Kohai999
Second Degree Cutter
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2003
- Messages
- 12,554
The AKI was held on Saturday 10/27/07, in the usual location of the Marriott Hotel & Marina of San Diego, CA, in not the "usual" Bayside meeting room, which was under construction, and held instead in the Seaview Room, which is where the banquet dinner is normally held. Very nice room. Weather was very overcast, and due to local fires, air-quality was poor, but the temperature was pleasant.
This year, my business partner P.A., and good friend, Phillip Baldwin of Shining Wave Metals came down to attend the AKI with me, and my wife. Suit was a new pin-stripe, pale purple shirt, Peters Brothers of Texas "Bulletproof Stetson" in black, modern print tie, and same Allen-Edmonds spectator shoes worn before. We got to the hotel fashionably late at 10:45 am, valet parked the car, and went in.
This years' makers were: Ron Appleton, Van Barnett, Fred Carter, Harvey Dean, Dellana, Rick Eaton, Kaj Embretson, Virgil England, H.H. Frank, Larry Fuegen, Tim Hancock, Steve Hoel, S.R. Johnson, Dietmar Kressler, Ron Lake, Wolfgang Loerchner, Steven Rapp, Pierre Reverdy, Stephen Schwarzer, John W. Smith, Jurgen Steinau, C. Gray Taylor, Dwight Towell, Michael Walker, and Julie Warenski-Erickson.
Bold= New Makers to AKI 2008, Not-Active AKI Members this year are Jim Ence, Tim Herman, R. W. Loveless, and Yoshindo Yoshihara.
The recap will start with overall impressions, and then get into individual makers.
The knifemaker tables were packed this year, way more than 2006. Either I am getting infamous, or a picture was posted somewhere in the room, because 20 of the 25 makers there knew my name. Jot Khalsa has seen me for 15 years in a row, and still can't remember my name. All makers expected were in attendance. LOTS of new buyers there that none of the veteran collectors had heard of(GOOD sign). Food and drinks were excellent, with ham, turkey(delicious, moist and flavorful), and beef carved to order at the roaster station, a pasta station, salad station and dessert tables. The bartender at the open bar was efficient, and friendly. The Seaview room is a straight forward large meeting/conference room with a wall of windows facing the ocean, vs. the cool curved shape of the Bayside room. Lighting was more than acceptable.
Collectors from the BladeForums, I recognized Jack Alvarez, Dr. David Darom, Dave Ellis, Dan Favano, Chuck Gollnick, Tim Galyean, Bill Jury, Thor IAm, and Jon Ukman....realize that I am probably leaving out a few names, but am understandably punchy, and will edit, as memory improves.
Ron Appleton had three knives of the expected Appleton family style...they are very nice, elegant in form, complicated in mechansim, but quite expensive, and I did not tarry. We later connected and he showed me one "Seeing Scarlett" a multi-position lock with a red Type II anodized 6061 body, and diamond paste polished ATS-34 blade. Very, very smooth, with solid lock up.
Van Barnett had some REALLY great work on his table this year, small dagger, 2 large daggers, and a nice folder. Glanced over it quickly, have to admit, but the workmanship, lines and passion were obviously there. I don't really know how to approach Van directly yet, but am working up to it, and hope to converse to some degree in the near future.
Fred Carter had 2 folders that I saw, 1 gorgeous dagger, all of blued steel, with gold inlays, the folders being of a Japanese influence.....and three miniatures....am sure that SOMEONE thought that the miniatures were lovely. I dropped on the dagger for a friend.
Harvey Dean is a maker that I respect immensely, and his work was lovely, a couple patterns not personally cared for, yet well rendered, Sheffield English Bowie, and a damascus Elephant Toenail. Rich color Mammoth ivory handle, feather pattern damascus El Diablo was his best that I have seen yet, only a slight hint of the dreaded "upset choil", lol, but did not drop due to ivory aversion, and fantastic Kennesaw D-Guard bowie, with an excellent damascus blade.
