- Joined
- Oct 28, 2006
- Messages
- 13,363
Definitely the best of the six or so Blade Shows I have attended in as many years. It would be interesting to hear the attendance numbers as it seemed traffic was up. And a very diverse group it was in collectors representing all various types and styles of knives.
• The Knives in general – IMO, as fine an assortment of custom forged knives as I have seen at a Blade Show. This could be particially due to the quality of makers testing for their Journeyman and Mastersmith’s certification this year. It seemed that all the veteran makers were at the top of their game and the quality demonstrated by some of the newer makers such as Tommy Gann, Karl Anderson, Mike Ruth and Shawn McIntyre just to name several was outstanding.
• The ABS – considering the recent threads regarding the ABS, I didn’t quite know what to expect but after speaking in depth with quite a few long time ABS makers, members and board members I was glad to find many have been following the recent dialog and most demonstrated open minds in regard to the issues. Even as “hard headed” as I can be, I found myself looking at things a little differently after a few of these conversations.
Some interesting changes in store for the RENO Knife Exposition next year. I’m looking forward to it.
The ABS website will be updated.
The ABS banquet was a very well done and positive affair. Any member who didn’t attend, missed some good information, good fellowship and a great meal. The Waverly Hotel does as good a banquet as I have attended.
The ABS auction knives were just outstanding. The Jim Walker Bowie was just beautiful, with its blue walrus ivory, blued damascus blade in take-down style. The James Rodebaugh board folder was enough to make a staunch fixed-blade collected turn folder collector. A fine combination of beautiful ivory, complex Damascus and as close to a fully hand made high-end folder as I believe you could ever come across. And the twentieth ABS Board “D guard, Southwest Bowie was IMO the finest board collaboration piece to be offered since I have been following them. A large but manageable bowie with forged blade, curly maple handle with over 4 feet of silver wire inlay and just the right amount of fine engraving on the bolster, D Guard and pummel to set it apart from being just another great Bowie. Not sure just how much the auction brought in for the ABS, however the pieces seemed to bring reasonable prices even though participation was somewhat limited.
• Les Robinson and Bob Neal’s Collector Seminar – Very good participation as I came in three minutes late and had to set in the very first row. Excellent information, opinion and instruction by both Les and Bob, followed by a great question and answer period. I have attended seminars by Bob and Les individually and was very impressed by their team effort as well. Every new collector should have attended and even the seasoned would pick up a thing or two. The timing Sucked however as it overlapped with the cutting competition.
• The Cutting Competition – Well what can you say about a Blade Show cutting competition except it was great. Even though my favorite performed admirably but didn’t win.
• Great People – Well one of the best parts was meeting many of you from the forum. Very nice to finally meet (in person) collectors and makers (friends) who you have been communicating with for months, or years for some of you. I won’t mention any names as I well leave some out for sure.
• Anything I Didn’t Like? – Well there’s nothing much more aggravating than staying at a five elevator hotel where only two are operational at a given time. Well then there’s being in one part of the facility where it’s so cold you need a winter coat, then move to another to find you can’t carry on a conversation because you are sweating perflusly. But as I said above, they do one heck of a banquet meal and the “Pit” bar staff seemed to be up to the task.
On Saturday night there was a 200 guest wedding on the premises in addition to the Show so by 2:00 am there was only one brand of beer left and only about ½ dozen bottles of spirits left, not that I needed any more.
Well that’s my take, what’s yours?
• The Knives in general – IMO, as fine an assortment of custom forged knives as I have seen at a Blade Show. This could be particially due to the quality of makers testing for their Journeyman and Mastersmith’s certification this year. It seemed that all the veteran makers were at the top of their game and the quality demonstrated by some of the newer makers such as Tommy Gann, Karl Anderson, Mike Ruth and Shawn McIntyre just to name several was outstanding.
• The ABS – considering the recent threads regarding the ABS, I didn’t quite know what to expect but after speaking in depth with quite a few long time ABS makers, members and board members I was glad to find many have been following the recent dialog and most demonstrated open minds in regard to the issues. Even as “hard headed” as I can be, I found myself looking at things a little differently after a few of these conversations.
Some interesting changes in store for the RENO Knife Exposition next year. I’m looking forward to it.
The ABS website will be updated.
The ABS banquet was a very well done and positive affair. Any member who didn’t attend, missed some good information, good fellowship and a great meal. The Waverly Hotel does as good a banquet as I have attended.
The ABS auction knives were just outstanding. The Jim Walker Bowie was just beautiful, with its blue walrus ivory, blued damascus blade in take-down style. The James Rodebaugh board folder was enough to make a staunch fixed-blade collected turn folder collector. A fine combination of beautiful ivory, complex Damascus and as close to a fully hand made high-end folder as I believe you could ever come across. And the twentieth ABS Board “D guard, Southwest Bowie was IMO the finest board collaboration piece to be offered since I have been following them. A large but manageable bowie with forged blade, curly maple handle with over 4 feet of silver wire inlay and just the right amount of fine engraving on the bolster, D Guard and pummel to set it apart from being just another great Bowie. Not sure just how much the auction brought in for the ABS, however the pieces seemed to bring reasonable prices even though participation was somewhat limited.
• Les Robinson and Bob Neal’s Collector Seminar – Very good participation as I came in three minutes late and had to set in the very first row. Excellent information, opinion and instruction by both Les and Bob, followed by a great question and answer period. I have attended seminars by Bob and Les individually and was very impressed by their team effort as well. Every new collector should have attended and even the seasoned would pick up a thing or two. The timing Sucked however as it overlapped with the cutting competition.
• The Cutting Competition – Well what can you say about a Blade Show cutting competition except it was great. Even though my favorite performed admirably but didn’t win.
• Great People – Well one of the best parts was meeting many of you from the forum. Very nice to finally meet (in person) collectors and makers (friends) who you have been communicating with for months, or years for some of you. I won’t mention any names as I well leave some out for sure.
• Anything I Didn’t Like? – Well there’s nothing much more aggravating than staying at a five elevator hotel where only two are operational at a given time. Well then there’s being in one part of the facility where it’s so cold you need a winter coat, then move to another to find you can’t carry on a conversation because you are sweating perflusly. But as I said above, they do one heck of a banquet meal and the “Pit” bar staff seemed to be up to the task.
On Saturday night there was a 200 guest wedding on the premises in addition to the Show so by 2:00 am there was only one brand of beer left and only about ½ dozen bottles of spirits left, not that I needed any more.
Well that’s my take, what’s yours?
:thumbup:
