CKG 2009 Show Review...140+ pics!

[RL]

PRE PRE SHOW

Following the tradition set in the last two Canadian Knifemaker Guild shows, I arranged to meet with my good friends Greg Lightfoot and Kirby Lambert upon their arrival. Kirby got there first but we knew that “business was about to pick up” when the Hog Hunter arrived.

Speaking of arrivals, I posted a pic of Neil Ostroff of True North Knives arriving with a ton of knives in my last review so I thought it would be funny to do the same this year.

After a quick lunch at the hotel resto, we headed up to look at some steel. Kirby was not playing around this year, bringing SEVENTEEN knives to show including Infernos, Incinerators, Snipers, and a completely new (yet un-named) model.

This dressed up Inferno was spectacular, with titanium frame, black lip pearl inset and Damascus blade / bolsters.

Of course, being a tactical knife fan, I was quite smitten with these camo G10 folders.

Kirby was even kind enough to make one tip-down so…here’s Kirby presenting me with my first Lambert knife!!!

A few more pics of my new baby…

I also liked Kirby’s use of luminescent insets on his tacticals.

Greg also brought quite a few knives…

Including an “old school” M1 with a new style blade. This brought back a lot of memories as my very first custom was a Lightfoot M1. I thought about it but it was snapped up at the pre-show…you snooze, you lose at a knife show, that’s for sure!

 

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Note the milled screws on this Slice with Damascus blade.

Once again, Greg chose the CKG to debut a new model, the Texas Hunter, a beefy little fixed blade with his signature subsonic tip. Kirby cord-wrapped this one.

Greg modeling the shoulder harness (sorry the other proto will have to wait for another day)

I was now ready for the official pre-show, but not before getting some cool Lightfoot gear, a Len Thompson lure complete with Greg’s logo.

PRE SHOW

In the pre-show gala, Friends of the Guild are given the opportunity to purchase knives before they become available at the show. Each maker is invited to show only a few knives. As an added incentive, each year one maker donates a knife to be raffled off to Friends of the Guild. Kirby donated this year’s raffle knife,

Neil Ostroff showed some incredible custom Striders.

Not surprisingly, the XL went very quickly.

The MSC dagger ended up being my favourite knife of the show.

The handle is spalted maple. The smaller of the stepped-guard is carbon fiber while the larger one is Damascus.

It feels a lot lighter than you might think given the size.

 

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I was really hoping that Brian Tighe would bring some of his skull Twist Tighes with matching belt buckles…I was in luck! (yes, I know that I took the pic with the wrong buckle…oops)

Here’s Brian with the matching set.

Brian also showed a Tighe Coon….HJK snagged this one.

Brian Lyttle’s pre-show knives

I love the way Brian did the Damascus on this one

Greg’s pre-show selection

Greg watches on with his Texas Hunter

Kirby’s two pre-show knives

Edward McRae, all the way from the Northwest Territories showed some functional hunters including one (#7) with an oosic handle (oosic sourced from an Alaskan walrus)

 

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Another solid hunter from Murray St-Amour

Back from a hiatus in knifemaking, Paul Bold is continuing his father’s craft

CKG President, Eric Elson (I remember Eric’s first show when he was the youngest knifemaker ever to join the CKG…and now he is the organization’s president!)

Moving on to the Quebec makers, Sylvain Dion’s pre-show offerings

Paul-Aime Fortier

David Sylvester

Gaetan Beauchamp (courtesy of a collector)

The closing of the pre-show was somewhat of an emotional moment. Last year the CKG gave me “Official Show Reporter” status in recognition of all the reviews I have written over the years. This year they went a step further and made me an Honourary Member of the Guild. I really appreciate the gesture as I really never hoped to get anything in return for my reviews. Here I am receiving the honour

Fellow collector Dave M was also made an honourary member for his contributions.

The most emotional moment was Holger Enge’s posthumous recognition as an Honourary Member. The Guild actually decided to induct Holger after last year’s show but sadly he passed away a few months later. Holger’s family accepted the honourary membership.

 

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A memorial to Holger was set-up for at the pre-show and stayed on display next to TNK’s tables at the show.

The CKG also inscribed Holger’s name, along with the names of other knifemakers / honourary members who have passed away on a memorial plaque that will be shown at all future shows.

After the pre-show we headed up to Neil’s room to see some custom Emersons. Thanks again Neil for bringing these to show me.

A Super Raven prototype, Commander (one of my grails) and an MV-1

The Super Raven is BIG

I love that Commander!

A Commander trifecta with my production knife and trainer

We finished off the evening with steaks at Canyon Creek.

SHOW

Show time!

Showgoers are greeted by Kirby Lambert

 

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And Greg Lightfoot

After saying hello to my friends, I raced over to True North Knives

Ahhh the MSC dagger

Duane’s little neck dagger was also incredible…I really like the way he did the double edge…and a gold Starligear lanyard is always welcome!

 

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The whole range of Strider folders

Including TNK exclusive PT CCX with Starlingear lanyard and Lifter’s leather sheath

Strider fixed blades

Including the latest addition to the Rogue Warrior series

TNK also had a huge selection Chris Reeve knives.