Dellana had TWO knives, not the requested THREE, but the two there were exceptional. Due to her outgoing and colorful personality, great skills and apprenticeship with the late, great Jim Schmidt, I have a great deal of affection for Dellana, and would have loved to have seen her second folder. As it was, dropped on her Art Deco gold folder, with damascus wharncliffe blade, and handle accents of gold, diamonds, and opal blade lock release....heavy, VERY artful, memorable and compelling. She also had a small dagger, with stand that was 6 1/2" overall, while exquisitely done, not my cup o' mud.
Rick Eaton pulled out the stops, as usual, on his three knives. The Roman Fantasy Theme folder had awesome pictorial engraving, and the black lip pearl on his Art Deco Step Down Folding Dagger was great. I didn't really look at his Med. Dirk, 'cause it isn't my style. Rick was priced well for the show, very reasonable, good value....yet has been in the past, and remains, a bit spendy for me.
Kaj Embretsen is gifted, and incredibly hard working. He had 4 knives, of which a big clip point folder, and folding dagger stood out. Blade-to-handle ratio was a bit handle-heavy, and this was a turn-off. Nice prices on his work, and a genuine gentleman. Dropped on one of his for a friend.
Virgil England is back in the house...he is a very respected maker, with great artistic vision, and unrelenting creative approach....that said, I liked NONE of the knives he had this year, and am not sure that he is creating with the AKI attendee in mind...that is a mistake. I would love if other collectors would give their impressions of what Virgil presented.
H.H. Frank....highly sought after, maybe one of the top desired makers in the room. Folding daggers, and a small folding semi-skinner, engraved, french greyed, ivory handles....state of the art work from an earlier time. Dropped on the semi-skinner for a friend.
Larry Fuegen had, IMO, the best work in the room this year. His California Bowie was handled in carved damascus, and really elegant. Gentleman's Bowie was heart breaking....heavily sculpted coffee and cream fossil ivory, with a fantastic damascus blae, and sculpted guard in Larry's signature Art Nouveau style with awesome sheath to match. Carved push dagger with green, blue and brown spotted fossil ivory, and two folders. The stunner was the Revival Folder, which Larry's lovely wife Linda informed me that Larry has been making for 10 years, with carved white mother of pearl. I have two pieces from Larry in the Collection, custom made for me, with no desire to "upgrade", so did not drop.
Push Dagger
Revival Folder
California Knife
Tim Hancock is just on fire, ladies and gentlemen! 5 knives for our viewing pleasure. The fancy hunter was value priced, great handle, and damascus blade...BUT...you know the man never met a Spanish notch that he didn't love, and I am the opposite...so no fancy hunter. I did drop on the small Cowboy bowie with "Checkmate" patterned damascus for myself that was a bit spendy, but very much wanted it, and did not get drawn.
Steve Hoel has been making top quality interframe folders for much longer than most others, and it shows in his precision, and great feeling in the hand. Two Sheffield style, two persians, and an "R" model were presented. Was tempted by the agate handled "R" and the large Sheffield, but these knives virtually require engraving, and I am not feeling the $2,000-$4,000 that would require.
S.R. Johnson had some great ones. The Med. style Dirk was his featured knife in the catalog, and had great sweeping lines. The Scagel type fighter was well rendered, but I found the crown stag handle to be aesthetically fat, and not pleasing visually. I dropped on his lovely amber stag handled, mirror polished subhilt to keep, and 1/4" stock heavy chute with ivory handles to re-sell. He had a integral semi-skinner that I dropped on for a friend.
Dietmar Kressler makes a lot of knives, and this AKI was no exception, with 8 pieces. The man has great skills and does impeccable grinds, as well as making a top-quality integral. I dropped on a fossil whale bone handled subhilt for a friend, and was sorely tempted by another subhilt. His range was quite encompassing, in both price, and style, and there was a slight pause while viewing an integral drop point hunter with amber stag, but I found the blade a bit short. Am anticipating not being able to pass for much longer, as he is THAT GOOD of a maker.
Ron Lake had 3 knives...only one was available for lottery-style purchase. They are the usual interframe, tail-release lockers with unimpeachable function, and sterile construction. They are extremely sought after, and I would not personally own one, but the prices commanded on the aftemarket dictate that you are a fool if you don't drop.
