Kevin,
Thanks for taking the time to post your review of the show. The show committee really tried to offer a unique show experience for the collector as well as the maker. All to often at shows the knife is simply a commodity to be bought or sold. This is unfortunate since the knife is really much more than that. IMO a knife is a bridge that crosses all the boundries between people be it social, economic, religious, political,ethnic etc. It draws makers and collectors together who would normally never come in contact with each other and the Collectors Corner helps bring all collectors together which nornally wouldn't happen at most shows. At most shows a few collectors who are friends get together and talk knives but they don't always get to meet new collectors and form new friendships.
The expo in San Antonio was really an historical event for the ABS. This was the first time it was truly a stand alone show without any other events or distractions. Over 20 years ago I was at a show talking to Jim Schmidt who was one of the first mastersmiths and the subject of an ABS show came up. Jim kind of laughted and said it would never happen because there would never be enough bladesmiths to draw enough collectors to make a show work.
We feel San Antonio has a lot of potential for future expos and the concerns we have heard are being addressed. The hotel was very impressed with the caliber of people who attended and their professionalism. They are willing to work with us on the lighting issue and anything else that will make the 2010 Expo a success. Unlike other shows the Expo is truly a makers show and the ideas and suggestions we get from them are really appreciated and studied. We also want to hear from all the collectors who follow the forged blade and the bladesmiths who keep this craft alive. We want the collector to have fun during the Expo and also afterwards. That was the goal of the Alamo tour and Jack Edmondson's Jim Bowie presentation.I hope everyone can make plans for EXPO 2010.
jk 
