Blade Show West...I just got back

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bpman

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Aug 7, 2001
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189
Greetings all..

As the subject line states...I just got back from the Blade Show West. Definitely NOT the best show I have ever been to. If you have ever been to the East Coast Knife Collectors Show..in New York..you would never be satisfied with this show. I can't quite put my finger on what is wrong with it (this being my second time going to it)..I think it sort of has the feel that most...NOT ALL..knifemakers are bringing the stuff they don't sell during the year. The variety just simply is not there. A very brief rundown and this is obviously just my opinion....

Reeves Knives....nice Sebenzas...same line of one-piecers.

Tops Knives......Great quality...great prices...lot's of variations

Mission Knives...Same blades you see in every one of their ads

Criswell Swords..Nice swords..nice prices

Strider Knives...Too expensive for what they offer

Tim Hancock......Beautiful knives...way too rich for my blood plus
he only had 5 example of his work, which is better
than 2 years ago when he only had 2

Wayne Goddard....Nice blades...decent variety

Emerson Knives...Same old...same old

Bob Lay..........Awesome bowies at great prices..check this guy out!

Mike Irie........His stuff is ok..but he did not have a lot of it.

Tom Mayo.........His folders looked nice...but there always seemed
to be a crowd around his table and I never got close
enough to check them out..which is my only regret
from the show.

Allen Elishiewitz...Seen one...you've seen them all


I hope that I did not offend anyone..knifemaker or collector alike..these are just my opinions. The true stars of the show for me were...TOPS Knives..they are built strong...and have a ton of styles...and the price is an absolute steal.

Also I will recommend this...PRO-TECH Knives has the Tactical Response III at the show. I compares it to the Microtech L-UDT and I think it is a better knife. It's all black (handle, blade, button and clip)..looks a little like the L-UDT but has a quicker opening...smoother operation...is sharp as a scalpel...and is CHEAPER! Check these autos out..they are really nice.


Later folks

Bpman

God Bless America and all who stand with her!!!!!!!
 
Sorry you did not enjoy the show more. Hopefully you felt that it was a decent show and worth going to.

Did you see Ed Fowler? If so, how did his knives look? I am interested in the knives of Bill Burke and Wayne Goddard, so if anyone that went took a look at their knives could you please give me the lowdown? Thanks.
 
Damn, Tom Mayo was supposed to be saving me a TNT for after the show. I hope no one was buying them :D ;)
 
Hey all, I have to saw bpman that I went to the east coast show and New York show in '99&'00 and those are fantastic .I moved to L.A. last year and this is my first Blade show west and yes is was a little thin. To Keith, I was fortunate enough to have bought Ed Fowlers first Knife at the show.(not accounting for VIP attendants. A five inch pronghorn. Ed had about 12 blades on his table about 4 small bird and trout pieces and then some in the 3-4 inch range and the rest 4-5 inch pronghorns. No bowies that I could see although he could have been saving one or two for a customer. bpman, Ed for example had close to 16 blades or more at the New York show a few years back in all sizes and styles. Take it easy ,AD in LA:)
 
Hey Keith, forgot to mention Waynes table. Two small ATS-34 hunters one in stag the other in burgundy micarta very handy. A great looking Damascus-snakewood and crown stag hunter. A very big friction folder and a mid size guardless carbon steel bowie. Lastly, a utility/hunter made using his $50 knife shop(by the looks of it) and a large selection of his production Spyderco folders. In all about 6-8 handmade. Take it easy, Adam
 
all those people hanging around Mayos table were not there for the knives he makes.......




...........its the chocolate macadamia nuts he hands out:p
 
I too went to the Blade Show West, and it seemed thin to me. This was my first blade show I've been to so I did not have anything else to compare it to. Anyways, I bought a sweet little 3" fixed blade user with imitation stag (textured cow bone) handles from Mike Irie. His work looks pretty good for the money, IMHO, and this is the first "custom" knife I've bought. A funny thing I noticed was that most of the reps/makers at the show encouraged you to handle their knives which is a definite departure from most gun shows! A real friendly bunch of people. I could not believe how expensive some knives were but they were definitely beautiful. Overall it was still alot of fun. :)
 
Thanks Adam, I kind of had a feeling that you would respond to my post. I love Ed And Wayne's knives and am trying to get opinions of Bill Burke's knives from anyone that has the chance to handle them.

