Blade Show

Got a call from a mate at the show, said numbers through the door seemed down on last year. Also handle material (antler & mammoth) was more expensive and quality way down. He sold out so he can't complain too much.

peter
 
it did look less busy to me than previous years.
I am going to attempt to get a table there next year. I already have about 18 knives roughed out just for the show.

I was surprised that there wasnt as much knifemaking supplies as I remember from before.
 
not sure?? We'll see I hope:D I already have about 18 rough cut and 3 half way finished for the 2008 show :)
 
I think I already need to get started on next year's knives!

The show was great, but I couldn't tell you on supplies and such. I didn't get to get away from the table too much.

Nice meeting you there Brian -- :)
 
Burchtree said:
I think I already need to get started on next year's knives!

The show was great, but I couldn't tell you on supplies and such. I didn't get to get away from the table too much.

Nice meeting you there Brian -- :)
Click to expand...
you too my friend!!
 
Good seeing a buncha peeps there! Was good and bad. I got a sanmai knife from Mike McClure, won a spot in the Emerson lottery and got a custom CQC--5, some Ti chopsticks from Alan Folts, and the wife went nuts shopping for jewelry...
I did manage to lose my Strider AR somewhere.
I might need to get a knife from you, Michael. Good meeting you.
 
Good meeting you too Howie -- you never found your AR? Damn that sucks.
 
It was my first show. I went to find some people working with Damascus, and I found quite a few. There are some very talented folks there. The show was bigger than I expected.
 
I posted this as soon as I got back Friday...it got buried with all the other threads:

My thoughts and impressions from today: Got in early with a VIP pass....it didn't seem as crowded as in previous years...plenty of room to walk in the aisles, as opposed to constantly rubbing elbows in other years. Gas prices????Prices were higher on several materials, lower on some others. Stag was higher than last year, as was mammoth ivory. I was told by many suppliers that mammoth ivory is getting much harder to come by. Stag was there, but the show was not loaded down with it like last year. 5 1/2" x 1 1/2" stag was $50 for the very average (some pith) stuff, higher for the really good stuff. Saw a lot for around $55 a pair. Elephant ivory was about the same price as years past... price must have stabilized. Nickel Silver was high...and will get higher according to the suppliers. I bought some 3/8" stuff and the supplier said there probably won't be any in that size next year. Blade steel was up just a tad from last year. Stabilized wood was about 20%-25% up from last year, with no California Buckeye to be had. Boxelder seems to have taken Buckeye's place in the market place. Bacote and Cocobolo was not too terribly plentiful...seems everyone was wanting the stabilized stuff. Not much desert ironwood at all...what was there was pretty....just not much there.

Forging stuff....hardly any supplies at all. Went to buy some tongs and hammers and came home empty handed...just not any selection at all.

Mastersmiths....all the Big Names were immediately sold out as soon as we walked in...what knives they had must have been sold yesterday during setup or earlier. Other MS guys were complaining that nothing was moving....no $ being spent. I heard one guy pricing a knife to a guy & I about fell out, as he told the guy "I priced this one at $18,500"...I kid you not. All the big names were gracious and very friendly in conversation...no egos at all.

Biggest lines were at the Swamp Rat, et. al. display and the Strider (sp?) display. The former had a line 5 folks deep the whole time I was at the show.

Sorry if boring....and the comments were just my opinion, and of course may differ from others there.
 
I'm sitting here reading through my latest issue of Blade and man did I miss a great show. I need to wipe the tears from my eyes after seeing what i missed. :D
 
There is a great thread over in the custom forum by "sharpbycoop"....all knives from the show. :D
Mace
 
Hmmm... I gotta disagree on some of the points above.

I came home with 10 OUTSTANDING blocks of stabilized CA Buckeye Burl. Some were from Mike Ludeman at WSSI, and some from Chuck Bybee at Alpha Knife Supply. I'm more picky than anyone I know when it comes to buying wood, so these are all PRIMO pieces.

I took 6 knives and sold 6 knives, so I sure can't complain in that area.

I haven't been there for about 4 years, so I can't compare it to last year, but it seemed pretty well attended to me.

I sure hope I can make it back next year. :)
 
I'll have to agree with Nick. It was a really good show. I wouldn't miss it.

I took 7, sold 7 and bought a pile of fossil ivory :D
 
hell...........I bought alot of g-10 just to avoid shipping;)
I took a knife just for show and tell and wound up loosing that knife to a b.goode fan:thumbup:

Also - I look forward to hopefully having my own table so I get to see Nick and big old Don with the added time I'd be there.

I think that the show was well worth my time :)
 
I'm very new to knife collecting, but was able to attend the recent Blade.

While I've never been before, I thought it was fantastic. Tons of great material, lots of experts willing to talk, plenty of special events, lots of other knuts/addicts to share stories.

The VIP line to get in was incredibly long. If many blades sold out fast -- isn't that the desired result?? If prices seemed high -- again, isn't that the desired result (there won't be any smiths or knife-makers if prices are too low)??

Maybe I'm naive, but I had a wonderful time. I'll be back next year, my employer willing!

[BTW, I tried to see Nick Wheeler but never seemed to locate him. My own problem -- spent too much time distracted by all that was going on. Mr. Wheeler kindly sent me 3 VIP passes, all of which my family used. Thank you, Nick Wheeler! We all had the best time...]:thumbup: :thumbup: :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top