Kohai999
Second Degree Cutter
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2003
- Messages
- 12,554
It was a tremendous Blade Show....lots of very enthusiastic attendees......the line on Friday started well into first thing in the morning, like before 7:00 am. It's just a mind-blower if you consider it.
In my nightmares, the Gates of Hell are Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Every person has their own perspective, but that is mine.
It's a $60.00 cab ride from the airport to the majority of hotels in the Cobb Galleria vicinity.
All my stuff arrived in one piece.
We stayed at the Hampton Inn up the Cobb, across from the Waffle House. $129.00/night includes a decent hot breakfast....if you are on a budget, you could do worse. I gave it 2 stars on Yelp because the construction going on at the facility was not presented to me.....and it was distracting...also, we were walking there a lot and the trek is marred by two "mandate that you run for your life" freeway entrance crossings and the fact that they turn on massive industrial sprinklers right around the time we walk back, so you play the game of "try to avoid getting soaked".
When we got to the show around 2:00 pm to set up on Thursday, there was an incredible amount of action going on. Booths were already set up and many vendors were doing brisk business. I write this not to rub anything in anyone's face, but if you wonder why, as a show attendee, that you find a lot of sold out makers.....it's because of Thursday and Thursday night in the pit. I feel like it is only going to get worse as more involved collectors and dealers make the trip on Wednesday....and get exhibitor badges. Blade Show is cashing in on both the exhibitor badges and early bird badges, both about $35.00(?). It adds up quick.
Got some pins and stickers and stuff from Tom Krein....an old buddy. am a fan of his work, have 4-5 of his knives at this point....a quite diverse array...blue/black g10 handled persian fighter, G10 slealth fixed blade, Thomas Damascus chef's knife and a down and dirty, sexy AS HELL 4.5" recurve fighter handled in OD G10. He's in the permanent collection. Wanted to give him something, and had brought a vintage Army Motorcycle pin over to his table.
We went to the CKCA banquet. Food was ok, Maggiano's is better than Olive Garden or Buca Di Beppo imo, and the bar service in the banquet room is very handy. Got to hang out with Dave Lisch a bit, and got to hang out with Ben Seward a LOT! For some reason, Ben seems to think I actually know what I am talking about, so he sends me texts of works in progress and makes a point to show me the work when it is done. Even though we are as different as two people can be(religion, age, geographical location, height/weight, preferred choice of handgun.......), we have a great time talking, and I can't think of one time Ben has pissed me off, which is a major accomplishment in and of itself.
Adam and Haley DesRosiers are one of my favorite couples in the world and hanging out with them at the banquet was tremendous.
We skipped out of the banquet shortly after the LadySmith project was discussed and headed for The Pit....where the fellow who taught me how to tattoo(P.A. Stephens of Seattle Tattoo Emporium) was waiting at the bar for me to show up and guide him where the hotel was. He is a bit older and didn't appreciate the brisk walk with exercise and water features back to the hotel. We picked up some frozen panini and used the microwave.
Finishing setup and getting ready for the show on Friday morning came pretty early, but I was up and ready to roll. We took the rental car over(P.A., Jesse Harber, currently Head of Production at Rob Thomas Damascus and myself), got parked and situated. Picked up a badge for P.A.. Also, paid Tommy Clark from Blue Ridge for a cool Johnny Stout Gemini made about 2004 or so, hand satin recurve blade of ATS-34, dual thumbstuds, purple anodized lightly orange peeled titanium bolsters and liners, dark red micarta spine with filework and Arizona Desert Ironwood scales, tip down carry....$500.00....pretty fair price!
VZ Grips was right across from us....picked up a jet black G10 set for a carry revolver.....I have a set of ebony "boot" grips for the same revolver from Hogue and they are heartachingly perfect...but they are also irreplaceable, and you can pretty much hammer nails with the G10 set.
Did some hunting around for the classic Italian automatics and there was a table setup for the current owner of Latama, Walt Halucha. Picked up a ss framed, vintage look water buffalo scaled, unique bayonet grind 11" bowtie bolster with a 5mm blade....that is almost a 1/4" thick blade....beautiful, solidly built(for an Italian.....if you want "bank vault" solid, you have to go US custom made) and serial numbered 53. Always liked the look of the classics, but they worked kinda weak, and I proved that to myself by getting an inferior 11" at the same time. Not sure what to do with it yet. When I got home, I sharpened them all to envelope opening perfection, but the points are now needles.
