Arkansas Custom Knife Show 2013 - Show Us what you Got

I just got home from this show and there were some really fantastic knives there....So many beautiful blades from several makers....It was great to visit with the makers and handle some real good work....
 
Best Camp Knife - Ben Seward
Best Bowie - David Lisch
Best Miniature - Lee Ferguson (even with engraving)
Best Performance - Tim Tabor
Best Folder - Joel Chamblin
Best Sheath - Kenny Rowe

Great show! Maybe we can get a complete list of award winners, but I believe Jerry McClure was best folder winner. Mike Williams won best fighter award. The bowie, fighter and hunter tables were packed with knives Frdiay night. It was very impressive.

Might have a photo or two later on, but I didn't take many. It was super to see a lot of BF members there. :thumbup:

- Joe
 
It was good to see the performance award. I think it brought some awareness to folks that had never seen a custom knife used. I was very happy to see at least three damascus knives used in the test to show that not only can a knife be pretty it can cut perform well.
It was handled very safely as all the contestants had to wear chain saw chaps, they were behing a wall of 3/16 inch lexan that measured 8 feet by 20 feet so the crowd not in any harm and they could get up very close. It was kinda like being in the when they opened the chute for a bull rider.

There was cheering and groans from the audience which numbered over 100. That was a good crowd I thought for the first one and being in the middle of a work day but by all accounts the audience will grow next year as many said they were going to bring a friend or family member next year.

It seemed like the sales were in general good to great, depending, just like any show. Lot of bodies came through the door, we do not have an accurate count at this time.
 
Joe - and others - any pics would be appreciated.

Jerry - thanks for the report on performance award - this was a terrific idea and it sounds like it played out very well indeed.
 
It may have been mentioned already but I didn't see it, Mike Williams took the Best Fighter award. Ron's table was quite a sight to see with all of those plaques lined up...five in total I believe, WOW!
 
It was a great show. the performance bowie contest was great as was Me. Fisk comentary as always. The gala was a lot of fun as well, with more of Fisk comentary.

The show had tons of great knives and Ron Newton did peick up many awards, and yes his table was amazing. Those knives were even better in person. This is a great show with great quality of knives.
 
Great show as usual. We love seeing everyone. I just want to say a big thank you to everyone that makes this show possible. One of our favorites. Knife heaven.
Brion and Diane
 
I liberated this nice little damascus utility blade from Don Hanson's table. It was really nice talking to the makers that regularly post their fine work on this forum and others.

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WOW I got Home very late last night and I will be heading off to the shop soon but I would like to say that this show was everything it was said to be and more.I met some really nice folks and they made a new guy feel very welcome. Watching Jerry host the cutting comp was a real treat seeing all of the very fine knives in the show was inspiring . My cousin Nancy drove up from Oklahoma and surprised me I finally got to meet her hubby Ted we went out for dinner and had a blast. there were many highlights of the show for me seeing old friends meeting new ones talking to Kyle and seeing that he is going to be OK. watching Jimmy Plot to smash Ron"s hands after winning 5 awards had us all in stitches. But to have my fellow knifemakers vote my Ring D stag dragon feather Bowie as Best Bowie well it really does not get much better then that for a guy that lays in bed at night thinking about Bowie knives .So a BIG THANK YOU to all of the folks at this fine show that helped make this a show I will not forget. good pics of the knives coming at some point.
 
With Rons table right behind me I got to see his work up close. He describes some of his methods and my mind just goes blank. I've decided he isnt from this planet.

Got a few minutes to talk with Don Hanson and inspect his fit and finish. Geez! Hes also a great guy.
I spent allot of time with Steve Culver and we (he) almost have it completely figured out to make old style damascus twist gun barrels. Keep your eyes open for his cut n shoot. It was there in a WIP and very cool.

Many of our forumites came by and shook my hand and introduced themselves. Thats one great thing about the web and shows combined, we all eventually get to meet and feel like old friends.

