ABS Exposition-Reno, in review, with a pic-long

I agree Burt...very well put!

On Steven's side... yes, he is about as abrasive as sticking your hand on the ground while you're driving down the Interstate. :D BUT, the defining difference among him and tire kickers is that he will pony up and buy a knife if you've made something that works for him.

I think we're all given sensors that filter what we think about and what we actually say out loud. Tatoo ink has melted down Steven's filter and he quite simply speaks his mind ;) But in an overly pc world, I think there's something to appreciate about this, just like Bailey mentioned.

The other thing you must keep in mind here. We groom ourselves to stand politely behind the table and smile. Standing there while Steven gives you the howcome and what-for can make it hard to stand up straight and smile... but that is not what Steven wants. If he says something you disagree with, he wants you to say so, not just smile sheepishly and hold back.

If you keep that in mind, you will see that Steven is very genuine and very passionate about his collecting. You don't have to agree with him, but when you don't, TELL him so. You and he will get along MUCH better if you tell him to stick it in his ear, then if you tell someone else you wish he would.

Anyway, just some unneeded thoughts here.

-Nick-
 
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For those who may be interested in a somewhat different 'review' of the ABS Reno show, feel free to follow this link, which I already posted way down at the bottom of the 'How about a little Reno preview' thread. http://knifenetwork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26643

It's not a true 'review' per se, but it will likely be of interest to those who were there and those who might have wished to be there. The thread contains mainly images and was addressed specifically to my knife photography pals. With that in mind, I invite you to check it out.

Burt, Nick - wish I could've spent time visiting with you guys as well as many others I just couldn't get around to, given all that was going on. Truth is I admire you both and every bladesmith who had the vision to secure a table when this show began three years ago. Smart move! There are many folks who now wish they had had the same foresight.

Everything about the Reno show is a step up from all the other shows I've attended. I felt honored to be there in such stellar company - stellar not only as bladesmiths, but as people too!

Cheers!
Buddy Thomason

PS: Bailey - I'm lovin' your knife. Your wife and my wife ganged up on me and said I 'needed' it, 'had to have it' etc. How right they were! You suggested engraving it in the future and I'm inclined to take you up on that. I'll be in touch.
 
Buddy,

Courtenay wants you to e-mail us your address so she can send you the slip cover.

Above that, I am so pleased you like the folder. It's my favorite pattern and I would enjoy working out some engraving for you. I will be experimenting with some color engraving in the next couple of weeks........Someting to think about anyway.

And like the movie line from "White Men Can't Jump".....Listen to the woman... :D
 
Steven,
I can sure agree with your 'A' list! I took delivery of a Burt Foster at the show. I could go on and on about him and his work. I am also a huge admirer of Larry Fuegen's work, man does he have talent. Blows me away. I'm not sure who Wheeler is but I'm sure he is good too....
It is always more amazing to me that people like my knives than the reverse. I would appreciate any and all feedback at shows, so please introduce yourself at the next show and let me know what you would like to see in my work. Its one of the major reasons I go. I look forward to meeting you.
For some reason some people thought I didn't do well at the show. I sold out Friday.

Dan Farr
PS I bought a magnificent Neely damascus/stag Bowie at the show.
 
Burt Foster is a prince. He got me to see that even things that we think we know, we could still do better. There is no point to publicly saying that you didn't like someone's work without a real good reason. I don't have one.

My reviews of the shows started last year with the Evening of the Cutlery Arts show, as an exercise in creative writing (I was a Journalism major in college). I just try to take people who are not there physically there with my writing.

I will be at Blade, and if you are there, we can talk privately. I am very glad that you sold out at the show. It makes me happy to hear that for ANY maker, that is why you are there.

If you are serious about not knowing who Wheeler is, Nick Wheeler is the name, serious bladesmithing is the game.

Best Regards,

Steven Garsson
 
Dan,
Just wanted to say congratulations on your success in Reno AND congratulations on purchasing Greg Neely's terrific Stag and Damascus Bowie!

That was one beautiful knife and the stag was something you just don't see these days. Greg mentioned, and I'm sure he told you this too, that he'd been saving that piece for a long time and specifically used it for a primo Reno Show blade knowing that "no other knife (at the Reno Show) would feature a piece of stag this nice."

I thought that was pretty interesting - and true too. You would know better than I, but there seems to be a level of healthy, quiet and gentlemanly competition amongst you ABS bladesmiths at the Reno Show. Of course it's present at other shows but I've heard some of your colleagues say the Reno Show is a little different that way.

It's understandable given both the stature of the show in the custom knife world and because there is, by specific intent, no judging best of this and best of that. I guess it's understood that if you bring a knife to the Reno show it had better be 'the best' because everyone will be looking.

At any rate, I told both Greg Neely and Steve Dunn that their tables being next to eachother like they were was torture for me. How to decide between the two of those guys! I came so close to buying Greg's knife but in the end the siren song of Steve Dunn's feather damascus bowie was just a little louder in my ear. Glad you took Greg's knife home with you though. It deserves a worthy steward and clearly it found one in you!
BT
 
Did you buy the Dunn feather pattern bowie? It was the nicest damascus in the entire show.
 
