Blade 2012

[Murray White]

Once more into the breech we go. A nice uneventful 2 day trip in the Van and we arrived in Atlanta on Wednesday, June 6, 2012 in preparation for this year's Blade event. For the past couple of years, we stayed at the Sheraton Galleria which was nice with lots of room and a divider between working area and sleeping area but due to difficulties getting through to them with their new reservation system and a talk with Paul Long who has stayed at the Residence Inn Marriot which is just a short drive away we made other arrangements. Unfortunately, the "drive" does mean getting up early and trying to get a place to park at an already busy Galleria as the "promised" shuttle service did not materialize. As their single units did not offer a work and sleep area separate, we selected the 2 storey, 720 Square foot unit with lots of room, fully prepared kitchen area, two baths and two king bed with wifi, parking, outdoor pool (hot tub removed post booking). breakfasts each day and weekday suppers at an excellent price. Next are a few images of the Residence Inn suites.
the view from outside of our entrance door

Living Room and Kitchen

Downstairs Bedroom

Upstairs or Loft bedroom

As usual, althought Thursday is move in day, the CKCA holds it annual banquet, Mini Knife Show and casual get together at Maggiano's Italian Restaurant in the Cumberland Mall. This year was also special as the first award of trophy and $15000 cheques were awarded to three knifemakers who submitted for the Jerry Fisk/CKCA Innovation invitational.
The evening began with casual meeting and conversation among collectors and makers followed by some hors doerves and then sit down dinner followed by a few presentations, mini knife show draw and the awarding of the trophies and cheques.
For the photos submitted here, please feel free to provide names as too few wore their name tags and my memory is fading quickly which means I just can't put names to faces very often. TIA.

Shawn McIntyre likely is providing some good advice about knife making to these friends

Burt Foster and John Horrigan at the top and below the folks in the background are hanging out to listen to Edmund Davidson.

next are a few groups enjoying chatting among one another

Kevin Jones, President of CKCA with Elizabeth and Wolfe Loerchner

 

[Murray White]

Steve Culver and friends

including Kyle Royer and Karl Andersen

Kyle again

Ed Wormser always has a good time at the show

and is seen with Robert Kaufmann and his incredible new project.
here is some serious scrutiny and knife discussion with Ryen Hays and JR Cook and also Barry Lee Hands.

The room was full with about 100 in attendance so here are some of the tables.
Jon Klein's daughter Rebecca with Phyllis Barrett and Jon and Kevin chatting in the background.

and overall view

and a couple of individual tables

David Litsch at the mini show table

 

[KYJ]

Thank you for wonderful photographs !

 

[Marcel54]

Murray, I'm glad you are doing a review again!! Great job. Who got the cheques??

Marcel

 

[Murray White]

Greetings from Jerry Fisk and Kevin talks about the current CKCA knife created by Charles Vestal of which 5 of the 15 have been created and distributed to their owners.

A representative of Knife Rights spoke about the progress being made in the realm of easing knife restrictions in parts of the US and Preston Gough spoke about the current Cancer knife raffle which will take place at the Jerry Fisk Micro show in the Fall.

And then it was time for Mary and Ryen Hays to do the drawings for the winners to purchase knives from the mini knife show which is held each year at the CKCA banquet.

Jerry, Jon Klein who organized the banquet and Kevin and below is Mary and Ryen with the Tom Overeynder folder.

Fighter/Bowies by Kyle Royer and Stephan Fowler

a fancy dagger and also Bradford Bowie by Lin Rhea and Steve Culver

a period replica by John Cohea and a damascus Chef's knife by Jason Knight are still available at this writing.

and as the evening drew to a close, the presentations for the first trophies and cheques to makers who presented innovative ideas which will become a knife project were made by Jerry and Kevin on behalf of Jerry Fisk, CKCA and an anonymous benefactor to the world of hand made cutlery.

And so begins a busy weekend of enjoying another year of Blade. Lots more to come over the next 4 days as I hope to have all the photos up by Monday or early Tuesday.

 

[Marcel54]

Three well respected and interesting makers are chosen. I can hardly wait to see what they will come up with!!

Murray, have a great show and I look forward to the next update.

Marcel

 

[Bruce Bump]

As usual Murray, a first class review and in nearly real time. Thanks for doing this for us unfortunates that can only be there in spirit and not the flesh.

Congrats to Robert, JR and Elizabeth for their new adventure. Yes, like Marcel said I cant wait to see what they come up with.

I'm tuning in here several times per day.

Oh, I just got off the phone with Dana Hackney. His new title is "ABS Journeyman Smith Dana Hackney" now. Please stop and congratulate him.

 

[2knife]

Im a little miffed at the ticket prices this year. There is an added $25 upcharge for early entrance at noon, otherwise it's 2pm, or you need a VIP pass. Sorry to bent, but I find this ridiculous! $15 one day pass + $25 for noon entrance= $40. Stupid expensive.

