Blade Show 2010 -- very photo intensive

[Murray White]

Now that shopping is done, we had an opportunity to go over to the show. As we were about to head across to the show we bumped into James Shaver and Larry Bailey who had been looking for us and we were able to get our exhibitor passes paid for. Larry said James had some knives up in the room and after finally getting a key to work in a door as he forgot his room # (I was looking for a place to hide when the gendarmes arrived) we looked at some nice bowies and hunters that James will be offering.

James and Larry

Two Bowies -- one with popcorn stag and damascus fittings

the other with Stainless fittings and smooth stag

note that now James is doing flat grinds to his bowies and hunters

three different ones are next shown

and here is a full tang basic hunter

While we were viewing knives, Phil Lobred called Larry and so we hustled over to the hall so Phil could get his exhibitor pass

as we began to enter the Hall, Kevin waltzed thru the doors and we said hello

an earlybird dealer, Hank Rummel pauses in his setup efforts

a few more photos to come before we prepare to go over to the restaurant

 

[Murray White]

Mike Ruth and son Michael discuss some ivory with John White

and you guys wonder why Don Hanson gets all the good mammoth? He arrives early!

Cliff Parker and John White await the left overs

Ron Wilson wonders what he might have missed when setting up -- likely nothing.

Scot Matsuoka was one of the few makers with knives setup on his table so he gets center stage at the moment

and some of his knives

you can see that while he does do a few knives with other handle material, he tends toward the tactical style

we decided to head to the room and get some photos onto the CKCA forums for you guys and got one last image

Larry Bailey, Pete Crowl, Bill Buxton

 

[Murray White]

Dinner at Maggiano's Little Italy RestaurantTonight is the third annual CKCA members dinner. CKCA is now 2 years old having been conceived by Kevin Jones and others via the internet and specfically through a group on the Custom Knife Forum of Blade Forums. There are now over 200 members with an active forum and terrific website created by Bob Starkey. Larry Bailey has had much input into the operation and specifically into the travelling setup promoting CKCA at many shows seen here

One of the projects dear to Kevin and the CKCA is the raising of funds for various forms of cancer research. This year as in the past various member knifemakers have donated both time and materials in this regard. Much more about this project can be seen on many other CKCA forum threads. Here is an image of the knife and sheath with some CKCA members looking over the knife.

Ticket to members only began at 6pm May 31 and so far 80 of 200 tickets at $100 each have been sold. Tickets to the public go on sale at Blade Friday. Blade's current issue has this knife image on its front cover and CKCA has been donated a booth in the lobby to promote the organization to those attending Blade 2010.

When exiting the hotel prior to the dinner, we learned that a shuttle with some of those attending would be going to the Mall where the restaurant is located.

ready to depart are Phyllis Barrett, David Darom, Bud Richards, Chuck Ward

upon arrival at the mall, before us stood this Lamborghini which David said he would like a photo with as his son has a duplicate of this automobile

Once inside the restaurant,

folk began to mingle and chat, drink a wee and look at the knives that 7 of the member knifemakers made available to CKCA members. One knife by Tom Ferry is in transit and another likely is but Don Fogg had some personal tragedies to deal with and in another CKCA thread there are images of the knife along with all the other knives.

Kyle Royer, seen here with Bud Richards and his father Patti

was pleased to learn that I had purchased his fighter

from Roger Pinnock

Ed Wormser and Michael Tanalian discuss with Barry Lee Hands (engraver) and Edmund Davidson the superb fighter being raffled by CKCA as David Darom inspects the knife

Jerry Fisk and John Horrigan

JR Cook, Larry Bailey and another attendee

 

[Murray White]

Karl Anderson listens intently to a knife discussion

probably they are discussing some of these knives which Karl is creating as the first batch of finished CKCA club knives for 2010

some hors d'oevres are being enjoyed by Chuck Kerwin while John White and Paul Long chat with others

Lin Rhea a board and founding member of CKCA with wife and John Horrigan

Jon Klein, Tom Ferry and David Litch

Paul Kessler and Jim Treacy

Jim was later to become the lucky winner via purchase of the Bruce Bump folder

Phil Lobred and Ed Wormser share a chuckle

tonights crowd of 103 members and guests enjoyed fine Italian fare

before STeven Garsson spoke about the latest book (see many threads in CKCA and Bladeforums) which has been for sale via Tim Hancock and will be at the show during the weekend

 

[Murray White]

David and the winner of the book Joe Paranee and STeven with others as David discusses its creation

Kevin

is almost ready to begin the drawings of those able to purchase knives by 7 CKCA makers but first there was an auction of a donated knife by Tim Hancock. This knife Tim has used as an EDC for many years and decided to part with it this evening to support the cancer research project. The winning bid of $750 was made by Gabe Newell shown here with Tim, auctioneer Peter Elovich and Kevin

Winner of the Bud Richards Bowie was Bill Flynn who made a great purchase at $800 all of which Bud donated to the research project.

