BLADE '05 - Was it real, or just a dream?

HTMD

HTMD

Joined
Feb 15, 2002
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With all the other fine posts about BLADE 2005 I wondered if there was any thing left to say. I suppose I could try and share my own unique and rather twisted experience. Like at night while everybody was in the pit yaking, I was out walking around the hotel complex looking for clues.

Meanwhile the pit is full. I look down from above and imagine a whole lotta crabs in a bucket.

Then at the ABS banquet a couple of collectors were recognized. Fancy that, a knifemaking organization that makes ways for collectors to play a positive role beyond what they can do with their pocketbook. Here are friends of the ABS, Arthur and Julia Britton - wonderful folks!

The cutting contest was a highlight for many folks. Jerry Fisk presides:

A crowd gathers to watch the event. There's MS Kevin Harvey from South Africa in the crowd.

Lots of interesting blades were made to use in the contest.

To share some of the excitement and show you what Reggie Barker is like in action, I put together this little animated GIF for your viewing pleasure. Click to enlarge, be patient while it fully loads, then sit back and watch this two time back to back world championship winner. He's got it all: determination, technique, focus and the real steel!
 
Jerry set up cruel and near impossible tasks for the cutters - like this one. A measuring tape is used to reel in a fake mouse tied to the end of the tape and with its own little string tail. We later began to refer to this as "the tampon cut." Way to go Jerry - you've distinguished yourself once again. I think it's unlikely that the sexual harassment suite soon to be filed against you will have merrit. ;)



As far as knives go - there were more worthy knives than I had money - that's for sure. I did make one totally outrageous purchase - The ABS Board Master Knife.



Here it is without its sheath.



Of all the compelling reasons to own this incredible knife, one stands above the rest. It is at this point, and in all likleihood will remain Bill Moran's final forged blade. He looked to be in great spirits at the show but Bill's eyesite deteriorated over the past year such that he (so far) discontinued forging after this one.
Next year the board will make and auction a knife built on a Moran damascus blade but that blade was forged quite some time back before this one. For this one he used his old favorite steel - W2. Fisk did the grinding, Keeslar file-worked and engraved the back of the blade, Batson did the heat treat, Rick Dunkerley put the finish on the blade and Bert Gaston sharpened and tested the blade as well as coordinated the project. Greg Neely did the guard and ferrule. Harvey Dean made the handle (frame type) and fit-up. Steve Dunn engraved the guard, ferrule, handle and throat of the sheath, which was made by Jay Hendrickson using shark skin covered wood with nickel silver throat.

How fortunate I was to acquire this one! It was just a "right time, right place" thing. There's more show 'n tell coming, so stay tuned.
Buddy Thomason
 
Thanks for the pics, guys.

Buddy, you were indeed fortunate: that is a beauty!

HTMD: I was also wondering if it was all a dream. Reality check:open wallet.


On the other hand, I got some great knives.
 
Thanks for the glimpse of Blade through your eyes Buddy - and congrats on that Board knife (talk about picking up something special at the show)! :eek:

Roger
 
Thanks for letting me fondle her, Buddy - one of the show highlights for me.

I enjoyed your pictures too - especially the animated GIF. Thanks for putting these up.
 
Thanks once agin, Buddy! Damn, YOU walked off with quite the score. I agree about the value aspect. Smart.

I loved the animation. Especially Mark Zalesky wincing at the cut. Super job! :eek:

Coop
 
That was very cool!!! :cool:

Thanks so much.....and congratulations on a beautiful piece of work.

Bill
 
Great narrative and pictures - I really like the Barker GIF.

About your one purchase, Buddy: It is the purchase of a lifetime. You only need one of these.
 
I didn't have any bent knives in my collection. In fact I've always thought, "Why would anybody want a knife that ain't straight"? But when you're at the BLADE show and the all the excitement goes to your head - well, stuff happens that is hard to explain when you get home and show the wife all the great deals you just couldn't pass up. Know whudda mean, Vern?
 
I thought the bent Perry was a real cool buy, actually. Most guys don't let go of those, so it's something of a rarity right there. Plus, this is a bladesmith with a bright future, to say the least. I sure wouldn't mind having, say, Fisk's MS performance test knife.

Roger
 
And...how many makers smoking cigars?

Here's one of Ricardo Vilar's JS knives. This knife of Ricardo's is one of those great knives that could serve for a lifetime if a man could only have one knife. It's beautiful, it's functional, it's the right size and weight - and Ricardo is a delightful character.


Here's another GIF. Dan Farr is a fine bladesmith, a great competitor and wears the darkest sun-glasses of anybody I've ever seen!
 
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