We were busy at Rob Thomas Damascus on Friday...really busy, and when the show closed, I was on cloud nine. Visited with a lot of friends at the show, new and old....rather than shout them all out and inadvertently forget someone, will just tip my hat to you, as you know who you are...but will say that I truly missed seeing Roger Pinnock and The Coopers. Time flies, dammit!!
Ran into 3 time World Cutting Champion Dan Keffeler on Friday morning, and wound up purchasing a modern style aikuchi from him in 3v, which I wound up swapping for an order of one with a titanium tsuba and copper seppa, as I prefer that setup, and he warmly agreed to do it.
A few years ago, there was cause for a professional issue between myself and Neil Ostroff....I failed to deliver the quality on a job that was (reasonably) expected, and Neil wound up taking it in the shorts a bit....we were able to work it out at this show, and I appreciate that. Bad blood between two(or more) professionals in this industry is not good. Thanks Neil, I do very much appreciate your friendship.
At 4:00 pm on Friday, was part of my second judging at the Blade Show.....there is nothing that compares....it is fun, it is an honor and it is truly humbling to bear witness to what human hands and a sharp mind can accomplish with tools ranging from the simplest, to the most complex....the entire range of what knifemaking comprises is in that room.
After leaving the Galleria, we went back to the room, had a few drinks, ate at Copeland's(sucked, cannot recommend it) went to The Pit....hung out with many friends and finished the evening talking with one of the best of them, Thomas Welk from Kai USA/Kershaw. Thomas gave me a really cool Double Cross liner lock made with san mai steel, and on Sunday, I left him with an interesting 10 year old Highland single malt.
Walked back to the room to close out the night..... everything was fine.....and THEN....BAM!!!! I spent the next 18 hours alternately puking and curled up in a fetal ball.
Now a few friends think I was drunk....and I probably was, but that is not what caused this reaction in me.
It's something food related and it happens from time to time, but unfortunately, it's happened twice in Atlanta...I was laid up until 6:30 pm on Saturday in bed, and at 8:30 pm Jesse and I went for takeout at Longhorn Steakhouse....I was able to keep down the Parmesan crusted Chicken breast with mashed potatoes and broccoli...THAT was pretty tasty and inexpensive, and I'd eat it again...but be forewarned....we called in the order, they said 20 minutes, we showed up at 30 minutes and waited at the bar for 20 minutes more.
Honestly, my friends who defend ATL...they have two speeds there...Slow....and....Reverse....and those who praise Delta, I spent 1/2 hour on the phone this Thursday night waiting for a live person so I could request a receipt for my flight.
Sunday morning came fast and furious, I was awake at 4:00 am, having spent most of Saturday sleeping.....so when 8:00 am came around, I was ready to ROCK!!!!
Our booth started to get busy BEFORE the show opened, and it stayed that way until the show closed.
Got to visit some more with Dan Keffeler, and we talked a bit more about design and use. Dan knows what he wants to do with each design, and I vastly prefer his work as it gets closer to Japanese Traditional. The FACT that he has proven that he CAN design it, and that it will perform at a top level is significant. So many makers reject what they CANNOT or DON'T want to do in that arena....demonstrating superior execution and doing it the way you want to after doing should not be overstated....copy the masters, and find your own way...don't try to go it without that route or you re-invent the wheel at every turn. I have seen so many benefits to people examining the past and improving on it, that it doesn't even enter my mind as a viable alternative to do it the other way. To pretend that you live in a vacuum.
Got a chance to walk around very briefly on Sunday.....and spoke with Serge Panchenko at his table, which I was 1/2 looking forward to and 1/2 dreading because had been told by friends that Serge's lovely wife was not a fan of my musings.
Overall she does not appear to be.
We disagree about the term "piece of "sh..poop" as applies to a knife. I think a knife can be a "piece of sh..poop". She's cool.....allowed me my bit and let me leave under my own power. I enjoyed the conversation.
