Blade 2013 including CKCA dinner

[Murray White]

Usually when attending a knife show, Phyllis and I are able to produce a story and photos in a more timely fashion from what we are capable of in 2013. Between April 19 and May 7 we enjoyed a vacation with a group of fellow travellers to China which included half a dozen major cities and and almost equal number of in country flights between cities. While many of our fellow travellers, unfortunately, had some brief illnesses while in China, it was not until we arrived home, beginning with May 8 that both of us fell ill and up until a few days ago have been in the same condition. Even now, we tend to be sleepy and even after a good long nights sleep find ourselves napping during the day.
Thus we have been unable to totally spend great time taking images of the Blade 2013 and no time at editing or posting images until the last few days after the show ended and now at last being able to post the results of which there are fewer images from past events.
We departed for Atlanta the Sunday before the CKCA dinner and arrived on Tuesday afternoon and tried to recuperate and prepare ourselves for the long days ahead. Not totally successful but hopefully some of what is presented will still be of interest.
This year's CKCA dinner was long anticipated and one every knife collector, member or not, should have been looking forward to seeing or hearing about. Before the evening began, we did see a few folks around the Cobb including Jerry Fisk, Preston Gough, Mary & Ryan Hays and Jim Treacy.

We always enjoy visiting with Karl Andersen and he is joined by Jerry Fisk and relative newcomer and now one of the latest JS members of the ABS, Ben Seward in just his third year of knife making.

Ken Springer and Charles Vestal appeared for a visit prior to the CKCA dinner also.

Long time maker and one of the most popular among the Bowie/Fighter enthusiasts, is Don Hanson who is joined by his knifemaking son in a visit with Ryan Hays.

This year's dinner was quite special. To me it was by far the nicest dinner that the always gracious folks at Mangiano's have presented and I'm sure was enjoyed by all those in attendance. Secondly, there was the great closer to the meeting/dinner -- the drawing of the winners of the mini knife show. However, the main event was the presentation of the knives created for the CKCA/Jerry Fisk Challenge. Before going further, please refer to this link to obtain a full understanding of the efforts made by the three knifemakers involved.
http://www.customknifecollectorsassociation.com/Cutlery_Challenge.html
Prior to the meal and various comments related to the items of the CKCA, folks did have time to look at the knives of the mini show and also to socialize with one another.
Charles Vestal in the middle and surrounded by friends.

Mary and Ryan Hays begin the draw process

Joel Chamblin - Ken Springer drawn and purchased

Ken Casey who will later stand in for Robert Hoffman who is unable to attend due to some issues with US Customs but was able to have his Challenge entry available for judging and viewing and much thanks goes to Kevin.

Jerry Fisk - Rob Nabors drawn and purchased

Terry Vandeventer - Kevin Cross drawn and purchased

 

[Murray White]

Karl Andersen with his entourage

Michael Ruth Jr - Rueben Tamez drawn and purchased

Ryan and Mary draw for the Sean O'Hare hunter
Sean O'Hare - Mark Schilling drawn and purchased

Unfortunately, a fine knife by
Burton Harroff - No Sale

CKCA President, Kevin Jones, who was only in Atlanta briefly before returning to walk his daughter down the aisle, Saturday, offered opening remarks prior to Jerry Fisk

describing the 2013 Challenge and introducing the three makers, JR Cook, Elizabeth Loerchner and Kevin Casey (representing Robert Hoffman) who spoke about the challenges and techniques used to create the fine knives that we all had had the opportunity of viewing.

Once that was done, two of the judges provided some insight into the process and the extreme difficulties that choosing a winner among such great works of art presented each of the judges.
Judges:

Kate McLeod - High Art Museum of Atlanta
Justin Rabideau - Zuckerman Museum of Art
Chuck Wechsler - Sporting Classics Magazine
Padgett Powell - Freelance Writer
the latter two in attendance

JR Cook created this beautiful display with his transition damascus

Robert Hoffman presented his multi knife "statue" which is also exceptional

 

[Murray White]

Jerry did have the winner seated at his table as Elizabeth Loerchner's name was in the winners envelope

and here is the wonderful work of art which has been purchased by the unknown benefactor to the knifemakers and CKCA. When open, the knives present The Butterfly and when turned to the reverse side and closed, they present The Moth.