 

[Berno]

"Merci" for the pictures....

 

[betzner]

Congratulations to buddy Robert Kaufmann, to the beautiful Elizabeth Loerchner and JR Cook - all immensely talented - for this first ever award, honor and check.

And a huge "THANK YOU" to you, Murray, without whom we would have no visual record of this great gathering - and the show yet to come.

Bob

 

[Doug C]

Subscribed.
LOVE your Blade threads, Murray ! :thumbup:
Awesome already.
Congrats to the winners.

Doug

 

[Wulf]

Thanks Murray - a lot of time and effort on your part to do this but very much appreciated by the rest of us

 

[Lorien]

go Liz!!!

 

[Murray White]

I took about 180 images today and am working on editing them and will likely be up till 3 am like last night but do have to be at Cobb by about 8 AM to be sure of a place to park the van. Not sure if I will post more photos tonight though. However, Mary Hays did send me a listing of who purchased the knives from the mini show and here they are :

#1 Tom Overeynder - Model 20 Trapper: Mark Segars

#2 Kyle Royer MS - Bowie: Michael McInnis

#4 Lin Rhea MS - Heart A Fire Dagger - Kerry Brooks

#5 Stephan Fowler - Feather Fighter - Peter Elovich

#6 Steve Culver - San Francisco Style Spear-Point Bowie & Sheath - Kevin Cross

 

[Murray White]

The first day of Blade was very busy and I was told the lineup for the VIP entry at noon was long and winding. I forgot to go to see it and do some images as the inside was where it was happening but the folks at the CKCA booth were primed and ready for action with many new members joining and others doing renewals. There is a draw for a knife limited to renewals and new members and I will attempt to get an image related to this if I can remember. Early in the morning, Rebbeca Klein and Ken Springer were busy manning the booth and later joined Jon Klein, Brenda, Phyllis and others.

Many knifemakers and other table holders will next be presented in no particular order. I was able to complete work on 38 images so thought it best to offer them for viewing before heading to bed.

Doug Noren had many knives representing a number of different styles on his table

A large and ornate, fancy Bowie by Doug

a couple of quite different but interesting daggers using a lot of thought and effort

and lastly a bit of the Scagel influence

which likely would have been enjoyed by the true Scagel expert and biographer, Dr. Jim Lucie

and representing his own definite genre is long time Western knifemaker, Ed Fowler who also had a number of folks who learned his techniques attending the show.

from this image look to the knife on the stand to the viewers right. This one Ed has dedicated as a tribute to many of the old time knifemakers such as Michael Price Sr., Rudy Ruana and others and by incorporating some of their ideas into the knife hopes to, in his way recognize their contributions to knifemaking. He has plans to do others of this same genre each year.

showing many typical Fowler knives

Another Western knifemaker is James Rodebaugh

with a small Bowie and hunter

 

[Murray White]

Henry Torres always has a variety of knives displaying his talents.

a couple of fighters including something with the Scagel influence

followed by a modern styled axe and a couple of nice Bowies

While Jay was out looking for materials and visiting fellow knifemakers, Phyllis took an opportunity to speak with Nancy who was holding the fort for the many knives Jay has been producing.

fancy knives with fancy sheaths are Jay's trademark

many of which are perfect for the hunting enthusiast as well as being highly collectible

Jerry Fisk is sold out and take time to chat while others are part of the hustle and bustle of Blade 2012
.

the following are at two opposite ends of the spectrum

which is high end kitchenware

while this fancy Bowie just hollers out with success and collectibility

 

[Michael Starr]

Thank you for this, Murray
Get some sleep
Enjoy the show!

 

[Murray White]

J. Neilson is another maker with a variety of knives available for interested buyers

including a hunter and the now popular mini fighter

J also creates a nice info piece in plastic protection with info about the knife for the purchaser
and ventures from the hunter to the carver as what else could be done with the catch
but have it prepared for the table

Joe Cordova has, for years, presented his own unique style of work

And who is more unique that Joe Szilaski?

who is undoubtedly the king of the pipehawk

Michael O'Machearley brought as many knives as his name has letters and he spells real well

I find Blade too short and like seen here, it is often just a blur.

but he did bring a couple of nice Bowie/Fighters for all to enjoy

 

[Murray White]

Our friend, Roger Pinnock, saw Phyllis and stopped for a visit and to see Mike Williams

so Mike is not only visited by a Barrett but also by a Barnett -- Bruce that is

as he displays Bowies, Fighters and Hunters

Preston Gough who did such a great job in arranging for our great CKCA banquet visits with Ron Newton

Ron provides his customers with a nice certificate of authenticity with each knife purchase

a beautifully shaped fighter that feels great in the hand

as fine and fancy a fighter as one can imagine

followed by something traditional enhanced by some carving on the bolsters

 

[Marcel54]

Hi Murray, thanks for the update. Some really great knives to be seen. I'm just up (it's 8.00 AM) and it is a great start of the day!!

Marcel