Forumite "Haze" made the long trip from either Taiwan or Scotland(he lives in both) to attend Blade and we met up on Sunday morning at my booth. We were supposed to hang out in Scotland for an evening about 4 years ago as we both were in Edinburgh at the same time, but it didn't work out. If you ever hear a short. muscular man with a virtually indecipherable brogue in The Pit, it's probably him. Sorry that we did not get a chance to visit more, but I am delighted to have even had 5 minutes face to face....a "credit to the knife community" is a phrase that comes to mind.
Had a lot of folks come by the booth that were new to me, so that was nice. NOT having the ability or need to try and see everything was calming and gave me focus. Enjoyed a nice conversation with Wm C. "Bill" Johnson. Had never had the opportunity before.
Before you know it, the show was over.....lights and a/c off. Unlike some years, working with Rob Thomas Damascus with 4 people working in the booth, we accomplished breakdown in just about an hour and were at the liquor store to pick up celebratory booze by 3:30 pm. We went to dinner at the aforementioned Ted's Montana grill. Started with the Trout dip...smoked in house, roasted Anaheim Peppers, fresh lime, cilantro, southwestern spices, ciabatta toast, tortilla chips. It was good, not great. Then, I ordered the buffalo ribeye....frikkk, they salted the ever loving f out of it, and it had some serious fat issues, buffalo is supposed to be lean and is best served on the rarer side...I asked for medium...it was cooked dead on for buffalo. The potato and broccoli were fine. We had a chocolate cake dessert...it was "ok". Our server was Kelsey(sp?), I think...she was way cool. Came over to the show after her shift was over.
I spent a bunch of time talking with Chad Nichols in the bar with a friend of his. Chad has become a really good friend over the years...I like his work(it's different than what we do in many ways), like his mind and I love his company, as, unless hung over, he makes me laugh more than just about anyone on the planet right now. Chad isn't funny like a clown, he is funny like hanging out with a good friend whose outlook on life is as good natured and casual as it is bizarre. Chad is not a young guy and he skateboards....that's what I am talking about! Hopefully, there are enough of you out there who have skated or do skate to "get it". Not rollerblades....skateboards.
Went up to Matt Diskin's suite to check it out.....didn't know that they had suites like this at the Waverly Radisson....pure Las Vegas baller suite...if you have the means, I highly recommend it.
Said goodbye to a bunch of my friends, and made the long walk back to the room...walking by yourself to a hotel room on the Cobb parkway after midnight on a Sunday is lonely...peaceful, but lonely.
Got back to the room, started packing up my shtuff and took a car to the airport at 1:30 pm on Monday. Home by 6:00 pm...gotta love it! Checked bag weighed 48 lbs on the way out, and 49 lbs on the way back...SCORE!!
Acquisitions at Blade 2015 for me were:
A premium curly maple pipe hawk handle from Hawkins Knife Supply
VZ grips, black G10 for compact revolver
Italian stiletto, b/w water buffalo horn handle, 11"
Latama Italian stiletto b/w water buffalo horn, 11"
Italian stiletto, honey cow horn, 13"
Johnny Stout Gemini, Arizona Ironwood handle
Mark Knapp Coastal Ulu in AUS-8 and stabilized feather crotch American black walnut w/matching stand
Kershaw Double Cross Classic Liner Lock Folder in black micarta and san mai(Gift from a friend)
Antique wax seal stamp with my initials from Matt Diskin, picked up in France...I love my friends!!!.....
Wound up ordering an aikuchi from Dan Keffeler....looking forward to having that in hand!
A lot of great fun and priceless memories.
When I was talking with Gus Kalanzis on Thursday, was discussing the "correction" in the tactical market....and how it is ongoing and very much with us now.
The Todd Rexford/Tom Mayo level of knifemakers(the top) continue to command high prices....and the new guys are doing ok.....but the middle of the market is ALL over the place, and there is no consistency to pricing that I can see on the aftermarket...some bottom level prices and top level prices for the same maker. I advise a "hold" on the question marks, a "sell" and FAST on anything that is not blue chip if you can get your price and a WAIT until a clearer picture emerges on where things are at right now.