Here are two of the participants, JR and Elizabeth with Jerry.

The evening concluded with a presentation by STeven Garsson related to the current collaboration by CKCA knifemakers in creating the 5th annual (CKCA has been around that long now folks) project in aid of "Cancer" research.

Please refer to this link for more info about the project
http://www.customknifecollectorsassociation.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2297
another link with a sublink to purchase tickets
http://www.customknifecollectorsassociation.com/index.html

We crashed early and we ready to head out the next day to the main event -- Blade 2013. This scenario presented itself for the next 3 days and it is now, a week after having first arrived at the Residence Inn Marriott, Smyrna, GA that the story and images can now be presented so more to come.

 

[Burton Harruff]

Nice pictures Murray. I was honored to be involved in the mini show. Being around so many high end makers and collectors was enjoyable and informative. The food was outstanding! Thanks again Kevin. Looking forward to the banquet next year. -Burton Harruff

 

[Burl Source]

Nice photos and great narration. Thank You.

 

[Murray White]

The following commentary and images relate to no specific day over the 3 days of Blade 2013 except at the time of the ABS auction which took place at 10 AM Saturday, June 1, 2013.
Alan Huthinson is a maker unfamiliar to me but a brief looking over his table showed some nice and interesting knives. Unfortunately, there is just not time to look over every table carefully.

Ben Seward was one of a few that achieved JS status at the ABS judjing.

here are the knives he presented

Bertie Rietveld is a very experienced and creator of unusual folders

and is seen here explaining his knives to a prospective client.

Bill Buxton had many of his great Bowies and Fighters available

Bobby Toole and his wife are ready to share knowledge with and offer some nice folders to collectors of fine knives.

Brian Thie offered a number of very nicely done damascus bowies and hunters

 

[Murray White]

Brion Tomberlin certainly had a nice time at the Blade 2013 show as he offered customers some nice work

as well as being presented with a nice plaque by Dan Peterson for providing a fighter to the ABS auction

Bruce Bingenheimer, just call me Bing, had lots of wares

and is one of a number of new makers being touted as one to watch

as can be attested to by the S guard shown as well as these pieces

Burt Foster always has a large following

and as usual some interesting knives

 

[Murray White]

Two friends here, Bruce Burnett and Bill Burke

who do quite different styles in knives particularly now that Bill has gone very heavily into fine, high end kitchen knives.

here is a very special fighter created by Bruce

and a couple of hunters

with a little promotion of an upcoming Aussie show.
Sleek and beautiful! What more could any collector want?

Karl Anderson enters a draw for a knife much different from his style provided by Butch Devereaux

Karl is always curious and looks over JR Cook's challenge knife

while JR talks about his ABS raffle knife which has the same damascus technique applied

Somehow I missed who did this terrific looking fighter

Deitrich Podmajersky came all the way from wet Seattle to offer some nice knives to Blade show customers

 

[Murray White]

Dan Delevan purchases the last two knives available from Chad Nell

More samples of Chad's knives

Phyllis awaits receipt of the latest David Darom book about the knives of Curt Erickson and engraver Julie Warenski Erickson

Beside the book is a dagger and engraved sheath done by Julie

next is a series of images of the work offered at the show by Curt

Each day Elizabeth Loerchner would spend some time chatting about the Butterfly Challenge knife outside the CKCA booth where new members joined, others renewed and folks bought raffle tickets and T shirts and hats in support of CKCA and Cancer Research.

Doug Noren known for his knowledge and creation of antique style of knives chats with a customer

 

[MRuthJr]

Great pics and review Murray! We weren't able to make it to Atlanta in time to catch the banquet, so it's nice to get a look at all of the beautiful work involved...the Fisk Challenge knives are all just absolutely outstanding!

 

[Jon Brand]

Thanks for the shots, I always enjoy this. It helps keep the show going after it ends. I am sorry I did not get to chat with you.

