ABS Expo San Antonio, TX

sheathmaker

sheathmaker

Custom Leather Sheaths
Joined
May 18, 2005
Messages
4,650
I just drove back home (all 63 miles:D) from the Expo. I decided to cut my visit there short, to just Friday, due to the volume of orders and knives I brought back home with me for sheaths. My turn around time is going to have to be extended a few days.

It was a very good show in terms of makers and knives, but I did not see a lot of selling going on, but perhaps it will pick up tomorrow (Saturday). I had a chance to visit with a lot of my old friends and also to make a few new ones. Got to talk to and/or visit with Bill Burke, Ed Caffrey, Wes Davis, Harvey Dean, Rick Dunkerly, Steve Dunn, Rich Epting, Eric Fritz (and his hat), Shane Taylor right next to Eric, Larry Fuegen, Tim Hancock (who got best of show), John Horrigan, Joe Keesler, Steve Kelly,( had to stand on a chair to look him in the eye), Dave Lisch, Mike Quesenberry, Jim Rodebaugh, Bill Ruple, Josh Smith, Johnny Stout, Brian Thie, Henry Torres, Mike Vagnino, Nicky Wheeler and the lovely Angie, and my brother by another mother, Big John White. Also Adam and Hailey made to in from the great far North, but did not hold a table.......and some I know I'm forgetting.

With a list of makers like that you can imagine there was some mind blowing knives on display. My Pal, Jon Klein was exercising extreme control this trip as he had only bought three that I know of by the time we sat down for dinner at the banquet......of course, there is yet some time before he leaves early to tomorrow. I managed to leave Kerrville this morning in sufficient rush that I forgot my camera so you'll have to wait for some one else to post pictures of all the beauties.

It was a good day!

Paul
 
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Sounds like it was a fun trip - thanks for the report - wish I was there.
Adam and Haley came from Alaska? Win a couple of awards and now they're world travelers - go figure.

Now get back to stitching...
 
Wish I could have been there! Really looking forward to blade show in June as I can't pull off little rock either :(

Paul glad you didn't have to make a major pilgrimage... 63 miles is "just down the road" in Texas isn't it?? :)

Regards Jeff
 
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man, that would be a GREAT show to catch! Definitely looking forward to more reports, thanks for getting the ball rollin Pappy!
 
Had a great day here. Sold two of three knives that I brought and took a few really nice orders. Not sure how everyone else did. I know Harvey Dean sold all but one as did Larry Fuegen. Other than them I'm not sure. I didn't get out from behind my table much. The weather here is amazing, considering our weather in Montana! It was 75 today here! I'm looking forward to Saturday. I just had a cigar with Harvey Dean and his boy Dillon, Wes Davis, Mark Strauss, Wade Colter, Erik Fritz, Bill Burke, and Dickie Robinson. It was nice to sit outside until midnight in a T-shirt.

I just spent the last five days with Bill Ruple. He is an amazing slip joint maker, plays the guitar like crazy, and is just a great guy. His brother builds some amazing guitars and guns too.

I enjoyed seeing Paul Long along with some other great friends and knife collectors. Headed to bed.
 
Thank you, Paul, for starting this thread and to relate your visit. I'll bet you went home with a boatload (in mid-Texas??) of knives for sheaths. No one better. :)

Josh: I'm pleased to hear you spending time with Bill. He's a good one.

We've heard Scott McGhee passed the Journeyman Smith testing. I know that Zack Jonas (from MA) also passed. He contacted me: "Woo hoo!"

What else?

Coop
 
A quick update. Talked to John Horrigan earlier today and he said the show was much bigger and better today with regards to traffic and buyers in general. I'd take that as really good news. Also I got confirmation from him that the Tim Hancock piece that won best of show is going to go home and be part of our own Jim Teacy's collection. Congratulation, Jim, on a great knife.

Paul
 
Paul,

That's great news that Tim Hancock's Dogbone Bowie won "Best of Show" at the ABS Expo.

I haven't seen it in person yet, but Tim did send me a couple of photos of the knife.

I can't wait to actually have it in my hand.

Jim Treacy

MyHancockDogbone1.jpg


MyHancockDogbone4.jpg
 
I hope someone took pictures and posts them. I'm sure there were some amazing knives and people there.
 
Just finished another cigar with a fine group of knifemakers, no tee shirts tonight as it was quite a bit colder. Saturday was great for sales, probably more sold today than on Friday. Nice place for a show, San Antonio at the Gunther Hotel, a real piece of history. The Riverwalk is a fun tourist attraction and tomorrow going to the Alamo before heading home.
 
It has been a great time seeing old friends and making new ones. It has also been a wonderful learning experience. We did not get a table (paranoia), so I have had time to spend with many much more experienced Masters and Journeymen. I am proud to be a Journeyman, to have tested with the group that was here, and know the journey has just begun.
 
New Journeyman Smiths in San Antonio at the ABS Exposition

Congratulations to the new Journeyman Smiths in the American Bladesmith Society. The following new Journeyman Smiths had their five presentation knives judged by the Judging Panel and were awarded their new rating at the 9th ABS Exposition in San Antonio, Texas.

post-1-13278807434615.jpg


Alex Daniels
Josh Fisher
Zack Jonas
Bill Kirkes
Scott MacCaughtry
Scott McGhee
Michael Tyre
Jonathan Wick

Congratulations to all!