As an aside to that...if you like GTC Knives.....buy NOW because I only see the prices going up, and demand is for sure greater than supply....this I know.
Best Regards,
STeven Garsson
In my nightmares, the Gates of Hell are Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Every person has their own perspective, but that is mine.
It's a $60.00 cab ride from the airport to the majority of hotels in the Cobb Galleria vicinity.
All my stuff arrived in one piece.
We stayed at the Hampton Inn up the Cobb, across from the Waffle House. $129.00/night includes a decent hot breakfast....if you are on a budget, you could do worse. I gave it 2 stars on Yelp because the construction going on at the facility was not presented to me.....and it was distracting...also, we were walking there a lot and the trek is marred by two "mandate that you run for your life" freeway entrance crossings and the fact that they turn on massive industrial sprinklers right around the time we walk back, so you play the game of "try to avoid getting soaked".
When we got to the show around 2:00 pm to set up on Thursday, there was an incredible amount of action going on. Booths were already set up and many vendors were doing brisk business. I write this not to rub anything in anyone's face, but if you wonder why, as a show attendee, that you find a lot of sold out makers.....it's because of Thursday and Thursday night in the pit. I feel like it is only going to get worse as more involved collectors and dealers make the trip on Wednesday....and get exhibitor badges. Blade Show is cashing in on both the exhibitor badges and early bird badges, both about $35.00(?). It adds up quick.
Got some pins and stickers and stuff from Tom Krein....an old buddy. am a fan of his work, have 4-5 of his knives at this point....a quite diverse array...blue/black g10 handled persian fighter, G10 slealth fixed blade, Thomas Damascus chef's knife and a down and dirty, sexy AS HELL 4.5" recurve fighter handled in OD G10. He's in the permanent collection. Wanted to give him something, and had brought a vintage Army Motorcycle pin over to his table.
We went to the CKCA banquet. Food was ok, Maggiano's is better than Olive Garden or Buca Di Beppo imo, and the bar service in the banquet room is very handy. Got to hang out with Dave Lisch a bit, and got to hang out with Ben Seward a LOT! For some reason, Ben seems to think I actually know what I am talking about, so he sends me texts of works in progress and makes a point to show me the work when it is done. Even though we are as different as two people can be(religion, age, geographical location, height/weight, preferred choice of handgun.......), we have a great time talking, and I can't think of one time Ben has pissed me off, which is a major accomplishment in and of itself.
Adam and Haley DesRosiers are one of my favorite couples in the world and hanging out with them at the banquet was tremendous.
We skipped out of the banquet shortly after the LadySmith project was discussed and headed for The Pit....where the fellow who taught me how to tattoo(P.A. Stephens of Seattle Tattoo Emporium) was waiting at the bar for me to show up and guide him where the hotel was. He is a bit older and didn't appreciate the brisk walk with exercise and water features back to the hotel. We picked up some frozen panini and used the microwave.
Finishing setup and getting ready for the show on Friday morning came pretty early, but I was up and ready to roll. We took the rental car over(P.A., Jesse Harber, currently Head of Production at Rob Thomas Damascus and myself), got parked and situated. Picked up a badge for P.A.. Also, paid Tommy Clark from Blue Ridge for a cool Johnny Stout Gemini made about 2004 or so, hand satin recurve blade of ATS-34, dual thumbstuds, purple anodized lightly orange peeled titanium bolsters and liners, dark red micarta spine with filework and Arizona Desert Ironwood scales, tip down carry....$500.00....pretty fair price!
VZ Grips was right across from us....picked up a jet black G10 set for a carry revolver.....I have a set of ebony "boot" grips for the same revolver from Hogue and they are heartachingly perfect...but they are also irreplaceable, and you can pretty much hammer nails with the G10 set.
Did some hunting around for the classic Italian automatics and there was a table setup for the current owner of Latama, Walt Halucha. Picked up a ss framed, vintage look water buffalo scaled, unique bayonet grind 11" bowtie bolster with a 5mm blade....that is almost a 1/4" thick blade....beautiful, solidly built(for an Italian.....if you want "bank vault" solid, you have to go US custom made) and serial numbered 53. Always liked the look of the classics, but they worked kinda weak, and I proved that to myself by getting an inferior 11" at the same time. Not sure what to do with it yet. When I got home, I sharpened them all to envelope opening perfection, but the points are now needles.
