Blade Show Atlanta 2026

zmbhntr said:
Dammit, my sheath doesn't fit!

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Nothing like QUALITY Leather!!
 
Redclay said:
I got in the early bird line at 4am and by the time I got to the table, there were only 2 hand ground FK3’s left out of all the hand ground offerings…

Looks like you have to camp out early in the week to get an assigned line number to have a shot these days!
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Dayum. In apx 2010 4am got me very first in line for the entire show. Doors were locked & Employees coming to work had to let us in. While standing in line other employees were shitty and asked how we got inside 😂
 
While standing first in prior mentioned line a bud(nemisis 😂) text me in front of the booth I planned to attack first,, laughing asking where I was 🤬 Oddly enough during that moment Chuck G, an exhibitor was talking with us and asked us if we wanted exhibitor passes. A few mins later before the show started I walked up next to that sob Roenman and said hello 😂🤣
 
jquest1 said:
Made it to Blade Show - a first for me. While I had an early bird pass, I wasn't at the booth early enough to pick up a LC, but I did grab one of the last FK3's and really appreciated the short conversation with Nate!
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Exhibitors coming to the table before the Early Bird gets in is a problem. We had dozens of Choppers and I don't think any of them were available to anybody. We're going to have to work on that
 
Redclay said:
I got in the early bird line at 4am and by the time I got to the table, there were only 2 hand ground FK3’s left out of all the hand ground offerings…

Looks like you have to camp out early in the week to get an assigned line number to have a shot these days!
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I hate to hear this. Every year is more bananas than the last. But clearly I need to figure something out because if you've camped out in the early bird line since 4:00 a.m. you need to be able to get what you want.

Ugh
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
I hate to hear this. Every year is more bananas than the last. But clearly I need to figure something out because if you've camped out in the early bird line since 4:00 a.m. you need to be able to get what you want.

Ugh
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Unfortunately there are not any good alternative options because at the expense of being fair to the really early bird type retail buyers who had camped out, you will then take the chance at the expense of your own bottom line, of missing out on the guaranteed sales when those professional buyers with exhibitors passes and caboodles of cash stuffed in their carry ons, show up first to claim first dibs at the opening bell! It is unfortunate but the ardent retail buyers must also realize that you are running an expanding business in this already tough environment and because you are responsible for your own family and that of your co-workers / employees, you must concentrate on the bottom-line when attending these shows.

For those of us who are absolutely impaired when it comes to attending any events of yours, thank goodness that there are pre-orders and the regular Fridays sales. Your annual October events at the CPK Compound seem to be quite a fair compromise for those who rather show up at yours instead of dealing with the hustle and bustle of these Blade Shows in ATL.

TL; DR: don't over think it :P
 
Casinostocks said:
Unfortunately there are not any good alternative options because at the expense of being fair to the really early bird type retail buyers who had camped out, you will then take the chance at the expense of your own bottom line, of missing out on the guaranteed sales when those professional buyers with exhibitors passes and caboodles of cash stuffed in their carry ons, show up first to claim first dibs at the opening bell! It is unfortunate but the ardent retail buyers must also realize that you are running an expanding business in this already tough environment and because you are responsible for your own family and that of your co-workers / employees, you must concentrate on the bottom-line when attending these shows.

For those of us who are absolutely impaired when it comes to attending any events of yours, thank goodness that there are pre-orders and the regular Fridays sales. Your annual October events at the CPK Compound seem to be quite a fair compromise for those who rather show up at yours instead of dealing with the hustle and bustle of these Blade Shows in ATL.

TL; DR: don't over think it :P
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More and more people are forgoing the blade show and coming to the outlaw cut in october. For the CPK crowd. It's easier to get knives and it's a cool environment where you get to meet everyone and actually play with some of the knives on a blade Sports cut. And I will feed you, you don't have to go out into Atlanta traffic.
 
There are several makers that don’t allow exhibitors to purchase bc they want to give the most loyal and hardcore fans a chance at getting a knife that they normally cannot get. Chris Reeve for instance doesn’t allow exhibitors to buy as well as EKnives would not allow other exhibitors to buy their exclusive CRK Zaan during the early bird hour.

I don’t beleive there is a universe where Carothers doesn’t sell out of all their special knives within the first 15 minutes of Bladeshow even if they don’t allow other exhibitors to buy anything so the risk to the bottom line is .00001%, I did the math, it adds up. 🤣🤣🤣

I’ve never seen custom CPKs or one off CPKs on a Friday sale so that doesn’t help.

Just don’t allow other exhibitors to buy until Early bird hour is over.
 
