Blade 2012 -Here's what stood out for me - how about you?

Great finds! I was looking for a smaller outdoors knife for carving tasks, food prep and general bush-crafty activities. I looked at every production knife booth but didn't really connect with anything when it came to semi-traditional knife designs. ( though Blind Horse Knives almost did it for me.) I ran across a guy by the name of Ricky Fowler in the hand-made area. I loved all of his products. I ended up pulling the trigger on an approximately 3 inch bladed knife with an acid etched blade finish and curly maple (i think) handles. I love it. I like my Esee stuff to beat on, but when I want something a little different and somewhat traditional, the Fowler knife is the way to go. Has anyone else made a purchace from Mr. Fowler?
 
I'm writing on route 85 in North Carolina. (iPad3)...

Super show for us. Busy from Thursday aft through Sun. Last shot at 2:02pm. Whew!

Although Susan and Buddy Thomason (SharpByCoop team @ Blade) ran in and out of the hall I never set foot in there. It would have been the black hole of handshakes and conversations for me. :D.

I shot pages worth of knives which you will see starting in a week.

I acquired three knives:

On Thursday afternoon, as he ALWAYS does, AG Russell swung by to wish me well. He's an icon and I know this. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small gunstocks pattern traditional knife, he'd been carrying for a month or so. It's got yellow delrin scales, and is gorgeous. "I want you to have this. Thanks for all you do."

I was floored. I also graciously took it. I used it all weekend. Major thanks!

When I was shuttling all my gear in, I spotted a leather pouch laying on the ground next to the drivers door of a car. I picked it up and it was a new folder with lightning strike scales, VERY well made. I happened to have a Post It note in my wallet. I wrote asking if the owner lost a knife. If so, I had it. Identify it, and it's yours again. Phone included.

After a few hours I got a call from Matt Diskin. Yup, this was one of his new dual action mid-techs, and he was very thankful for my note and honesty. So much so, he picked this one up, yet dropped off another of his new models (less expensive, but crazy nice) as a show of thanks. Thank you, Matt!

Lastly, Tom Ferry also has a line of mid techs, and needed some clear but not-so-glamorous shots for his new website and promo. He had four models. I shot a dozen shots and the whole pack. We bartered on a Carbon fiber version. :)

Gas stop over. Gotta go.....

Coop
 
Thanks for chiming in Coop. I did say a quick hello to Susan at the front desk, but did not want to interrupt the flow as you and Buddy were deep into your many tasks.

Eagerly awaiting your Blade album, as I'm sure a great many are.

Roger
 
r connally said:
Thanks for the report out Roger. Hope you post more pics and comments and that others do also.

I'm living the void that STeven and Jon reference and have to look forward to next year to keep from totally bumming out. Work priorities got me.

Hey look, CanineForge moving around behind Sam in the first pic with a case big enough to hold Performance Center 500 or 460XVR. Whatchagot in there Joe? Looks like a big un.
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Hey, Rob. You were missed, man! The bag this year isn't long enough for big ones, so I kept it down to the mid-sized stuff. It was a great show!

I haven't had time to go through the Blade threads thoroughly, but I sure do appreciate those that take the time to take photos and post reports, like Roger did here. I'll have to wait to check other threads out later on.

I had the pleasure of introducing Paul Long to Gustaaf Van Bellegrem and Sam Lurquin. Both are like us and SO impressed with Paul's work. Gustaaf makes outstanding sheaths for Sam and other makers over the pond. He and Paul compared a lot of techiques, I am sure.

Blade124.jpg


Thanks for the write-up, Roger. It was great seeing you at the show. I hope to catch up more this evening.

- Joe
 
Roger always a great to see you and read your reviews. Good additions, congratulations on them all. The show was another exceptional albeit intense event and there seems to never be enough time. Appreciate seeing the different reviews, thanks for posting this one up as well.

Rob you where definitely missed, we gotta see you soon.

Jon
 
Roger,

It was nice to see you again. I'm glad you were able to get a Sam Lurquin knife. I had never seen one in person before. He has a great future.

Good review.

Jim Treacy
 
Did Sam bring the kirku blade like knife ?
don't know if he had finished it.

i did see this one as blank on his table las show i have seen him,
would love to see it finished, looked right up my alley

and yes Sam and Gustaaf are great guys

very proud on my Sam... and made a very good user i might ad
 
2knife said:
It is good to read your recap, Roger. May i ask, as one who waited in the long line on Friday and paid the retail entry fee, not the VIP, which accounted for about 1/2 the 1000 or mpre people in line at noon. How do you manage to get an early Thursday access pass?
However it is, there is something very screwed with some people paying $40-$70 just to walk through the doors and others getting in scott free...