Okay Dan - I know you've got a camera - let's see some pics of that Neely stag / damascus bowie. I'm an absolute fool for nice stag. When nice stag is stuck on the back end of a damscus bowie, well, you have my full attention. ;)

Roger

PS - Just about EVERYBODY I have spoken to about the show has raved about the Dunn bowie. And with good reason.
 
sabre said:
Steven,
I can sure agree with your 'A' list! I took delivery of a Burt Foster at the show. I could go on and on about him and his work. I am also a huge admirer of Larry Fuegen's work, man does he have talent. Blows me away. I'm not sure who Wheeler is but I'm sure he is good too....
It is always more amazing to me that people like my knives than the reverse. I would appreciate any and all feedback at shows, so please introduce yourself at the next show and let me know what you would like to see in my work. Its one of the major reasons I go. I look forward to meeting you.
For some reason some people thought I didn't do well at the show. I sold out Friday.

Dan Farr
PS I bought a magnificent Neely damascus/stag Bowie at the show.
Click to expand...

Yet another good reason to like this Farr guy. Not only is he a great bladesmith, but he's also a true knifenut and collector like most of us. :)
 
All,

Here is the sword I bought from Don Fogg at the show:

fogg_sword_Medium.jpg


(A higher def pic can be found here: http://joss-delage.com/Pictures/fogg_sword_Big.jpg)
 
I usually do not like Don's handles, but that one is spectacular. That may be one of the nicest sole authorship pieces that I have seen Don do in my life.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Joss, that's as stunning as you described. I can see the faint hint of utsuri (?), but I am certain there is 88" of it to admire! :D

Congratulations on your determination and good fortune!

Coop
 
Blade length is about 22". It's 1086M, which is a "custom" alloy, specially designed and commissioned by Howard Clark. It's obviously clay coated. The handle, moving from the blade to the pommel:
- Habaki: shibuichi, a Jpz alloy of copper and silver
- Seppa: gold plated copper
- Guard: steel
- spacer: shakudo.

The handle is of carved blackwood.

I've been wanting a Don Fogg sword from as far as I can remember, so obviously I'm extatic...
 
Joss, that is one incredibly special blade you picked up from Don Fogg at the Reno show. Both of the blades on his table were terrific and I can well understand your comment about it taking dedication to make that sword your own.
Yes, I did bring home Steve Dunn's feather pattern bowie and appreciate your comment that it featured the nicest damascus at the show. I agree. I saw three feather pattern damascus blades at the show - they were all nice but Steve's was the boldest and best balanced by the handle, guard and additional embellishments. To me it was a completely integrated package, tip to tail.
In addition to one of Bailey's great folders, I also brought home knives by Daniel Winkler, Mark Sentz, Rick Dunkerley, David Mirable, Rick Eaton, Jerry Fisk and Larry Fuegen.
Jerry Fisk's big 'Wilderness' Camp knife is one I will, per Jerry's instructions, "use and even abuse." In fact I plan to 'test' his knife and hopefully write up the results - I doubt anybody else will do a field test of a Fisk knife - I wouldn't either if I had one of his fancy NLT series knives - but this one begs to be tested to the max.
Larry Fuegen is a really neat guy and he had a trademark 'goblin' folder on his table that he was selling for the widow of a deceased collector. Here are a couple of images of it. Click to enlarge.





I hope to post images of some of the other 'booty' as time allows. And - I appreciate the opportunity to hear about what you guys like and are into as well as share what I'm excited about too.
 
Guess I could go ahead and post this one. It's a snakewood field-grade folder by Mark Sentz from Taneytown, MD. I have this same knife in what Mark calls his 'Master Exhibition Grade' - meaning one wouldn't want to use it for much other than opening the mail - too fancy. But I love the design so much I wanted to have one I would feel comfortable carrying and using. When I say design, I don't just mean the shape of it. I sat in on a demonstration Mark did about building his folder design so I've seen all that goes into it, inside and out. It's stout, tight and the lockback design is excellent.
What you see on the outside is two things: 1) Mark's gun-making influence with a quasi pistol grip shape to the handle, and 2) the Bill Moran influence with the scalloped treatment on the tail of the handle. Mark was mentored by Bill Moran, very closely mentored - which is unusual.
Believe it or not, I actually took this photo in the hotel room at the Silver Legacy in Reno. If any of you stayed there you will recognize the background for the knife as the material covering the small chairs in the rooms there!


For those who haven't had time to visit the link I posted above, here is the Steve Dunn knife.


This image is a cheapo scan of the actual 8X10 glossy Point 7 did of the kife at the show. I'll post some additional images after a while.
Buddy
 
That is an extraordinary booty. You probably have 3 of the top 10 blades at the show with you (Dunn, Fuegen, Fisk). I would have said 3 of the top 5, but I realize that most people would have put the NLT above the integral camp - though in my book, the camp is a more awesome knife.
 
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