Great thanks to both Bud and Tim for their gracious donations.

Luck and good fortune struck Michael Tanalian twice this evening as he was able to purchase both the hunter by Pete Crowl

and the amazing creation and presentation via a couple of sheaths and great display case of the John Horrigan Bowie

http://ww

with that it was time to depart and begin the process of editing and creating for the CKCA forum this continuing journal. Almost 2 am so with a bit of reading to do later, we will close a great day of knives and knife fun and hope those in attendance and those unable to be in Atlanta will continue to enjoy the goings on from here.

 

[Murray White]

well, we have gone thru 2 days of the show and a lot of photos have been taken and only some have been edited even though sleep has been in short supply. So we shall begin with some of the knives and makers attending the show. Most of the next photos will be of ABS makers simply due to most of the interest is with these gentlemen and because I had to start in the huge hall 116,500 square feet with 760 tables and 185 booths. The hall is divided into 4 sections -- Current/Antique, ABS, Knifemakers Guild and other knifemakers with no affiliation.

And while the computer loves alphabetical order, we did not put AG Barnes at the beginning for any other reason but he had many nice knives available.

JS Al Warren and wife talk knives

and he had a couple of nice highly polished mammoth or walrus tusk handled small gents bowies

Brion Tomberlin shows these interesting knives for sale

Charles Ochs has his normal assortment of knives

and why is this man so happy? Maybe because Craig Camerer has only 2 knives left on his table?

a closer view of one

who is behind the hat? looks like one photographer discussing technique with another

spoke with Dan Winkler and he reports having a very busy show. One of these shows I'm sure I will see something that says "take me home"

 

[Murray White]

Dan Peterson has some interesting ideas and executes them well as can be seen

I found this one to be quite unique and well done

and for the Bowie and Fighter fans, Dan presents

here is a dagger but I neglected to figure out who actually made it

Dave Ellis always has fine knives and lots of good knife stories to tell

David Anders is one of many of the Cowboy hatted folks producing exciting knives

do these hats really help? I'd imagine that Ed would agree

the master of the performance blade had lots of them available

but to just buck the trend a wee bit Don Hanson has his say

with both folders and fixed blades

 

[Murray White]

Now Harvey Dean just looks a bit too contented with having only one itty bitty one left for folks to handle.

Ricardo Velar enjoys looking over the knives of Jason Knight

and a happy new knife maker, Michael Ruth is seen in the background. Michael was awarded the George Peck Award later in the evening at the ABS dinner.

Jay Hendrickson loves to talk about his knives and the ABS to new, aspiring makers and collectors

Jay and his wife are very long time activists in the ABS and do wonderful knives any of which would make a great addition to a collections

a few samples follow

any influence seen with these?

this one tempted me greatly but when I returned to Jay's table later on Sat. it tempted another collector first

Now who would not be tempted by this one if the pockets are deep enough -- a very thrilling style by Jerry Fisk

I'm sure Dr. James Batson is offering some friendly knifemaking tips to John Horrigan

maybe about creating a dogbone Bowie?

 

[Murray White]

Joe Olsen definitely marches to the beat of a different drummer but is well beyond par with his wonderful folder creations

and this one is really reaching for the stars with its folding guard

the master of the forged tomahawk and other forged sharp instruments -- Joseph Szilaski

John Parks is just chillin'

Steve Schwarzer spends some time chatting with John Perry at his table

I'm sure they had much to discuss about these knives by JP

When you build knives like these

you are going to spend a busy weekend talking knives with lots of potential customers as John White has done this early June 2010

 

[Murray White]

JP Poling does some nice fighters

JR Cookie Cook -- what is with all the hats? More nice knives from this MS

I really like the presentation cards Kevin Cashen is doing with his knives. His Dagger was being judged but we were able to photograph this nice Bowie

Long time MS, Mike Williams is pleased here

and after this nice piece found a new home I'm sure he was even happier

Michael Rader is one of two new MS obtaining this coveted status in 2010

and this is his entry into the Quillon Dagger segment of the judging

Mark Sentz has been around for a long time and like Jay Hendrickson is heavily influenced by the style of the late WF Moran

a couple or works of art by Ray Rybar

time to call it a night as it is almost 2 am and I'm done in but I leave you with the leader of the pack and his sidekick -- you guys decide who is who

 

[Murray White]

The three Brazilian Knifecateers -- Rodrigo, Alexandre, Ricardo

with a couple of knives by Rodrigo which sold very quickly

Ron Schwarz working with his sharpening device and Pete Crowl

Don't know this maker but he has a customer interested in the Scagel style work being presented

Shawn Ellis with his nice knives

Tad Lynch who Roger mentioned winning an award as best new maker had many of his chopper style knives

a couple here

and the winning knife is

wally hostetter does some nice swords and works with Steve Swartzer

 

[stabber]

Great pics!