Wolfegang Loerchner had two folders and a fixed blade. The folders were stunning, and vastly out of my price range. I did not care for the fixed blade, which was an all steel affair, with sculptural styling, but a friend lusted after it, so I dropped on his behalf.
Continued below;
This year, my business partner P.A., and good friend, Phillip Baldwin of Shining Wave Metals came down to attend the AKI with me, and my wife. Suit was a new pin-stripe, pale purple shirt, Peters Brothers of Texas "Bulletproof Stetson" in black, modern print tie, and same Allen-Edmonds spectator shoes worn before. We got to the hotel fashionably late at 10:45 am, valet parked the car, and went in.
This years' makers were: Ron Appleton, Van Barnett, Fred Carter, Harvey Dean, Dellana, Rick Eaton, Kaj Embretson, Virgil England, H.H. Frank, Larry Fuegen, Tim Hancock, Steve Hoel, S.R. Johnson, Dietmar Kressler, Ron Lake, Wolfgang Loerchner, Steven Rapp, Pierre Reverdy, Stephen Schwarzer, John W. Smith, Jurgen Steinau, C. Gray Taylor, Dwight Towell, Michael Walker, and Julie Warenski-Erickson.
Bold= New Makers to AKI 2008, Not-Active AKI Members this year are Jim Ence, Tim Herman, R. W. Loveless, and Yoshindo Yoshihara.
The recap will start with overall impressions, and then get into individual makers.
The knifemaker tables were packed this year, way more than 2006. Either I am getting infamous, or a picture was posted somewhere in the room, because 20 of the 25 makers there knew my name. Jot Khalsa has seen me for 15 years in a row, and still can't remember my name. All makers expected were in attendance. LOTS of new buyers there that none of the veteran collectors had heard of(GOOD sign). Food and drinks were excellent, with ham, turkey(delicious, moist and flavorful), and beef carved to order at the roaster station, a pasta station, salad station and dessert tables. The bartender at the open bar was efficient, and friendly. The Seaview room is a straight forward large meeting/conference room with a wall of windows facing the ocean, vs. the cool curved shape of the Bayside room. Lighting was more than acceptable.
Collectors from the BladeForums, I recognized Jack Alvarez, Dr. David Darom, Dave Ellis, Dan Favano, Chuck Gollnick, Tim Galyean, Bill Jury, Thor IAm, and Jon Ukman....realize that I am probably leaving out a few names, but am understandably punchy, and will edit, as memory improves.
Ron Appleton had three knives of the expected Appleton family style...they are very nice, elegant in form, complicated in mechansim, but quite expensive, and I did not tarry. We later connected and he showed me one "Seeing Scarlett" a multi-position lock with a red Type II anodized 6061 body, and diamond paste polished ATS-34 blade. Very, very smooth, with solid lock up.
Van Barnett had some REALLY great work on his table this year, small dagger, 2 large daggers, and a nice folder. Glanced over it quickly, have to admit, but the workmanship, lines and passion were obviously there. I don't really know how to approach Van directly yet, but am working up to it, and hope to converse to some degree in the near future.
Fred Carter had 2 folders that I saw, 1 gorgeous dagger, all of blued steel, with gold inlays, the folders being of a Japanese influence.....and three miniatures....am sure that SOMEONE thought that the miniatures were lovely. I dropped on the dagger for a friend.
Harvey Dean is a maker that I respect immensely, and his work was lovely, a couple patterns not personally cared for, yet well rendered, Sheffield English Bowie, and a damascus Elephant Toenail. Rich color Mammoth ivory handle, feather pattern damascus El Diablo was his best that I have seen yet, only a slight hint of the dreaded "upset choil", lol, but did not drop due to ivory aversion, and fantastic Kennesaw D-Guard bowie, with an excellent damascus blade.
Dellana had TWO knives, not the requested THREE, but the two there were exceptional. Due to her outgoing and colorful personality, great skills and apprenticeship with the late, great Jim Schmidt, I have a great deal of affection for Dellana, and would have loved to have seen her second folder. As it was, dropped on her Art Deco gold folder, with damascus wharncliffe blade, and handle accents of gold, diamonds, and opal blade lock release....heavy, VERY artful, memorable and compelling. She also had a small dagger, with stand that was 6 1/2" overall, while exquisitely done, not my cup o' mud.