The foot traffic never ended with most all of Little Rock supporting our show. Its really advertised well locally and I'm not sure whos in charge of that but whoever it was "Thank You" There was people lined up to get in the door at 10:30 just like the old days. Many of them brought their friends and families. Young families with youngsters in hand and strollers. Of coarse these folks arent the big collectors but its refreshing to see young people introduced to knives as something other than weapons. this type of exposure inprints this art form for ever. It certainly did for me at age 12 or so my dad took me to a gun show and I saw my first custom knives.

Jerry did such a good job introducing the bowie to the cutting competition crowd. He had the crowds attention and is funny as hell to listen to.
The admission was advertised and free so lots of new faces there. Everybody was impressed with what a bowie can actually do.

No awards for me this year but I took some orders for next year and came home to momma with a fist full of cash so I got bacon this morning. It dont get much better than this.
 
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WOW I got Home very late last night and I will be heading off to the shop soon but I would like to say that this show was everything it was said to be and more.I met some really nice folks and they made a new guy feel very welcome. Watching Jerry host the cutting comp was a real treat seeing all of the very fine knives in the show was inspiring . My cousin Nancy drove up from Oklahoma and surprised me I finally got to meet her hubby Ted we went out for dinner and had a blast. there were many highlights of the show for me seeing old friends meeting new ones talking to Kyle and seeing that he is going to be OK. watching Jimmy Plot to smash Ron"s hands after winning 5 awards had us all in stitches. But to have my fellow knifemakers vote my Ring D stag dragon feather Bowie as Best Bowie well it really does not get much better then that for a guy that lays in bed at night thinking about Bowie knives .So a BIG THANK YOU to all of the folks at this fine show that helped make this a show I will not forget. good pics of the knives coming at some point.

Congrats on winning the Best Bowie. Beautiful stag, a cool Damascus pattern, and a unique handle configuration - I knew a lot of folks would really like that one. I hope a nice pro photo gets posted here at some point so we can see it in all of its glory.
 
Congrats on winning the Best Bowie. Beautiful stag, a cool Damascus pattern, and a unique handle configuration - I knew a lot of folks would really like that one. I hope a nice pro photo gets posted here at some point so we can see it in all of its glory.

Chuck Ward generally shoots all the award winning knives. So, I think that we will get to see it again. And having had the chance to see it in person, I must say that it is a stunner!
 
Had another fun show, I always look forward to this one and it just keeps getting better and better. Enjoyed all the visiting I got to do with other makers and collectors and was glad I finally got to meet several others that I've corresponded with on BF over the yrs. Was sorry that Roger, Kevin, Big Rick couldn't make it but hopefully things will work out for next year.
Got to shoot craps with Bruce Bump, if you ever get that chance take it, Bruce is easy pick'ins. :D :D Just kidding Bruce, Thanks again for sharing all the info.

Allen I throught you was going to be the lucky winner of that Grinder Friday night, you sure didn't miss it by much.

Thanks to all that makes this show so enjoyable and successful, hope to see you all at Blade.

Bill
 
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I've always enjoyed the AKA show, but I believe this one to be the best ever! The knives on the judging tables Friday night were amazing. I honestly had a hard time deciding which ones to vote for. Thanks and congratulations to all of the AKA folks who made this fantastic show possible!!

It was great to see everyone. Looking forward to Atlanta!!!
 
Still not recovered from seeing the astounding quality and quantity of knives at the Little Rock show this year. I don't want to leave anyone out, but the regulars and first time attendees and the work they're all bringing, make this truly one of the top couple of shows in the country.

I was pleased as could be to have my "Blackheart" dagger win "Best Damascus Knife" as voted by the makers. Chuck Ward took montage photos of the dagger, and I'll post up in a couple weeks when he finishes the prints.

For those who wondered about my "hints," Joe Mason had finished the engraving on my "Legacy 4," the fourth in a numbered series of fully engraved works. The owner and I managed to show it off all around, although we didn't exhibit it on the table. I'm making an African Blackwood sheath with engraved Damascus studs, and we'll premier the knife at Blade.

Don't be mistaken, the Arkansas show is top drawer! Don't miss out next year.

John
 
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