And congratulations to Alex Daniels who was awarded for submitting the most outstanding knife as selected by the Judging Panel.

Dan Cassidy
abswebmaster@americanbladesmith.com
 
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Congrats to all the new JS Smiths.
I'd sure like to see that most outstanding knife by Alex Daniels. I thought he retired and here he is going strong in the ABS. Go Alex!
 
Congrats to all the new Journeyman Smiths. I know some of the path involved for a couple of you, one I was there for the performance test. Hoping my name will be on this list in a couple years.

Chris
 
I wanted to chime in and say that this was an excellent show!

Knives, knives, and more knives. Serious makers brought some seriously good work, it was overwhelming honestly. Although I was sad to get to Tommy Gann's table too late to see any of his slip joints, and Dave Lisch's table too late to see any Bowles (all sold).

And props to the people behind the scene because the show itself was excellent. I'm a huge fan of the new January date. The city was beautiful, superb location, perfect weather. And the flow of the show was relaxed and comfortable.

I'm fortunate because this one is fairly close to home, but I can honestly say it would be worth traveling if it were further. Very well done :)
 
I had a great Time it was good to see old friends and make some new ones like Scott Mcghee we had a chance to talk a bit and I got to hold that beast of a knife I cant wait to see what comes from his dirty hands in the next few years. I had a chance to catch up and have dinner with nick and play with his knife and I will tell you this the pic he showed us dose not come close to how nice that knife is, I roomed with my friend Mike Q and that dagger was one of the nicest daggers I have ever held and it was my pic for best of show.
 
We were pleasantly surprised with this show. Was great to get to see all our fine friends and make some new. We will have a table here next year. Congratulations to all the new JS. This was one of the best groups of testers I have seen. Awesome venue for a show! Tons of awesome restaurants close by, and great weather. See you all here next year.
-Adam
 
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I was able to get to San Antonio this year myself too. It's been a few years since I've attended any show - so, was really nice to get out and talk to some folks I haven't seen in a good while.
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Overall this was a great show - really enjoyed the location - the Alamo & Riverwalk area were a lot of fun, lots of good food & drink. I highly recommend Boudro's - which was the best food we had while at the show. The weather was perfect all weekend with highs in the low 70s and lows in the 50s I'd say.
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We attended a couple of the seminars - Adam DeRosiers talked a bit about the 'whys' behind forging vs stock removal - which was an intersting talk to hear from a collectors perspective. Also attended John White's lecture on d-guard bowie construction - very detailed though I'm afraid a good deal of it was a bit beyond me as a collector without much hands-on experience.
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In terms of the knives themselves, some of the highlights for me were:
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Bill Burke's 'River of Fire' dagger - an older piece that was made as practice for his MS test. Really loved the pattern and the leaf blade shape. He also had a number of kitchen knives that were very well put together - the best of the bunch - IMHO - was a smaller tamahagane yanagi - very nice.
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Mike Quesenberry's coffin handled dagger with ivory scales, as discussed here on the forum. It's every bit as nice in person as in photos. Hadn't had the opportunity to meet Mike or see his work before and came away very impressed. This dagger just felt right and looked right, top to bottom.
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Tim Hancock's best-in-show dogbone bowie - beautifully clean piece, not much to say that hasn't been said already.
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John White's dogbone dagger - amazing multibar damascus. While I liked the stag handled d-guard he's making for Kevin - the dagger really blew me away. I've owned a couple of John's earlier JS knives and as nice as they are his work continue to improve leaps and bounds.
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Steve Culver's ivory handled clamshell bowie. Lots of little touches on this one that made it one of my favorites. The thin heat-colored file-worked spaces that add a subtle touch of color, the texturing beneath the clamshells done to evoke the idea of sand, the excellent ivory and the great ladder pattern steel.
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Mike Williams's gunstock war club. First time I'd had a chance to talk to Mike and found him to be a really nice guy - he was having a great, almost gleeful, time showing off the club which was a serious attention getter for everyone who wandered by. Beautifully finished maple, with an excellent damascus blade and fittings. He's planning to add a buckskin carrying strap, which will really finish it off.
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Lots of other knives I'd have loved to have taken home with me as well - Dave Lisch had some really nice pieces including my favorite which was an ivory handled damascus bowie with damascus fittings, Gary House had a nice W2 bowie with a really agressive profile and a gorgeous artifact ivory handle. Henry Torres added some great details to some of his pieces with very thin fileworked spaces - nice little touch.
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A bunch of other makers doing great things that I know I'm leaving out - but just too much to cover.
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Overall was just a really good time and really nice to touch base with a lot of makers I haven't talked to in a while.
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Random note – for my girlfriend the highlight of the trip had nothing to do with knives, but a random encounter with urban wildlife. We were at the far end of the riverwalk, near Hemisfair Park, when we ran across a white egret fishing in the river. Actually got to see it catch a fish, strut proudly around while waiting for it to stop wriggling and then eat it. Not exactly what you expected to see in the middle of the city. Very cool.
 
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