I'm back from the first day of the show. Overall I had fun. There were some problems I had with the show though, and I'll get that out of the way first.
One, they had to use 2 separate rooms to hold it. Not a problem in itself but it wasn't at all clear that there are 2 rooms. The table map handout had a front and back, with one side saying Crystal Room and the other saying Grand Ballroom. Call me a dummy but I didn't register those different headings since my eyes immediately discarded the small handwritten title at the top of the page and my brain pre-determined that it was one big room and the paper was too small to print it all so they had to use front and back. I almost missed one of the rooms while walking out, angry and thinking that the show was smaller than advertised and mistaking that half the attendees listed on the table assignment weren't there. I talked to several people who said the same thing, that they very nearly missed half the show. The organizers should have told people as they came in or walked out that there's another room.
Two, one of the rooms was pretty small. It got very cramped in there.
Three, some of the advertised attendees weren't there. Not an issue really, more of a disappointment as I really wanted to see Scott Cook's Lochsa in person.
Anyway, so much for the icky picky and on with the fun stuff. One of the most crowded areas was where Mr. Emerson was next to the Strider table. And across from them were Tops Knives. It was a log jam. I also thought it was funny that Mr. Emerson had some Captains of Crush hand grips at his table. I thought WtF? Those of you into serious strength training will know what they are. Mr. Emerson looked like he was a serious strength trainer anyhow.
Bob Dozier's table was pretty busy too. I hadn't been impressed by photos of his knives but handling them there in person definitely was an eye opener. I didn't buy any Dozier but his knives are tempting me and calling me back like a siren for another look tomorrow.
Chris Reeve's table didn't seem to get that much traffic the times that I passed by, and I was surprised by that.
When I first scanned Jerry Hossom's table, he good naturedly grabbed one of his humongous fighters and handed it to me saying: "Here, you can't SEE balance." Then he talked to me about grinds and knifemaking and showed me the little thoughts and details he put into his knife. I was too dumbfounded, and to green a knife knut, to intelligently engage this gracious man in knife talk. I wish I had more knowledge so I could converse with him instead of standing there holding this long ass blade like I wanted to chop something.
I ended up buying an R.O. Easler drop point in Ironwood, the price being to good to pass up. Next to him was Ron Gaston, who had at least 3 knives that I was seriously tempted to buy, but I had already spent what I allotted myself for the show. If they tempt me enough in my sleep tonight I may have to allot myself some more.
Mike Irie's knives are just too affordable for the quality that they too are calling to me.
Along with the Easler, I picked up a puukko by Nordell (didn't get his first name). I tested it on some paper when I got home and I now understand what those puukko enthusiasts mean when they say these things are SHARP. I also picked up a couple of slabs of ironwood and olivewood, just because I like their grain so much. Maybe one day I'll ask someone to use them for handles as I sink deeper into the customs world.
Maybe some pics later.
One, they had to use 2 separate rooms to hold it. Not a problem in itself but it wasn't at all clear that there are 2 rooms. The table map handout had a front and back, with one side saying Crystal Room and the other saying Grand Ballroom. Call me a dummy but I didn't register those different headings since my eyes immediately discarded the small handwritten title at the top of the page and my brain pre-determined that it was one big room and the paper was too small to print it all so they had to use front and back. I almost missed one of the rooms while walking out, angry and thinking that the show was smaller than advertised and mistaking that half the attendees listed on the table assignment weren't there. I talked to several people who said the same thing, that they very nearly missed half the show. The organizers should have told people as they came in or walked out that there's another room.
Two, one of the rooms was pretty small. It got very cramped in there.
Three, some of the advertised attendees weren't there. Not an issue really, more of a disappointment as I really wanted to see Scott Cook's Lochsa in person.
Anyway, so much for the icky picky and on with the fun stuff. One of the most crowded areas was where Mr. Emerson was next to the Strider table. And across from them were Tops Knives. It was a log jam. I also thought it was funny that Mr. Emerson had some Captains of Crush hand grips at his table. I thought WtF? Those of you into serious strength training will know what they are. Mr. Emerson looked like he was a serious strength trainer anyhow.
Bob Dozier's table was pretty busy too. I hadn't been impressed by photos of his knives but handling them there in person definitely was an eye opener. I didn't buy any Dozier but his knives are tempting me and calling me back like a siren for another look tomorrow.
Chris Reeve's table didn't seem to get that much traffic the times that I passed by, and I was surprised by that.
When I first scanned Jerry Hossom's table, he good naturedly grabbed one of his humongous fighters and handed it to me saying: "Here, you can't SEE balance." Then he talked to me about grinds and knifemaking and showed me the little thoughts and details he put into his knife. I was too dumbfounded, and to green a knife knut, to intelligently engage this gracious man in knife talk. I wish I had more knowledge so I could converse with him instead of standing there holding this long ass blade like I wanted to chop something.
I ended up buying an R.O. Easler drop point in Ironwood, the price being to good to pass up. Next to him was Ron Gaston, who had at least 3 knives that I was seriously tempted to buy, but I had already spent what I allotted myself for the show. If they tempt me enough in my sleep tonight I may have to allot myself some more.
Mike Irie's knives are just too affordable for the quality that they too are calling to me.
Along with the Easler, I picked up a puukko by Nordell (didn't get his first name). I tested it on some paper when I got home and I now understand what those puukko enthusiasts mean when they say these things are SHARP. I also picked up a couple of slabs of ironwood and olivewood, just because I like their grain so much. Maybe one day I'll ask someone to use them for handles as I sink deeper into the customs world.
Maybe some pics later.
I had to have one so I went to see Darrel, although there seemed to be several tables that were selling them, I got the Dagger. I don't know when or how I'm going to make it, but I couldn't resist. I hear once you get started with these kits it's like a pistachio nut, you can't have just one. 
