Blade Show experience!!!

NickWheeler

NickWheeler

Joined
Dec 3, 1999
Messages
9,437
Wow, what a show!!!

I don't even know how to articulate what an awesome week-end I just had.

Chuck Bybee, Tom Ferry, Bill Cottrell, and I all flew into Atlanta on Thursday. I had not gone to bed at all, and left for Bill's at 2:30 a.m.

We unpacked Thursday and then I took off to meet and greet folks from here and makers I've always wanted to meet. That list is sooooo long!

Jerry Fisk was very easy to talk with and agreed to look at my knives the next day. So on Friday I got help and pointers from Greg Neely and Jerry, then went on to ask darn near every other mastersmith I could to look at them. What a great learning experience!!! Thank you guys!!!

I got to meet Bill Moran and even brought him over to our table to look at TImascus (pattern welded titanium).

My good friend Sandy (sheath maker extraordinare) came and I am excited as he has some very amazing news that I hope he shares with you all here.

The most fun part of the show was "The Pit." This was where all the makers, collectors, and knife nuts would gather together and talk after the show each day. I stayed out there late on Thursday night, ALL night on Friday, late Saturday, and ALL night Sunday. This is staying up talking knives, life, and anything between with world class folks.

This was sooooo much fun!!!
I sure hope I can go and have a table next year!!!
Nick
 
Glad you had fun Nick. A few more long weekends like that though, will make you old before your time. :eek: :D
 
Alrite Nick..
Glad you got to go this year.I am like you at these events,can't sleep for the whole weekend and when L get home I am so pumped I head to the shop for a few days then it all catches up and I have to sleep for a day..But it is worth it to me..I will be going next year and hope to get to meet you then..
Bruce
 
Nick, glad to get to meet you and talk to you a while. Us old guys got to watch out, we'll be gettin run over by these young guys. Looking forward to the next time. mike
 
Good to meet you too Mike!

I hope I didn't offend anyone by not putting down the names of everyone I met there. I figured it would take up so much band-width I'd get yelled at.

By the way, Mike here was extremely gracious and very friendly. He did not hesitate to help me out with my questions and he's doing some of the cleanest work amonst the mastersmith's. His mortised handles will blow your mind (if they don't fool you first ;) ).

Thanks guys! :D
Nick
 
Nick, my friend---the photos I took of you and Chuck Bybee and Bill Cottrell came out well. I will get copies and send them to each of you. The picture of you and I came out the best (Naturally considering the subject matter!) As for the exciting news in regards to me---I think it a little too premature to release at this time. I am a firm believer that the bird in hand is worth two in the (bush. I'll wait to see if the follow up is as described
 
The guy is TOO talented, too young, too good looking, and WAY too nice... He absolutely MUST be done away with... I am talking to some guys, they say for $1500 he will just GO AWAY!!!!
Nick you are a fantastic young man, and highly talented... The world is yours... I am PISSED you didnt mention meeting me tho..HAHAHAHA
 
Trace,

I too expected a much older gentleman!! It's always fun putting a face with a name!!! :) Nick must have started making knives in 3rd grade!!!!!!



Neil
 
Neil if he has even more impressive stuff next year, and is sporting around a fine trophy girlfriend or something he's had it...;) :D :D
 
Oh man, I go and say something nice (but true :p ) about Trace in the custom forum and I find this over here.... he's gonna have me snuffed out!!! :D :D :D

I'll take it as a big compliment, thanks Trace!

Not blowing sunshine or anything, but meeting Trace and Neil at Blade was one of those, look at the name tag...think for about a millisecond..."HEY, Trace Rinaldi!!!" "Hey, you're Neil Blackwood!!!" "I love your stuff!!!"

I can't say enough great stuff about all you guys' knives and just plain being great people.

As far as Alana...yep, she's a hottie, and she's WAAAY nicer than me ;) I'm a lucky guy. I didn't get my knives sent out in time, so she took them to Fed-Ex and shipped them next-day air to me at the hotel. When I got the box it had my knives, a card, candy, and a stuffed animal in it! (maybe not real manly, but how many guys get treated that well?)...

Thanks Guys!!!
Nick
 
So now you guys know why Im always mad at Nick Wheeler. He has it all and now a knock-out girlfriend.
 
Trace--I have heard it rumored around by some less than happy knifemakers, that there is an auction type bidding about to remove this upstanding and outstanding young man from the scene to the lowest bidder! The major concern here is the ability to protect that bidder! This would be tantamount to removing a national treasure and would meet with great opposition. I would not care to be the bidder that won the contract as I assume that that person would be gone--but not missed! I can readily understand that he has a girlfriend with all the right qualitys, foxy, intelligent, beautiful, compassionate, witty, as they are compatible with the qualitys displayed by this young gentleman. (I am so damn jealous I do not understand how I am able to write this!)----except for the fact that I am so mature (ancient) that I have no fear of repercussions. You now have my permission to eat your hearts out---while I try to digest mine! Sandy
 
Hey Nick,That is really cool of the new girl friend to do for you.It may not seem manly to some,but deep down all men like that little attention from the other sex..
Now as for the problem of someone going to SNUFF nick..I am Voluntering myself as his appointed BODY GUARD :cool:
Gotta save guys with talent like his,maybe some of it will rub off on me:D
Bruce
 
Cant even fun around anymore:) I wouldnt have Nick Whacked! I may want to learn how to do some of that fancy stuff he does someday.. I am sure he will help me out, since as I said he's SO NICE!!!
Great talent, and NOT A DROP of Attitude in this kid... Stay that way Nick!! Now if you get all swelled headed, and attitudinal, I still have Bruno's number..HAHAHAHA... Also Nick the Card, Candy and Stuffed animal thing was just over the top..:barf: Thats TOO SWEET....
 
I didn't think you guys would really want to whack Nick....A nail Brush as protection,Sure;) it is just what is in the other hand that is steel and sharp that someoone would have to look out for:eek: :D
Heck I was just trying to get in on the fun here and help Nick pick back...
Bruce
 
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