 

[Marcel54]

Great storytelling as always. Good to see your review up and running. I look forward to some more words and photos!!.

Marcel

 

[Murray White]

There are so many great knifemakers from Japan that come to visit and offer wonderful fixed blades and folders to the collecting public and this year as always they are led by Koji Hara who is now being accompanied by his son.

Here are some examples of what collectors have come to expect from Koji and as usual, he did not disappoint.

And now for the good news. His son has only been making knives for 4 months, Yes, that is right -- FOUR months. He has also created a special locking device on the top folders which unfortunately had all been bought up by a dealer.

Kevin Cashen is "king" of the dagger creators

and this year offered an amazing dagger to the ABS for its annual fund raising raffle
seen here next to the JR Cook transition damascus bowie

Kevin spoke at length describing the techniques involved in creating this masterpiece

which, after much animated bidding went to "king" Arthur who also won the Jerry Lairson folder
Kevin also offered some other knives including Bowie and hunters

also, makers, please note the terrific pieces of info about the knives etc that Kevin prepares and helps the sale of his work. As a collector I love to see this on a maker's table.

Eric Fritz and son were busy with lots of nice knives for folks coming thru the show

and here is a sample of a few

Great leather work also.

 

[Murray White]

Do you think that Francesca Wilburn might pick up some tips from her now MS father? I think that she might have and she is certainly proud of her first knife which is on the left of the photo

Gary Wheeler had a few intersting blades at his table

this image shows a hunter with some interesting handle treatment

Phyllis took time to chat with Greg Neely

who had this interesting little hunter available

which felt very comfortable in the hand

Levi Graham and Onesimus knives

never a lack of interest in the mountain man style of knife etc as shown here in these made by Levi Graham

Onesimus shows some of his creations also

and an unadorned Bowie style

A stag and damascus dirk by Sandro Boeck

 

[Aaron Wilburn]

Great thread! !! Love the captions with the pics.

 

[RogerP]

1) Garsson looks too cool for school.
2) Did not know Burt was attending.
3) Would have loved to have heard Cashen's lecture - dude is a freakin' genius and a very engaging speaker.

 

[Murray White]

Herb Derr and Bob Jenkins combine to show some extremely fine hawks and knives

Jay Hendrickson never ceases to amaze with the quantity and variety of knives he creates for collectors to purchase at every annual Blade show

Such variety as this makes choosing difficult but extremely fun

just wish I had more time to really spend looking, touching
etc of these fine knives

J. Neilson is always finding new ideas in helping him develop different knives for his customers and the general collecting public

check out the variety of knives right here and see how the informational cards add so much to the collectors knowledge and enjoyment

Joe Keesler, long time ABS Mastersmith always has interesting knives

and this year created a major piece for auction by the ABS which he spoke about prior to the sale

Here are some nice folders by a maker with the name of Dunlap

John Howser has a neighbor who is an excellent wood worker and created this display case which simply took my breath away as I walked down one of the aisles

 

[Ben Seward]

Great pics Murray. Thanks for sharing.

 

[The Amazing Virginian]

Thanks for doing this, Murray. Always one of my favorite threads of the year.

 

[Murray White]

Aaron I knew I had another image of your knives but darn, this old fella still appreciates a cute young girl but here ya go with your knives

I was unable to see William's last name but rather than leaving his work till last it is being presented now. No skullduggery is allowed.

WD Pease has been making knives for as long as I can recall and always show something I really enjoy.

While he specializes in folders, being more of a Fixed Blade person, I really like the integral fighter.

A couple of European makers brought over some terrific knives.
The first is Veronique Laurent of Belgium

Second up is Jean Louis Regal from France

My favorite was the second from the top on the left which is a nice Wootz steel Bowie

John Horrigan had some great knives

and an even greater story about his brother who did 5 tours in Iraq but did not return from his last. A knife has been made in his honor and magazines have shown John and his brother and also President GW Bush.

John White, one of the forum favorite makers created work to capture 3 awards including Best of Show and Best Damascus for this dagger which is #4 of the Legacy series owned by Preston Gough a director of the CKCA