Are You Experienced? --- 2015 Seattle Knife Show

Here's Ben Tendick, looking menacing.
I was really glad to finally check out his work, which is very cleanly made and with a sharp focus, (no pun intended).
P4253737_zps3ilizafb.jpg




Really enjoy this type of interpretation and the fusion it creates. This knife is a hefty little chunk, that I have no doubt could be used to cut your way out of a tank.




Sure wanted to swing that sword around, maybe throw the tomahawk. There are a lot of knives I'd like to own, and Ben's wakizashi is on the short list.
Although they're kinda weird looking, those little 'brokeback' edc knives are really well designed, especially as a defensive blade. The wrapped kwaiken, (hope I got that right) is a really nice piece that could very well have found a home on my belt if only I had $$$.




Ben's designs always lean toward utility, and so it makes a lot of sense to buy a Tendick kitchen knife. Well thought out, clean workmanship, simple but effective lines and great ergonomics. Pretty affordable, relatively speaking.









Ben and Mrs. Tendick brought their little bean with them, who seemed to be pretty unimpressed with what was going on and decided to sleep instead. Ben, you make great looking knives, and cute little babies! Congratulations :)




John Doyle was looking pretty serious, but I still thought he was goofing off...




but he kept advancing, so I started to panic which is why this pic is blurry!




I'm a BIG fan of John's work. I never hold back when it comes to giving him feedback here on the forum, because I know he can take it.
Mrs. Doyle obligingly modelled this beautiful bowie for him. A lot of folk commented to me that this knife was all that and a bag of chips. I agree- he really nailed it with this one. Not a single defect to be found.




But this is the Doyle piece I enjoyed the most. It just felt right to me, and the lack of guard gave it a nice flow that a guy could enjoy endlessly.
You can tell that John is a little OCD when it comes to making knives. Maybe more than a little ;)
 
Last edited:
Lorien, Great job on the review of the show. I know the Sunday run of pics will certainly cap off the show for everyone. Looking forward to next years show.


Thanks for taking the time to share your experience.

See you next year my friend

Bing
 
Lorien... Thanks for taking the time to not only take pics while at the show but to post them up here. I know these shows have SO much to see so to take the time to snap lots of quality pics and post them up here is greatly appreciated!!

I now feel I MUST get on Bing's list to get one of these great flippers he's making!! :)
 
Doug and Karen Campbell were some of the nicest folks I met in Seattle. Really salt of the earth types with a ready smile. Looking forward to meeting them again next year.
I was really impressed with Doug's slim flipper, the first he's made. It's smooth as glass, with really nice lines.
P4253723_zpsztquh3p9.jpg





The Knapps had a table full of mesmerizing ancient ivories. Incredible stuff, that you can find just laying around all over the place up north. Ok, maybe not so easy to find as that, but it amazes me that this stuff can last for thousands of years and then find new life as a knife handle. Neat stuff!




Mark and Angel(?) are very nice people! We were talking about eating charred flesh, caveman style, in Alaska. I could see myself sitting around a campfire with these fine folk, gnawing on beast.




David Mirabile...what to say? He's like the James Dean of the custom cutlery world!





Really enjoyed this stout little bugger. At first I thought the guard was stippled bronze...





but no- lightning strike carbon fiber. The cloth wrap is also carbon fiber. These little laminated knives are weirdly light and quick!





Ah, Geoff Keyes- what a dude! He and Marianne were SO accomodating, displaying Geoff's work, with ready smiles.





This 3 way collaborative piece was a standout at the show. To my eye, this piece transcended cutlery and was a true art piece. I don't know if it's entirely accurate to say that it was my favourite piece from the show, since it was so different from everything else, but I will say that I was HIGHLY impressed by it and it made the most substantial impression on me.
I understand there will be another couple pieces made by the same collaborees. Maybe we'll see another next year- I sure hope so!











The copper barnacles and the copper 'stitches' on the pommel are so intriguing. And one of the most fascinating components to me was the tanned salmon skin that adorned the scabbard and handle. I didn't even know you could do that with salmon skin.





Nicole and Brad Larkin of Bradford knives wins the award for 'Most Enthusiastic Exhibitors'. Their excitement was palpable, they well and truly were completely STOKED to be at the show.
Very reasonably priced cutlery, solidly made and often available here on Bladeforums.





Bhakti Sa- an apprentice of Dave Lisch displayed some extremely well made kitchen cutlery, that exhibited miles of class. Bhakti helped out a lot with the show, and was very welcoming and helpful. Nice guy, I hope I get a chance to chat with him next year since I didn't get much of a chance this time around.





Lyle Bunckhorst had a nice table full. His X Lock was pretty impressive- very smooth and solid feeling. I saw on facebook a couple weeks ago he'd completed a run or 10 for TAD. Nicely done sir!





 
Last edited:
When Bing is giving advice with a knife in hand, pay attention! Lol
P4253710_zpsxwe56txe.jpg




Daniel Erickson had some super cool knives on his table, but I missed the opportunity to take pictures. Fortunately, Daniel sent me some to post up;




I love this knife! So intriguing in many different ways. Excellent wood and leathework- just a really neat knife all around.




