A little from the Blade Show

Gus Kalanzis

Gus Kalanzis

Havin' fun, learning and putting up with Bastid.
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Started yesterday helping folks set up and hob-nobbing before the show started. Got to bed at 1 and started today at 5:15 and just got home from the ABS Awards Banquet.

Wow. Better than ever. A quick recap.
Best of Show, Best Folder, Best Utility - A sweep by Richard Rogers. (Richard won best Folder and Best of Show last year also.)
The Best Folder and Best in show was a Sheffield style Barrel knife pattern. (awesome) and the best utility was an "excahnge a blade" style in quilted pearl.

Baily Bradshaw won best knife submitted for Mastersmith judging for his dagger it is stunning to say the least. Baily really cut loose on this knife. Fantastic Ivory, blued fittings gold inlayed and engraved. It will be in the hands of a friend and forum member in a few days :

In all the Mastersmiths represented makers from England, Australia and the U.S. (I will try to post names of the new Master and Journeyman Smiths when I get a little time to gather the info. This was the largest group of Journeyman Smiths I have seen inducted and the judging was just as strict, if not more so than usual.

There was a frenzy of buying all day. (At least for many, others sold easily in the first hour.) Kit and Walter were amoung them.

Got to spend some time with a few forum members on both sides of the table and had a blast. It has been a pleasure meeting some of you for the first time and the old friendships keep growing.

Personal purchases included knives by Richard Rogers (doctor's knife), Joel Chamblin (another DR. knife and a single blade in black pearl), and Sava Damlovac (a dagger that knocked by socks off), John Greco (dad's day) and Pete Peaterson (A.B.S. dinner auction - another dad's day stag folder). (It is going to be a good fathers day for him this year).

The A.B.S. Director's knife (cover of Blade Magazine was auctioned and it went to a well known collector who now owns 6 or 7 director's knives. This Bowie was unbelievable.

Nite folks, I am burnt to a crisp and still have two days to go. Wish you all could be here. Despite our differences, the Custom knife world IS one big family.


 
Thanks for the news, Gus
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Gus--

What a nice report. Thank you--feels a little like I've been to the show!

Have fun!!

Best-W.
 
Thanks for the report Gus! It sounds like you had a great time. I had to cancel the day before I was to arrive.
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Oh well, there is always next year I guess.

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Thank you for the update, Gus. Take care and keep buying. Remember, the more knives the better.
 
Roger,

Richard did not have any sowbellies. I would have gotten it if he had.

Jeff
 
Hope Richard Rogers brings some sowbelly stockman and split back whittlers to BSW!
 
Gus,

Thanks for the report. I wanted to make it South but just could not this year. Any news is greatly appreciated.

Enjoy the rest of the show.
 
Sure do appreciate the report. THis is a show I have every intention of making it to next year.

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Keith

AKTI Member #A001338
 
I just got home a couple of hours ago and I'm still in overload. None of the knife shows I've been going to sinace '98 prepared me for Blade Show.
Gus, is was great to finally meet you face to face at Stab's BBQ. I'll be honest you I went to see the people the makers, the dealers, the manugfacturers and most important the people I've come to think os as my friends here a BFC. The knives were just a huge plus, but the knifeknuts came first. As great as I thought this weekend was going to be the realty far surpassed it.
The knife Gods smiled on me and I've come home with some knives I've only dreamed of owning. The memories form this weekend will last me for a very long time. To all of you I got the chance to spend some time with, thanks for the memories.

Here's a couple of Blade Awards you missed;
Best New Maker: Patrick Nihiser. Pat has been making only a year and a half, but when Kit Carson tells you to go look at his work, you do.
Most Innovative Folder: For the second year in a row P.J. Tomes ABS Mastersmith. This knife was a small two blade with stag scales that was just amazing. In fact the more you appreciate knives the longer you just stare and play with this knife. The wiining knife was made by P.J. for Mel Pardue's son Joe, who by some strange twist of Fate also happens to be a very good maker.

Aside from the knives I came home with, the knives that stand out most in my mind; Kershaw's new Ken Onion Chive, this is a "must have" knife it's small, but very cool. Next was Chris Reeves new gents folder. The lines on this are beautiful as well as the Zircoate wood scales with the same quality Sebenza owners have been bragging about for years. Picking one custon knife would be immpossible; of course the Moran Auction knife would make anyone's jaw drop, but right up there would be the Ed Fowler & Joe Szilaski's coolaboration on a Stag handled and engraved "Pronghorn" and Hatchet. Perhaps my favorite was Harvey Dean's folding D guard Bowie. This knife when closed looks like a nice sized fixed blade knife with sheath, but when open it can only be described as a short sword. Both Darrel Ralph and Dave Ellis said I had to see it, and even though Harvey said it wasn't finished they were right. This is an amazing piece.

I hope some other of the folks that were there check in. I didn't bring a camera but I know lots of pics were taken.

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hey gus,
it was good meeting you. i cannot get over the dagger you bought from Sava...man that thing is incredible!
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i do have to agree with phil, i was really looking forward to meeting everyone,and the knives were just a little treat to go along with it (although i did walk away with more knives than i could afford
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)

me and max are headed back to arkansas in the morn',but im REAL anxious for next years show...but i think next year ill be flying,instead of making the drive
 
Mo and Phil, meeting you two was one of many highlights of the show for me. I am lucky to have gotten to know you both a little and look forward to seeing each of you again.

Thanks on the Dagger. Sava is not a very well known maker, but his knives reside in a few of the best collections in the U.S. (my collection is not even close). I met him in 1997 and we hit it off immediatly and have become very close friends. He has only made 7 knives since he became a Journeyman Smith. Sava is retired and just makes knives as a passion. This dagger is one of the mosty symetrical I have seen in a while. (It looks out of kilter in the pic, but believe me it is not.)
It has a 2,502 layer damascus blade fluted oosic handled with twisted gold wire inlays.
Even as a friend I was very lucky to have a chance to get it. (It is a long but very happy story all the way through).

The picture does not come close. It is all I have right now
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. Sava took it back for engraving with gold wire inlays. I think he also wants to mount some stones in the quillions. Sure am glad I saved some of my Blade Show allowance
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[This message has been edited by Gus Kalanzis (edited 06-10-2001).]
 
A few slip joints I picked up.
The carved pearl with the spatula blade is one of Richard Rogers'.
The other Doctor's knife is Joel Chamblin's. He also made the small coke bottle folder in black lip with an inlayed gold shield and gold pins.
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" The real art of living is to keep alive the longing in human beings to become greater versions of themselves." Laurens Van der Post in memory of James Mattis

[This message has been edited by Gus Kalanzis (edited 06-10-2001).]
 
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