Rick Eaton pulled out the stops, as usual, on his three knives. The Roman Fantasy Theme folder had awesome pictorial engraving, and the black lip pearl on his Art Deco Step Down Folding Dagger was great. I didn't really look at his Med. Dirk, 'cause it isn't my style. Rick was priced well for the show, very reasonable, good value....yet has been in the past, and remains, a bit spendy for me.
Kaj Embretsen is gifted, and incredibly hard working. He had 4 knives, of which a big clip point folder, and folding dagger stood out. Blade-to-handle ratio was a bit handle-heavy, and this was a turn-off. Nice prices on his work, and a genuine gentleman. Dropped on one of his for a friend.
Virgil England is back in the house...he is a very respected maker, with great artistic vision, and unrelenting creative approach....that said, I liked NONE of the knives he had this year, and am not sure that he is creating with the AKI attendee in mind...that is a mistake. I would love if other collectors would give their impressions of what Virgil presented.
H.H. Frank....highly sought after, maybe one of the top desired makers in the room. Folding daggers, and a small folding semi-skinner, engraved, french greyed, ivory handles....state of the art work from an earlier time. Dropped on the semi-skinner for a friend.
Larry Fuegen had, IMO, the best work in the room this year. His California Bowie was handled in carved damascus, and really elegant. Gentleman's Bowie was heart breaking....heavily sculpted coffee and cream fossil ivory, with a fantastic damascus blae, and sculpted guard in Larry's signature Art Nouveau style with awesome sheath to match. Carved push dagger with green, blue and brown spotted fossil ivory, and two folders. The stunner was the Revival Folder, which Larry's lovely wife Linda informed me that Larry has been making for 10 years, with carved white mother of pearl. I have two pieces from Larry in the Collection, custom made for me, with no desire to "upgrade", so did not drop.
Push Dagger
Revival Folder
California Knife
Tim Hancock is just on fire, ladies and gentlemen! 5 knives for our viewing pleasure. The fancy hunter was value priced, great handle, and damascus blade...BUT...you know the man never met a Spanish notch that he didn't love, and I am the opposite...so no fancy hunter. I did drop on the small Cowboy bowie with "Checkmate" patterned damascus for myself that was a bit spendy, but very much wanted it, and did not get drawn.
Steve Hoel has been making top quality interframe folders for much longer than most others, and it shows in his precision, and great feeling in the hand. Two Sheffield style, two persians, and an "R" model were presented. Was tempted by the agate handled "R" and the large Sheffield, but these knives virtually require engraving, and I am not feeling the $2,000-$4,000 that would require.
S.R. Johnson had some great ones. The Med. style Dirk was his featured knife in the catalog, and had great sweeping lines. The Scagel type fighter was well rendered, but I found the crown stag handle to be aesthetically fat, and not pleasing visually. I dropped on his lovely amber stag handled, mirror polished subhilt to keep, and 1/4" stock heavy chute with ivory handles to re-sell. He had a integral semi-skinner that I dropped on for a friend.
Dietmar Kressler makes a lot of knives, and this AKI was no exception, with 8 pieces. The man has great skills and does impeccable grinds, as well as making a top-quality integral. I dropped on a fossil whale bone handled subhilt for a friend, and was sorely tempted by another subhilt. His range was quite encompassing, in both price, and style, and there was a slight pause while viewing an integral drop point hunter with amber stag, but I found the blade a bit short. Am anticipating not being able to pass for much longer, as he is THAT GOOD of a maker.
Ron Lake had 3 knives...only one was available for lottery-style purchase. They are the usual interframe, tail-release lockers with unimpeachable function, and sterile construction. They are extremely sought after, and I would not personally own one, but the prices commanded on the aftemarket dictate that you are a fool if you don't drop.
Wolfegang Loerchner had two folders and a fixed blade. The folders were stunning, and vastly out of my price range. I did not care for the fixed blade, which was an all steel affair, with sculptural styling, but a friend lusted after it, so I dropped on his behalf.
Continued below;