Including the whole range of folders

My favourite Sebenza (also one of my favourites of the show)

I finally got to handle the new Umnumzaan

 

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CRK fixed blades including the one-piece lineup, Green Berets, and the new Professional Soldier and black Inyoni (looks great)

Big surprise (for me)…prototype CRK kitchen knives!

Hand signed by Chris.

Note how “PROTO” is marked in the handle…very cool!

Great ergonomics.

Last year Neil surprised us with Spydercos, this year he brought the full lineup of Zero Tolerance knives! Good thing too as there were a few that I had not yet handled.

James McGowan posted some sneak peeks on the boards prior to the show.not surprisingly, the stellite and damascus / stag pieces that he posted were the first to go.

 

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The mini katana didn’t last long either.

MAK-1 and mini-MAK.

A nice titanium necker

Beautiful knives on Brian Tighe’s table.

Can’t get enough of those skulls!

I always look forward to seeing what William Nease will cook up for the show…this time he had a selection of fiberglass knives

Seventeen layers on this one…note how the red layers show through

 

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A “paper” blade fused with a steel cutting edge!

Composite knives can take abuse!

Wolfgang “Wolfe” Loerchner made 2 knives specifically for this show…they were sold in about 30 seconds…fortunately he brought another 5 for display.

Brian Lyttle

Some very functional hunters from Ed McRae

My favourite of Ed’s knives

Steve Linklater’s sub-hilt fighter out of Damascus forged by Brian Lyttle

 

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Steve Vanderkolff

George Roberts, all the way from the Yukon

What an incredible belt buckle!

An assortment of hunters from Murray St. Amour

John Benoit’s table.

The serrations on his survival knife took sixteen hours to file by hand. The handle scales are removable (with an attached tool) so that the blade can be lashed to a spear!

Jeff Diotte had his usual wide selection of knives and supplies…fortunately he had a camo pouch to go along with my camo Lambert.

Paul Bold’s table.

 

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The knives on the right were made by his father, Stu Bold.

Nice to see Paul Savage making more folders including this tactical flipper

And a dressed-up piece with mammoth tooth.

Rick Frigault has a wide assortment of Shodans and utility knives…

Along with a dress-up Victory Bowie

Always nice to see Quebec makers at our show…

Sylvestre’s bowie’s went very quickly, which is not surprising considering he recently passed his Journeyman Smith test.

Here is his test knife…

Paul Aime Fortier, who just started carving his own sheaths.

 

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Sylvain Dion

Christoph Derringer

and last but certainly not least, CKG President Eric Elson

Time for lunch… sitting next to me are George Tichbourne, silentnight, Chris_762/RascalChris, Lindey, Brent Beshara RAYE, Wyrm, AJ

Besh and Lindey

Of course a lunch among knife knuts includes a little show and tell…we were all stunned by JC’s Starlingear-Strider collaboration

We make it back in time for the TNK raffle….let’s see how your defending champion does this time around with the Chris Reeve Professional Soldier

 

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Well, no Chris Reeve for me but I don’t feel bad as it went to silentnight, an awesome way to celebrate his first knife show!

I didn’t leave the raffle empty handed though as I won a nice Chris Reeve DVD.

Other winners of t-shirts and DVDs…

Sunday’s draw will be for a Strider PT

The CKG also offered door prizes, including three knives generously donated by CRKT

And this beautiful Damascus knife donated by Jeff Diotte

You could also buy tickets to win the “collaboration knife” made mostly by Barbara Harmos-Loerchner with assistance from Wolfgang Loerchner and Brian Lyttle.

 

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I spent most of the afternoon at TNK’s Strider table. It was A LOT of fun to be on the other side of the table…I answered tons of questions and even sold a knife or two

While working the table I had nice visits from friends and forumites such as Tig

And I got a good perspective of the big crowd…I believe there were as many visitors on day one as there were for both days combined last year.

After the show I attended the Annual General Meeting…the CKG appears to be heading in a great direction!

Thanks to all knifemakers, TNK, Strider, Chris Reeve, and the CKG!

RL

 

[JParanee]

RL you do great show reviews:thumbup: Thanks so much for taking the time

 

[SharpByCoop]

Thanks, Robert. A MOST enjoyable read and viewing.

Good stuff up there!

Coop (Who got a nice feeling seeing the tribute and photos of Holger. I always enjoyed his chats. Thanks for covering that.)

 

[Lorien]

Great review RL!

Good on you for giving the Canadian customs scene the exposure it deserves:thumbup:.
I especially appreciate what you said about attendance being up so much from last year's show. I've been catching the drift over the past while that the custom knife scene in Canada is picking up speed.

I'm really liking the looks of Rick Frigualt's knives. I'm going to have to look him up sometime.

Again, good work man! Thank you very much.

 

[RL]

Thanks all.

Glad you enjoyed it Lorien...I agree that things are picking up in Canada...we have some really talented makers here, they are getting more and more collaborations with production companies (increasing their profile) and the CKG is heading in the right direction. Hopefully you can make it out to the next one!

RL

 

[Lorien]

:thumbup:if I do, and I hope to, I will definitely look you up.