ABS Expo 2014 Report

[kimsalls]

It is only a 3 hour drive from Houston to San Antonio, an easy day trip for Texas. I left home at 7:00 AM and made it back before 8:00 PM. In that time period I squeezed in two seminars and spent several hours at the show visiting with makers and taking pictures until my battery ran out.

This year the ABS Expo moved to the Drury Plaza Hotel Riverwalk. I found it very easy to find and get to the hotel off of I-10. I pulled in to a large parking garage at 10:30. It is only one building away from the hotel which made parking convenient. Check in on the 4th Floor was quick as usual with the wonderful ladies at Registration.

I had plenty of time to go to the bathroom and find the room for the first seminar I planned to attend:

"Silver Wire Inlay" with Joe Keeslar.




The next seminar in the same room was "Slip Joint Folders" by Bill Ruple. He was not able to teach us 25 years of slip joint making in an hour , but he shared many methods and showed us the tool he created to fine tune spring loads and brought a knife he is currently working on.








The new venue for the show is a great improvement. There is a full wall of windows which provides plenty of natural light. Several of the knife makers commented that the rooms are also much nicer.

 

[Marcel54]

Very interesting...keep the info coming:thumbup:

Marcel

 

[kimsalls]

Wesley Davis




David Anders






Bruce A. Fuller




Larry Fuegen







Erik L. Fritz

 

[xaman]

I was a tad bit late arriving, but still got to see some absolutely stunning knives.

Especially in the realm of slip joints and traditional Bowie knives, this show is really hard to beat. Little Rock is a Bowie extravaganza no doubt, but I'm tempted to say, at least from my perspective about what knives are actually available to purchase, the Expo is equivalent.

The new venue seemed to be an improvement as well. "Well done" to Harvey and team for a great show.

I just wish I had a bigger wad of cash in my pocket, but then again, isn't that always the case...

 

[Kevin Jones]

The new venue for the show is a great improvement. There is a full wall of windows which provides plenty of natural light.

That's a great improvement, as I found previous San Anton Expo showrooms lacking light to examine knives properly.

I was a tad bit late arriving, but still got to see some absolutely stunning knives.
Especially in the realm of slip joints and traditional Bowie knives, this show is really hard to beat. Little Rock is a Bowie extravaganza no doubt, but I'm tempted to say, at least from my perspective about what knives are actually available to purchase, the Expo is equivalent.

I agree Eli, it's been my experience that the Expo is a forged blade "buyer's paradise" as there's great knives and not many are pre-sold and there's not a 1/2 dozen collectors competing to purchase each knife.

 

[kimsalls]

Dickie Robinson







Josh Fisher




Mike Ruth




James L. Rodebaugh




Raymond Rybar

 

[Scurvy092]

Was Vagnino there?

 

[kimsalls]

Kevin R. Cashen




Joseph Szilaski







Dan L. Petersen




Joshua J. Smith

 

[Marcel54]

Some great knives.

Marcel

 

[Lorien]

Thanks so much for taking the time to share all these photos!

Congrats to the newly JS and MS accredited folk!

 

[kimsalls]

Craig Brewer





Bruce Bingenheimer





Michael Christenson




Harvey J. Dean




Shayne Carter

 

[kimsalls]

Douglas Noren


Michael Tyre







Henry Torres






Tony Hughes






Shane Taylor







Adam DesRosiers


Haley DesRosiers


Tim Hancock

 

[kimsalls]

Steve Dunn




Steven C. Koster




James Batson






Well that's it for my pictures. I apologize for those makers that I missed, and the photos that were too dark or poorly focused. I really regret not getting a good photo of one particular table. Several of the makers donated knives that will be donated to our servicemen. Please add photos and details on that charity if you can.

 

[stabber]

Great pictures!!

Thanks for posting them

 

[mwschilling]

Great pictures. I just got back from the expo but the only picture I took was the knife I bought from Adam DesRosier that won Best Damascus. I posted it on the DesRosier's thread. You photos are much better. I'm still considering a couple others and your pictures will help me keep them in mind to make a decision. Thanks

 

[The Amazing Virginian]

Thank you so much for taking the time to post your report, and especially for all of the pictures of the beautiful knives. So many attractive pieces! Maybe next year . . .

 

[JParanee]

Very kind of you to take the time

The dagger from Koster is very well done

 

[Kevin Jones]

Yes, no doubt about it, this many photos takes quite a bit of time and effort-THANKS

 

[kimsalls]

Was Vagnino there?

He did not have a table.

Thanks so much for taking the time to share all these photos!

Congrats to the newly JS and MS accredited folk!

You are welcome. I hope someone can post a list.

Great pictures!! Thanks for posting them

You are welcome.

I'm still considering a couple others and your pictures will help me keep them in mind to make a decision. Thanks

You are welcome. This makes me very happy.

Thank you so much for taking the time to post your report, and especially for all of the pictures of the beautiful knives. So many attractive pieces! Maybe next year . . .

There were some great knives.

Very kind of you to take the time
The dagger from Koster is very well done

You are very kind to notice. The dagger was beautiful. As I understand it is a practice MS knife.

 

[Jason Fry]

Thanks for the report, some beautiful work. I am 6 hours away and had a full weekend planned already. I've got to get down there in the next year or two.