Blade Show advice

carbon2329

carbon2329

Joined
Mar 22, 2017
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I'm thinking of attending Blade show for the first time and want your advice.

I know going to blade show is about getting exposed to makers and new things etc..etc...,(and I want to do that)
However, what I really want is to do is buy some knives that I want like Grimsmo, Peña, Thorburn, Herucus Blomerus, Shirogorov, Begg, Curtiss, Medford, Brian Nadeau, Ramon Chavez, Boos, and more.

What I don't want to do is show up and see knives and not be able to buy any. ($400-$1600 range--I don't want safe-queens).So I don't want makers "best" and fanciest knives. I may want that model but in the EDC version/price range (i.e.I don't want a Darrel Ralph Dominator with damascus scales and blade ...I want one wth plain scales and a satin blade, and that's it ;)

What should I expect to be able to get (from makers like I listed above). Do I Stand a chance at getting more than one or two, or am I showing up to put my name in a dozen hats.
What is the show really like for a person who wants to buy some specific makers and not just wander around?
Thanks a ton.
Kindest regards,
 
First off, I would suggest getting in as soon as you can, as knives go quick. Also, if you can stay in the same hotel that the show is in, do it!! A lot of knives get sold in the "Pit", which is at the bar in the hotel. Get yourself a map of the show floor (Check out Blade Magazine), so when you get to the show you can go straight to the makers that you want to see & buy a knife from. Cash is king!!

It is a huge show. Some people get overwhelmed, and some don't. I did not get overwhelemed or sensory overloaded. Where comfy shoes, and drink a lot of water!

Another thing: DO NOT BRING KNIVES TO SELL!! This is called brown bagging, and is VERY much frowned upon. People pay a lot of money to have a table to seel their knives, and it is disrespectful to brown bag.
 
Plan ahead as the the table locations (#'s) that you want to hit first. Then go there immediately upon arrival. You can download a floor plan and list of vendors of the show from the Blade website. It is first come first serve as with most shows. Certain custom/handmade knife makes will sell all of their product they have the first day. So, get there Friday if you are serious about buying.

Take cash, but also many will accept debit and credit cards. There are also ATM's at the show.
I also suggest you stay at one of the hotels at the show location. Costs a bit more, but you won't have to worry about parking and THAT can be a problem at times (eats up a lot of time and sometimes a pretty long hike to the door).

Most makers plan ahead for the show and have a pretty good amount of product with them. But it depends on the knife maker.
Skip any plans on horse trading one of your knives for something at the show unless it is something really special. Unlike gun shows, you are not likely to see folks selling knives outside the show.
Buy your tickets ahead of time if possible to avoid the line. I don't but generally speaking 15 minutes one way or the other doesn't mean much to me and I never know for sure what day(s) I am attending.

I attend most years lately. I started attending in 1991.
 
I was also going to attend, just to purchase knives, BUT, I started figuring up my expenses for travel, hotel, food and tickets for the wife and I and figured it was gonna cost me circa $1K before I bought my first knife and decided to forego the show and use the 1K to buy more knives...it would be nice to touch things first but this way is less stressful and I get to buy more stuff...

Cheers/bg
 
Bmgillum, you don't need to fly to Atlanta. It is not that bad of a drive from Somerset KY. Just plan on spending the night in Atlanta.
 
carbon2329 said:
I'm thinking of attending Blade show for the first time and want your advice.
I know going to blade show is about getting exposed to makers and new things etc..etc...,(and I want to do that)
However, what I really want is to do is buy some knives that I want like Grimsmo, Peña, Thorburn, Herucus Blomerus, Shirogorov, Begg, Curtiss, Medford, Brian Nadeau, Ramon Chavez, Boos, and more.
Click to expand...

Both Rucus and Andre will have knives for sale at the show but I cannot say what they are. They do sell very fast. You need to be there early.
 
Darrel Ralph takes orders. If you want something specific, knife shows are not the best place to get it. You can only buy (a) if the maker's there and (b) what's for sale on the table when you walk by. Blade Show pieces are usually full price as well.
 
That makes sense. I don't mind getting what is available, I just want something to be available :) (as long as it's not a model that is gold plated (i.e. Not an EDC piece)
I actually don't mind full price, because it seems like many are usually twice that on the second market (exaggerating, for most, but for some like Grimsmo the secondary market is $1800 for a $800 piece)
I actually found the perfect Norseman....for $1800 :hopelessness::)
It sounds like it will be very hit and miss or if I want 7-8 pieces, I may get 1-3 of them.
 
brownshoe said:
Darrel Ralph takes orders. If you want something specific, knife shows are not the best place to get it. You can only buy (a) if the maker's there and (b) what's for sale on the table when you walk by. Blade Show pieces are usually full price as well.
Click to expand...

Until all the flippers get back and then they're here on the Exchange at significant markup. :thumbup:
 
As others have said, if you want something specific and it's a hot commodity, you're going to want to be there as early as possible Friday. Don't show up Saturday afternoon and expect a huge selection of hot items. The only things that will be available will be whatever lottery knives there are, at which point you're buying a ticket and hoping to score. BLADE is a lot of fun, and you will see a lot of super cool stuff. Just understand that there's a lot of behind the scenes trading that goes on where inside folks will be able to get their hands on things you never even saw available. Be sure to take lots of pictures!
 
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