We were busy at Rob Thomas Damascus on Friday...really busy, and when the show closed, I was on cloud nine. Visited with a lot of friends at the show, new and old....rather than shout them all out and inadvertently forget someone, will just tip my hat to you, as you know who you are...but will say that I truly missed seeing Roger Pinnock and The Coopers. Time flies, dammit!!
Ran into 3 time World Cutting Champion Dan Keffeler on Friday morning, and wound up purchasing a modern style aikuchi from him in 3v, which I wound up swapping for an order of one with a titanium tsuba and copper seppa, as I prefer that setup, and he warmly agreed to do it.
A few years ago, there was cause for a professional issue between myself and Neil Ostroff....I failed to deliver the quality on a job that was (reasonably) expected, and Neil wound up taking it in the shorts a bit....we were able to work it out at this show, and I appreciate that. Bad blood between two(or more) professionals in this industry is not good. Thanks Neil, I do very much appreciate your friendship.
At 4:00 pm on Friday, was part of my second judging at the Blade Show.....there is nothing that compares....it is fun, it is an honor and it is truly humbling to bear witness to what human hands and a sharp mind can accomplish with tools ranging from the simplest, to the most complex....the entire range of what knifemaking comprises is in that room.
After leaving the Galleria, we went back to the room, had a few drinks, ate at Copeland's(sucked, cannot recommend it) went to The Pit....hung out with many friends and finished the evening talking with one of the best of them, Thomas Welk from Kai USA/Kershaw. Thomas gave me a really cool Double Cross liner lock made with san mai steel, and on Sunday, I left him with an interesting 10 year old Highland single malt.
Walked back to the room to close out the night..... everything was fine.....and THEN....BAM!!!! I spent the next 18 hours alternately puking and curled up in a fetal ball.
Now a few friends think I was drunk....and I probably was, but that is not what caused this reaction in me.
It's something food related and it happens from time to time, but unfortunately, it's happened twice in Atlanta...I was laid up until 6:30 pm on Saturday in bed, and at 8:30 pm Jesse and I went for takeout at Longhorn Steakhouse....I was able to keep down the Parmesan crusted Chicken breast with mashed potatoes and broccoli...THAT was pretty tasty and inexpensive, and I'd eat it again...but be forewarned....we called in the order, they said 20 minutes, we showed up at 30 minutes and waited at the bar for 20 minutes more.
Honestly, my friends who defend ATL...they have two speeds there...Slow....and....Reverse....and those who praise Delta, I spent 1/2 hour on the phone this Thursday night waiting for a live person so I could request a receipt for my flight.
Sunday morning came fast and furious, I was awake at 4:00 am, having spent most of Saturday sleeping.....so when 8:00 am came around, I was ready to ROCK!!!!
Our booth started to get busy BEFORE the show opened, and it stayed that way until the show closed.
Got to visit some more with Dan Keffeler, and we talked a bit more about design and use. Dan knows what he wants to do with each design, and I vastly prefer his work as it gets closer to Japanese Traditional. The FACT that he has proven that he CAN design it, and that it will perform at a top level is significant. So many makers reject what they CANNOT or DON'T want to do in that arena....demonstrating superior execution and doing it the way you want to after doing should not be overstated....copy the masters, and find your own way...don't try to go it without that route or you re-invent the wheel at every turn. I have seen so many benefits to people examining the past and improving on it, that it doesn't even enter my mind as a viable alternative to do it the other way. To pretend that you live in a vacuum.
Got a chance to walk around very briefly on Sunday.....and spoke with Serge Panchenko at his table, which I was 1/2 looking forward to and 1/2 dreading because had been told by friends that Serge's lovely wife was not a fan of my musings.
Overall she does not appear to be.
We disagree about the term "piece of "sh..poop" as applies to a knife. I think a knife can be a "piece of sh..poop". She's cool.....allowed me my bit and let me leave under my own power. I enjoyed the conversation.
