get Rick Hinderer knives gear! We are going to have a bunch of 25th Blade show merchandise and special items commemorating the show. So please stop by my booth at the show and say Hi to me and all of my staff. We would love to see you! And heres to the next 25 years at Blade show for Rick Hinderer Knives, and to writing new chapters each and every year! See you all at Blade!!!
Rick Hinderer
Myself and Hugh Bartrug in 1990
