Blade Show

G

Guy Thomas

Joined
Feb 1, 2000
Messages
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Well I day-tripped the Blade show in Atlanta yesterday and had a great time! Everyone was a pleasure to talk to but I had a few outstanding moments yesterday.

First I got to shake the hand of William F. Moran, what an honor! Also memorable were conversations with several bladesmiths such as Kevin Cashen, Vince Evans and Jonathan Loose. Boy did I ever spend too much money on handle material but feel I got some great buys on Desert Ironwood and some stabilized blocks of Ambonyia burl. I now have enough handle material to last several years at my current rate of knifemaking! I guess I need to speed things up a bit!

You soon start to suffer from sensory overload but what an incredible array of knifemaking talent from all the makers there! I wished several times that I was a collector instead of a maker! One thing I did note, there were enough Bowies represented there to sink a battleship!:D
 
Guy. You lucky dog! Here I am stuck in Walla Walla whatching convicts this year. Did you see the Tom Mayo Bowie? I understand that him and Jerry Hossum have both made one. I want to meet you and other fellow forumites next year for sure. I already put in for the time off.
 
Guy- sounds like fun. Hope to get there myself someday. Now, back away from your keyboard and go use some of that handle material!!;)
 
Yeah, like Richard said - use some of that handle material - on my knife! :D

Guy I really envy you, I'm determined to get to the Blade show one of these years. Maybe I'll make it my 50th birthday present!

So how much did the quality of the knives you saw raise the bar for you? I've always wondered about that, how my work would stack up against that of the serious and experienced makers.

Did you get any pics? How crowded were maker's tables? Were people buying a lot of knives? Were makers whose names you didn't recognise as busy as those whose names you did?

Just to get you started. :) Congratulations on a great experience, I'm sure glad you did it. Living in Iowa, you can't get much farther from culture. :( I feel sorry for myself! So you'll have to be my proxy. :cool:

Dave
 
I was at the show on saturday. By midday there were a number of tables either completly sold out or very close to it. I was too overwelmed to note who was with what knives. I am both very inspired and depressed about my work (or attempts really) Hope everyone there had as good a time as I did.

WS
 
Hey Dave, your knife is priority now that the kids treehouse is done!

This is the first really big show I've been to. I went thinking of myself as a knife maker and I was somewhat humbled. There is an incredible amount of talent out there! I feel I have a ways to go before I measure up to the majority of the work I saw yesterday but I know I am capable. (If I will just get out in the shop and do it!)

Unfortunately I forgot to bring my camera. This being a last minute trip we pretty much got up a 5:00 a.m. and piled into the car and hit the road. Even then it was close to noon by the time we got there. The makers tables were full with most tables displaying any where from half a dozen knives to a few dozen. The higher end the knives the fewer were displayed. I have to say after talking to several people there that hand made knives did not appear to be moving at all. The place was crowded however and it's possible that many buyers were waiting until today to make their final purchases. Supplies however appeared to be selling like hot cakes. Since this is not a strictly custom knife show it's really hard to say who was getting the most business. People were everywhere and the makers were mixing and mingling as much as anyone else. All the tables and exhibitors, commercial and custom (over 500 tables!) were constantly being perused. There were also quite a few antique knife vendors as well as cheap import vendors. I got to exmine Rob Frinks KMG grinders and everything I've heard about them seems to be true. They appear to be very well made machines!

I have to sheepishly admit that I forgot all about meeting Jerry Hossom and Tom Mayo if they were there. You have to realize that you quickly suffer from sensory overload there and 6 hours flew by before we realized it. I did intend to find Jerry Hossom but I laid my brochure and map down at one point and then it just slipped my mind as we tried to make decisions on which table to make handle material purchases from. We didn't even get the chance to watch any of the demonstrations. Not only did I forget about Jerry and Tom but I wanted to talk to Jerry Fisk but he appeared extremely busy every time I saw him, presumeably with ABS business. I also didn't get to talk to the Drapers either (Audra is a sweetie!)but I did shake Ed Fowlers hand. Well there is always next year!
 
Anyone can post some pict of the show ?
(or other knives how)
I never see a knife show and I am currious...

Alain M-D
 
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