I imagine a few makers and attendees did not show because of all the hassles involved in getting there and getting home with knives. I think it took some real courage to go ahead with this show considering it's timing.
 
Actually, show management said that very few exhibitors were deterred by the recent tragedies. Not many empty tables.

I bought one of Bill Burke's knives last year. When I got it home, I noticed a tiny chip in the blade. Since I planned to use it in lieu of my knives from Ed, I figured the nick will disappear with use and sharpening. His offerings this year were more expensive than mine, but nicer. I think he does very good work. He had one especially attractive knife that looked like a damascus pronghorn.

I met Steve Ryan at the show and got a look at some hot blades he is working on. I'm very happy to see that his knives have really taken off.
 
Is Blade West the best custom knife show? That depends on what you are looking for and what you expect.

At ~80 tables and booths, it certainly isn't nearly as big as Blade East with its ~800 tables. I found this custom knife show to be on par with the this past Las Vegas Classic and the Little Rock, Ark show I last attended. If your expectations are along the lines of a big massive show like Blade East or most of the larger gun shows, you will probably be disappointed. If you are interested in quality and the chance to spend a few hours in a more relaxed and socialable atmosphere, Blade West is the place to be.

When I go to Blade East (Atlanta), I go with a definite agenda and must target specific makers in the first hour or two before they sell out. I also don't get a chance to spend time with a knifemaker to discuss anything in a detailed way because of the massive crowd Blade East draws. When you have to "elbow" your way up to a table to just to see if there is anything left, you really don't get a chance to talk. Blade East is such a big show, that you really must almost make an impulse buy decision because you may not ever find that table again. If you do remember exactly where that table was with the knife you were considering, your chances of finding it there are slim because so many people go by in hour, it is very apt to be sold by the time you get back. At Blade East I have 3 days, minus an hour or two (after the initial flurry to purchase popular knives) to casually stroll the remaining tables and displays. What do you do now that you have all your money spent and you stumble across an unknown maker with a knife that calls your name?

In my book Blade West was a really good show. Was it the best? Is any show really the best? Or is the last show you just attended really the "best" one? I have a hard time picking just one out of all the well organzied and run custom knife shows I go to. Each one has its own unique features and attractions. Depending on your expectations, it could be either the best, the worst or, just average. It all depends on what you are looking for and what your expectations are.

The one thing I really liked about Blade West, was the chance to talk to knife makers and have them show me the uniqueness of the knives the they brought and what made them special. This makes any show special in my book. I had the pleasure of spending an hour or so when the show slowed down talking to Mike Irie and his companion. This might happen in a hotel bar in Atlanta but, certainly not on the show floor! While I didn't pick up a knife from his table, I did order a one of kind MFK in CPM-3V which should be ready in a few months :D. While not a custom, I also picked up a Busse Combat Satin Jack which I had been eyeing on the web for a while.

:eek: Ernie Emerson :eek: was there as well with a bunch of customs. I was fortunate enough 3 years ago at Blade East to get drawn to purchase one of 5 CQC-6 custom's he had. Considering the number of entries, that was a significant piece of luck on my part. This year he had a drawing on Friday @ 2PM. There were probably 80 to 100 entries (you had to be present to win) with probably 20 knives available so, my chances were much better this time :p. I was lucky enough to be drawn this time as well :p. While I had my eye on a CQC-8, my name was pulled late in the draw so, someone beat me to that knife but, I did get an MV-1 Viper :D

Since I didn't really go there with predefined expectations, this show was an unqualified success even though I didn't get that small fixed blade wood handled knife I was looking for. But, that gives me a reason to drive to Mesquite, Texas for the Spirit of Steel show this coming week (Thurs-Sat) :D

Rogue Spear - didn't see any new production stuff but, don't expect that here. Blade East in Atlanta is where that action happens. A new distributor/importer was there and seemed to have good ties in Seki, Japan. They were the closest to production "new" stuff there. They actually had some really nice stuff but, it seemed a little expensive to me - especially compared to the custom stuff available.
 