Pappa's little helper- I wonder how many knives she sold.




There was quite the family vibe going on at this show. Way more kids than you'd think to see, but there is a new generation of knife makers coming on line, who rely on their families for support and who seem really keen to involve them in their endeavours.




I missed Mardi Meshejian at last year's show, so here he is! Neat guy, and really interesting work. This sword thing was right off the hook!




Now that's a big folder!




Mardi has a fertile imagination! He had this crazy cleaver last year which I wished to have gotten a photo of.
 
Last edited:
still got a ton of photos. Well, not a ton, but a bunch more.
I'm gonna go back and add captions to the latest batch before I post more. But first, I have to fix some bicycles!
See ya soon :)
 
Dave Lisch deserves his very own post.
Not much to say here, other than "WOW!"
P4263756_zpsco4gdean.jpg





Dave is really proud of his clamshell guard, as well he should be, so I got two pictures with different filters to show as much awesomeness as possible.











Look at the guard's proportions; just right. I've seen several clamshell guards where the proportions are off ever so slightly, which to my eye throws everything off. Maybe it's because the clamshells add mass and create a 3D effect that exaggerate the proportions from various angles.
Dave nailed it. Obviously.





Game of Thrones shit up in there!




Good thing I ended the video before Dave spilled the beans on his new idea! Stay tuned to Dave and you'll likely find out what he has in mind.

[video=youtube;Jzln0Q_BDuI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzln0Q_BDuI[/video]




[video=youtube;0PDvcSOzUN8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PDvcSOzUN8[/video]
 
Last edited:
Your killin me Dave. Too sweet.

Thanks for sharing Lorien, wish I could have made it this year. I did get one of those sweet flippers from Bing :).
 
Good stuff Lorien. It was sure nice to make new friends at this show, and to see old friends again.
 
When it comes to going to Seattle, I always look forward to meeting my friend, Michael Rader.
I'm not quite sure what to call this huge semi integral knife/sword/machete, other than awesome. So light and agile, this blade would be excellent for the type of cutting I do, but alas, I am not a wealthy man. Financially, at any rate :)
P4263789_zpsy0dyutln.jpg





Michael told me this was his most handled knife and I can both see and feel why. Not only is it beautiful, the balance was superb. Some lucky afficionado will be fortunate to own it.





Seamless woodwork, and such clean fit and finish. Hallmarks of a Rader blade.





Eric Fritz honoured me by pulling me aside to show me this knife. The client wanted a knife that he could carry in the field that could do pret near anything, from clearing trail, to building traps, to shanking mountain lions. It became immediately clear to me that this knife could handle it all. From its vicious tip to its sculpted handle, the knife screams 'speed'. And control. I don't know who commissioned this piece, but it's got my seal of approval, for what it's worth.





I like a bird's beak style of handle, and the knife in the foreground was looking really good to me. Eric's knives are light and purposeful, not overbuilt and clunky.







[video=youtube;2ySmsrKNpkw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ySmsrKNpkw[/video]





I was really looking forward to meeting Cliff Parker, and was so glad to meet him. What a sweetheart! Really nice guy, easy going and easy to talk with. His knives absolutely blew my mind. The level of detail and control over the materials is amazing. Every little thing is obviously very carefully considered, and then painstakingly executed. Thematically, there is a sublime consistency that is so powerful as to be captivating. I could study his knives for hours, and one day I'd really love to own one. Might never happen, probably won't, but I hope it does.





Cliff's knives are small, and precious. The lines flow and the action is silky smooth. Such incredible detail. Some of my most favourite knives of the show. Especially the top one.





Everyone was a little bleary eyed on Sunday morning, after a screaming busy Saturday. Daniel O'Malley is the kind of guy to wander around with a platter of coffee for everyone, even me! What a guy.




I met James Rodebaugh at last year's show and he gave me some great advice to consider as I move forward as a designer. He is about as genuine as they come.
His knives are impeccably finished, and apparently sell well, since there wasn't much left to photograph.






Rick Dunkerley had a beautiful little folding dagger on his table, and a few 'workin man' knives. It was a little weird to see both ends of the spectrum on his table, but I guess that's the kind of guy he is; an artist who loves to create, but a cutler who wants to see his knives out there working. That jives with my outlook, for sure.





I'm amazed this photo actually turned out.





Sweet damascus, eh? I really dug this little jewel of a knife.





Try losing this! The handle is mortised, and super thin. I couldn't believe how grippy that jigged G10 was, it almost felt rubbery. This Dunkerley is a really well designed knife, that almost anyone, (with a job) could afford.
 
Last edited:
wdtorque said:
Excellent photos Lorien.
Where is the Q Man? I know he was there.
Dozier
Click to expand...

there's a photo of him here, I guess you'll just have to play a little 'where's Waldo' lol
 
Bill Burke said:
Lorien, you are killing it here. Great pictures. fantastic thread and reviews my friend.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for saying so, sir! I hope to get in on the bourbon a little earlier next year. I coulda used another taste of that magical elixir.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top