Forumite "Haze" made the long trip from either Taiwan or Scotland(he lives in both) to attend Blade and we met up on Sunday morning at my booth. We were supposed to hang out in Scotland for an evening about 4 years ago as we both were in Edinburgh at the same time, but it didn't work out. If you ever hear a short. muscular man with a virtually indecipherable brogue in The Pit, it's probably him. Sorry that we did not get a chance to visit more, but I am delighted to have even had 5 minutes face to face....a "credit to the knife community" is a phrase that comes to mind.
Had a lot of folks come by the booth that were new to me, so that was nice. NOT having the ability or need to try and see everything was calming and gave me focus. Enjoyed a nice conversation with Wm C. "Bill" Johnson. Had never had the opportunity before.
Before you know it, the show was over.....lights and a/c off. Unlike some years, working with Rob Thomas Damascus with 4 people working in the booth, we accomplished breakdown in just about an hour and were at the liquor store to pick up celebratory booze by 3:30 pm. We went to dinner at the aforementioned Ted's Montana grill. Started with the Trout dip...smoked in house, roasted Anaheim Peppers, fresh lime, cilantro, southwestern spices, ciabatta toast, tortilla chips. It was good, not great. Then, I ordered the buffalo ribeye....frikkk, they salted the ever loving f out of it, and it had some serious fat issues, buffalo is supposed to be lean and is best served on the rarer side...I asked for medium...it was cooked dead on for buffalo. The potato and broccoli were fine. We had a chocolate cake dessert...it was "ok". Our server was Kelsey(sp?), I think...she was way cool. Came over to the show after her shift was over.
I spent a bunch of time talking with Chad Nichols in the bar with a friend of his. Chad has become a really good friend over the years...I like his work(it's different than what we do in many ways), like his mind and I love his company, as, unless hung over, he makes me laugh more than just about anyone on the planet right now. Chad isn't funny like a clown, he is funny like hanging out with a good friend whose outlook on life is as good natured and casual as it is bizarre. Chad is not a young guy and he skateboards....that's what I am talking about! Hopefully, there are enough of you out there who have skated or do skate to "get it". Not rollerblades....skateboards.
Went up to Matt Diskin's suite to check it out.....didn't know that they had suites like this at the Waverly Radisson....pure Las Vegas baller suite...if you have the means, I highly recommend it.
Said goodbye to a bunch of my friends, and made the long walk back to the room...walking by yourself to a hotel room on the Cobb parkway after midnight on a Sunday is lonely...peaceful, but lonely.
Got back to the room, started packing up my shtuff and took a car to the airport at 1:30 pm on Monday. Home by 6:00 pm...gotta love it! Checked bag weighed 48 lbs on the way out, and 49 lbs on the way back...SCORE!!
Acquisitions at Blade 2015 for me were:
A premium curly maple pipe hawk handle from Hawkins Knife Supply
VZ grips, black G10 for compact revolver
Italian stiletto, b/w water buffalo horn handle, 11"
Latama Italian stiletto b/w water buffalo horn, 11"
Italian stiletto, honey cow horn, 13"
Johnny Stout Gemini, Arizona Ironwood handle
Mark Knapp Coastal Ulu in AUS-8 and stabilized feather crotch American black walnut w/matching stand
Kershaw Double Cross Classic Liner Lock Folder in black micarta and san mai(Gift from a friend)
Antique wax seal stamp with my initials from Matt Diskin, picked up in France...I love my friends!!!.....
Wound up ordering an aikuchi from Dan Keffeler....looking forward to having that in hand!
A lot of great fun and priceless memories.
When I was talking with Gus Kalanzis on Thursday, was discussing the "correction" in the tactical market....and how it is ongoing and very much with us now.
The Todd Rexford/Tom Mayo level of knifemakers(the top) continue to command high prices....and the new guys are doing ok.....but the middle of the market is ALL over the place, and there is no consistency to pricing that I can see on the aftermarket...some bottom level prices and top level prices for the same maker. I advise a "hold" on the question marks, a "sell" and FAST on anything that is not blue chip if you can get your price and a WAIT until a clearer picture emerges on where things are at right now.
As an aside to that...if you like GTC Knives.....buy NOW because I only see the prices going up, and demand is for sure greater than supply....this I know.
Best Regards,
STeven Garsson
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