Hey all you guys, I am sure the solvang show has recived its share of threads in the past but for all you west coasters Nordic Knives works hard to keep it small and high quality. Only a few production tables to speak of but great fun nonetheless.
 
KWM,

I stopped by the show again today and Bill Burke had only 3 knives left, a large pronghorn style, a very large camp knife, and a little guy. 30 minutes later the first two had found homes. I'll bet he went home completely sold out. So, it appears that others also think well of his work.
 
Thanks very much for the report Dances. I had a feeling that Bill would do well. His knives have been getting better and better. That Damascus knife in the Pronghorn style sounds very interesting.
 
Well,

I see that some of you made it to this show, and some posters from the last shows too...

This was my 2nd BW, my wife's first.

We came in, hooked left, and "Bamm" no A. G. Russell booth. I was really looking forward to talking with uncle Paul Basch again, and introducing my wife to him. (No, she's not for trade, it's just that they're both good folks, and I'd like to get them talking...) ;)

Talked with Tim Hancock a bit...nice guy, nice knives, hell, he even talked me into going to the Art Knife Invitational...lol

We were looking for Randall's and Horn knives, with a lttle of Ron Lake thrown in....slim pickin's folks, slim pickins!

Plaza Cutlery had a few mini-Horns at maxie prices...hint #1 here guys, at least act as if you're willing to "negotiate" eh?

There was a nice matched set of RMK's, #'s 1 & 2 in Ivorite SS, but the original owner had paid $450 for them in '89, had them appraised at $800 in '00, and was asking $1500 for them..."I donnnn't think so!"

I did place an order with Mike Irie for one of those butt-ugly MFK knives of his, mine with a kydex sheath and a sharpened false edge...visions of a tactical Puma "White Hunter"...lol

We finally walked away from Gary Shaw's (purveyor) table in disgust when he showed that he "just didn't get it"....Sez I, pointing to my lovely wife for the third time..."You need to talk with HER Gary, she's the buyer, I don't buy funny little knives that bend in the middle"...all the while 3 Horn's and 2 Lake's were up on the display case...

Did he talk with her, or even look at her twice? Of course not. I look over, she's turning red, and we walk away..."Jerk!" she whispers, 10K of knives just sitting there on the case, and at least one sale lost...Guys, the ladies buy knives too..."Hint #2"

Was the show "skinny?" You bet! Will we be going back? Nah, not unless uncle Paul is there...lol

We made some great contact with some great people though, and will be doing some serious "bidness" with them in the near future!

On another note...Bill and Ed did have some great knives, and Bill's stuff will sell for sure...to whom I dunno, being that Ed's "gig" is Ed's gig, but to each his own...I just wish they'd had some "lefties" for sale too...

Which brings me to this...other than Mayo-man, (Hi Tom, it was nice meeting you bro!), who is himself a leftie...not many makers were interested in making leftie knives! "Hint #3"

We tried to get to Tom's table twice and were pushed back by the ground swell of humanity, but had a clear coast on try #3. A word of caution here, Tom is such a nice guy that we almost invited him home...for good! :D

Instead, we decided that because he makes such a nice product, and is such a nice guy, we're going to buy two knives from him! A "little" leftie folder for the wife, and a fixed blade, buffed up "Dispatch" knife with some "custom" features for me.

A good guy Tom Mayo, outstanding knives for the money, and a very likeable, very cool "dood" indeed!

Ok, that's enough, my one good typing finger is getting tired... ;)

More later as it comes to me...Mel out
 
Melvin,

I think that Ed did have a small lefty on the opening day of the show. Unfortunately, a lot of knives flew off his table in the first couple hours so it may have vanished quickly.
 
Melvin:
Did you pick up the #14 small TNT (left hand)? That is one fine little knife. I ordered two left hand TNT's from Tom. One medium and one small snakebite. I saw a couple righties on the table and I really liked them. He is a nice guy, great knives, can't say enough good things about the TNT. If the show was thin I think it was because of the airline thing. It took a lot of guts for those guys to bring their stuff in. Imagine all the $$$$ wrapped up in product that they weren't 100% sure would get there. I had a good time. Always nice to go the CRK booth and I don't miss a chance to say hi to Tom. I live in Orange County and the only other show I go to is Solvang. Also there was lots of neat stingray items and I got a belt and a couple other things.:D
 
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