I sure had a great time and was overwhelmed by all the incredible knives:thumbup:

 

[Murray White]

Not being a tactical collector I don't spend much time looking them over but someone I always enjoy seeing work from is Todd Begg because he created some amazing artistic knives in the tactical genre

this is quite beyond belief

Marcel there are lots more photos to come. I have some images from the ABS banquet and awards that I have not processed yet and then I have photos from Saturday and will be soon going over to the show and getting a few more photos before the show ends today. Then it will be back to the room and editing and posting over the rest of Sunday and Monday while here at the hotel and I hope that I make it.

 

[Murray White]

later tonight now after doing a bit of afternoon editing and eating supper at Montana's and a phone call with Paul. Just few to put up now from the ABS dinner (which was very good) and then more editing after that.

Here is the photo of all the JS recipients.

L to R they are David Sloan, Dwight Phillips. Michael Ruth, Paul Happy, Kerry Johns, Kinzea Thompson, Tim Tabor, James Poling, Doug Campbell, Bruce Bingenheimer

Two JS folks were elevated to Mastersmith status -- Michael Rader and Bill Buxton

Some award winners include Kyle Royer for Antique Bowie, Eva St. Cyr earned the Margaret Moran Silver Slipper Award, Tim Hancock won the WF Moran folder style Knife of the Year, Michael Ruth won George Peck Award and Michael Rader won the BR Hughes award. Also seen in this series of images are BR Hughes, his wife and Jay Hendrickson's wife as well as the recipients of their certificates as presented by ??? plus a few scenes from the tables at the banquet.

 

[Murray White]

Saturday is a seriously busy day for the show and all the seminars and demonstrations. I did not attend seminars but did get to a couple of the demos re knife throwing and sword cutting but not sure I will have time to get those images up to the forums as I want to show the main event first. Anyway, there are lots of images to follow and if others have info to add about photos or the show itself add those comments as things go along.

Alain Desalniers

shared a table with Christophe Derringer who had his typically interesting integrals available

Integral Fighter in Damascus

Anders Hogstrom seems likea pretty laid back sort of chap -- must be Swedish

He certainly makes some very fine knives of which these two look exceptionally fine

Bobby Hampton and Rich Chin created quite the stir a year ago with their Chinese steel and are back wowing the folks at Blade 2010

a bit closer examination of the knives and the product from whence it all takes shape

Charles Vestal and wife

showing his Loveless style of fighters

 

[Murray White]

Chuck Ward, Bud Richards and Jim Lewis

Donald Bell of Nova Scotia always has a fine selection of jewellry type knives for both men and ladies

it is easy to see Don's jewellry background at work in his knives

with so many fine selections one can't be sure if it is easy or diffcult to chose -- you just can't have one!!

just narrow it down a bit

Don Cowles

figures if you do something long enough you are likely to figure how to do it well and as you can see, he is right.

More of what one comes to expect from GTC

 

[Robert.B]

awesome images! wish I could have been there...would of bought some of that ivory!!!

 

[Murray White]

Herb Derr had a fine collection of his typical hunter/bowie selection available for sale

As usual, Jerry Hossom is kept busy chatting with knife enthusiasts

Anyone looking to obtain a Joe Kious knife would have no difficulty in obtaining something as this selection shows

Joe says his wait time is only 3 months currently.

The Scandanavians certainly create some very artistic knives as these by Robert Kaufmann aptly demonstrate

and another view of this interesting Bowie is worth seeing

Kevin Cross presents a couple of nice knives which caught my eye

and just for those wondering where some of the interesting handle materials came from

Paul Jarvis is alway creating something just a bit different

 

[Murray White]

one of the most interesting displays was this one and I did not get the lady's name

the name says it all

Stephen Olszewski is now offering some traditional linerlock knives in addition to his typical high end elegant gents folders

but these are often what the collector of an SO knife looks for

this one warrants a second look

as usual, Steve Rapp creates some of the best knives of the California Price Bradford Bowies one will ever see

Tom Overeynder collaborated with Brian Hochstrat to create knives for Paul Kessler and was co owner of the prize for best collaboration

something traditional from Walter Brend

Wildlife Art and Flint knives by David Semones

Many knifemakers either use or are learning the art of engraving to add more style to their knives

 

[Murray White]

One of my favorite makers is Arpad Bojtos and Phyllis visited with him

here are a couple of typically beautiful fixed blades the Arpad does

and some folders

maybe a bit of influence can be seen here??

Mike Pellegrin does not spend all his time chatting up the birds

and these efforts show just how hard he works as a knifemaker

more great knives from our Scandanavian friends -- Michael Andersson

Bobby Tools spreads success our a long way