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Nathan the Machinist said:
Exhibitors coming to the table before the Early Bird gets in is a problem. We had dozens of Choppers and I don't think any of them were available to anybody. We're going to have to work on that
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John Phillips said:
There are several makers that don’t allow exhibitors to purchase bc they want to give the most loyal and hardcore fans a chance at getting a knife that they normally cannot get. Chris Reeve for instance doesn’t allow exhibitors to buy as well as EKnives would not allow other exhibitors to buy their exclusive CRK Zaan during the early bird hour.

I don’t beleive there is a universe where Carothers doesn’t sell out of all their special knives within the first 15 minutes of Bladeshow even if they don’t allow other exhibitors to buy anything so the risk to the bottom line is .00001%, I did the math, it adds up. 🤣🤣🤣

I’ve never seen custom CPKs or one off CPKs on a Friday sale so that doesn’t help.

Just don’t allow other exhibitors to buy until Early bird hour is over.
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I usually have an exhibitor pass and I never go for FCFS. It does feel unfair.

ETA: this is also the reason I didn’t get a hand ground CPK this year 🤣
 
jquest1 said:
Made it to Blade Show - a first for me. While I had an early bird pass, I wasn't at the booth early enough to pick up a LC, but I did grab one of the last FK3's and really appreciated the short conversation with Nate!
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Choppers were available, I was at the table at 10:01 and there were plenty of Choppers available at that time, LC and SC and there were some still a few at 10:20-10:30. I had a couple in hand for a while before choosing one and didn't feel rushed, so if you went directly there you should have easily gotten one.

That said, the Scrimgeour SCR15s, DEKs, UFs and other other unique desirables were all taken by Exhibitors well before any passholders were let into the room, disheartening. I did manage to score a DEK1 by luck - there were two DEKs among a large number of customs an exhibitor had piled in front of him, as yet unpaid for. I noticed the DEKs and asked if he'd let me buy one and he was kind enough to oblige. When I asked about mine, he looked at the two. I pointed out the other had the desirable swedge and he said he hadn't noticed, since he had just grabbed a bunch of stuff (~10 items).

Observations: I was told by an exhibitor friend that the event doesn't allow sales before the doors open - impossible to enforce and they don't really care. Every popular maker's table has its own unique drama and being a former custom tactical folding knife collector, I've seen a lot of drama. CPK offers knives regularly on Fridays to everyone. I used to get frustrated because I wasn't fast enough for those sales, but I practiced a bunch and have been able to get a couple. Sadly, if CPKs were easy to get I probably wouldn't want them as much. Scarcity causes demand and people want what they can't have and CPK is in an enviable position. Their production volume is just large enough that you'll get something if you try. Their model is good and sustainable. I'd disagree with Nathan's statement that Outlaw Cut is easier to buy at. I was in the competition, did poorly, and ended up being about #30 in line for a choice of one knife. I think Blade is better if you want to buy their knives if that table is your priority at the show and you run there! :)
 
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Here's an easy hack. 3 guys split the cost for the cheapest exhibitor table, which I believe is $500 for a less desirable location.
Then "oops, the shipping company screwed us, our stuff isn't here".
Stroll over to the CPK table with your exhibitor passes and knock yourself out.
 
dericdesmond said:
Dayum. In apx 2010 4am got me very first in line for the entire show. Doors were locked & Employees coming to work had to let us in. While standing in line other employees were shitty and asked how we got inside 😂
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And you had a beer in line and had security called on you you bad boy 😂. You were taking a piss when they came looking for you and had to chug the beer you had in your hands when you came back 😂

I picked up this custom Basic 5 off the table at the end of Friday. I walked past it 20+ times and no one grabbed it, I ended up buying it just out of principle at that point

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This Blade Show was definitely the best out of the 3 I've attended . I made an extra $300 delivering a couple CB transmitters to Arkansas , then the guy met me right off I 40 which saved 6 hours off my planned trip put me in Atlanta a day early ..got a room jumped in line for early early entry was there 10 minutes when the numbers were given out .. got #30 !
Thursday I got to hang with Mark and his wife a bit Friday met Redclay Redclay and his dad in line then we hung out for a while John Phillips John Phillips was there too (all great people btw)
Got to chat with Jo , Nathan and Mark a little more than usual since Saturday was a slow day . Finally ran down WValtakis WValtakis got to chat for a minute ( his work really pops in person like jewelry 😲 ).
I even got to buy a few knives .. almost forgot Steven65 Steven65 what a wealth of knowledge and just so pleasant to talk to he is definitely :cool: Last but not least cpirtle cpirtle was there letting us know whats up in the sheath world always great to talk to Chad
 
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