I did greatly enjoy the show, however.
David
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Good question !

Pretty much why I quit going to any shows.

A few years in a row I was the 3rd or 4th person in the door at the Vegas show with hopes to get a slipjoint from a certain maker, doors opened , not a knife on his table, all sold to people who got juiced in during setup and to dealers who had tables at the show. He wasn't the only maker that was cleaned out before the "public" was let in.
 
It was great seeing you Roger.
 
2knife said:
It is good to read your recap, Roger. May i ask, as one who waited in the long line on Friday and paid the retail entry fee, not the VIP, which accounted for about 1/2 the 1000 or mpre people in line at noon. How do you manage to get an early Thursday access pass?
However it is, there is something very screwed with some people paying $40-$70 just to walk through the doors and others getting in scott free...
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I'll field this one to deflate the intrigue, David.

You get a table holder badge.....I can get one from a dozen different sources, heck, I probably could have gotten one for you.

In most cases, I am actually helping out at a table, selling, buying...whatever....maybe you could try the same sometime?

Glad you had a good show.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
John T Wylie Jr said:
Good question !

Pretty much why I quit going to any shows.

A few years in a row I was the 3rd or 4th person in the door at the Vegas show with hopes to get a slipjoint from a certain maker, doors opened , not a knife on his table, all sold to people who got juiced in during setup and to dealers who had tables at the show. He wasn't the only maker that was cleaned out before the "public" was let in.
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John,
That is just the way life is .
 
This was my first trip to Blade; met a lot of my knife making heroes, those of you here that I look up to, and re-acquainted with some I had already met.

It was a privilege to meet Roger, Peter and Danbo. I truly appreciate you guys taking me under your wing for a short time and also taking the time to look at a bit of my work.

I have only been in the presence of Joe P. twice but both times it feels like meeting a long lost shorter uncle.:D Thanks for hooking me up with some materials and introducing me to Dave Mirable, Jason Knight, and Matt Diskin.

One of my priorities is always catching Thad Buchanan and John Young to have them look at my latest efforts, but at Blade I had the additional privilege of meeting Steve Johnson and Charles Vestal. All conversations left my head just a bit bigger.

In my wanderings I was fortunate enough to find the Royer brothers at their table. I will only say that that much talent behind one table shouldn't be allowed!!!

I have very much admired Serge Panchenko's work for some time. I was able to spend some time speaking to him and his wife; what a talented guy, pictures don't do justice to the scale and intricacy of his work(and I now know that I am not the only really pale, bald knifemaker in the world).

I also took advantage if this trip to meet Jim Cooper and have a set of knives photographed. He and his wife were a pleasure to deal with and from a purely selfish standpoint I wish he weren't so busy so I could talk to him more.

And lastly I met and spoke at length to Billy Mace Imel and his wife Beverly. Both are a great source inspiration and were the highlight to my Saturday.

I saw and experienced so much more, but don't want to bore anybody so I'll stop there.
 
Thanks guys. David you are doing some VERY good work by any measure, but particularly so in light of the short period of time you have been at it. And nobody's going to be bored by your observations - it's what this thread is for - thanks for that.

STeven - thanks for fielding that.

Gus, Jim, Jon, Joe, Peter, Danbo, Don and allayouguys - it's the people that make this show more than the knives, and peeps like you make it great. STeven, you were missed!

Roger
 
2knife said:
I didnt want to interfere with the thread, which you have done a good job with.

Please explain.. Thanks,
David
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David, probably a good topic for its own thread, IMHO. Might be an interesting one.
 
Thank you Ben.

firebolt - I didn't see the knife that you are describing on Sam's table, but it sounds interesting -I'd love to see his take on that style.

Roger
 
Roger,

As for many, the outstanding aspect of Blade is seeing fellow makers and collectors who have become friends and mentors.

It was great to see you again. It is also a treat to stand on my side of the table and see the smiles and handshakes as collectors who may only meet in person at shows run into each other.

Show-wise, the crowd was steady all week-end, with many folks having record sales. I saw clients from the earliest years to recent in a steady stream. Great show, good friends, some fantastic knives.

Spent all my money on Walrus: even got Don H. jealous over one slab!

I'm headed out to the shop to build up a billet, with my buddy Shawn Mc,

See you guys next year,

John
 
Roger, as always it was great to see you and look forward to seeing you in Little Rock next February. That is the one thing about Blade, seeing so many friends. Like John I also had buyers I had not seen in a long time which was very nice. Very busy with a steady flow of people. Now I can recuperate for a day or two.
I also want to thank Coop for his extra work on one of my pieces. I know it was tough to shoot and I can't wait to see what he came up with. Jim and Susan, it was great to see and talk with you all and thank you. That goes for you too Buddy.
Brion
 
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