CKG 2010 Show Review....160+pics

[RL]

After covering the Canadian Knifemaker Guild show for several years now, I can really feel the positive momentum in the Canadian custom knife scene. Almost every CKG Member had a table at this year’s show, several for the first time and several travelling from very far away. There were a lot of new faces too in terms of attendees and the demographics suggest the CKG is helping to make custom knife collecting more mainstream.

There were tons of great knives at the show. In addition to the two knives (and two flashlights) that I purchased, I saw several more that I wanted. Of course, knife shows are not just about the knives, rather they are great for connecting with other collectors and building relationships with knifemakers. That’s why I have to add my usual caveat that even though the CKG has recognized me as their official show reporter and an Honourary Member, it should be kept in mind that this review is written from my perspective as a show-goer rather than a purely objective journalistic piece.

Pre-show

As in years past, I arranged to meet with my good friends Greg Lightfoot and Kirby Lambert prior to the Friends of the Guild pre-show. It is great to catch up with my friends and of course to get a sneak peek of what they brought to the show!

In addition to his signature shark’s tooth rings, Greg brought some new ring designs with various insets including mammoth’s tooth.

Mammoth tooth on this one

Greg calls this design “Ironman” as it was inspired by the superhero’s mask.

Greg is continuing to move upscale with his extreme jewelry dressed-up tacticals…

Note the damasteel pocket clips

Of course his roots were well represented with some very beefy tacticals, including a Bullwhip Extreme with 5” blade, his new Rematch, and old-school 458 Magnum. The 458 was one of my favourites of the show…and was quickly snapped up by another collector.

The Rematch has the same frame as the Full Contact Fighter but with a different blade shape.

 

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Here’s Greg with the Rematch and I am holding the Bullwhip Extreme

Kirby brought several folders featuring Ikoma Korth Bearing System (IKBS) bearing pivots. To say they were smooth would be an understatement!

This IKBS framelock proto was already sold

Here are some more IKBS folders along with Kirby’s other knives

One of my favourite knives from Kirby had a “flat” (non-weaved) carbon fiber scales with weaved CF bolsters and tritium inserts.

 

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This one with Damasteel blade and Timascus bolsters was also a stunner

I was glad that both Greg and Kirby brought one of their razors. I saw these on the Net a couple of months ago and they created quite the buzz when I reposted them.

Kirby with his razor

Friends of the Guild Pre-show

Friends of the Guild are given the opportunity to purchase knives before they become available to show attendees. To keep things fair, each maker is invited to show only a few knives. As an added bonus, each year one maker donates a knife to be raffled off at the pre-show. Guillaume Cote donated this year’s raffle knife,

The collaboration knife is also unveiled at the pre-show. This year’s knife, made by Christoph Derringer, Rick Frigault, and George Roberts was quite the stunner! Not my usual style of knife but I liked it so much that I bought five raffle tickets.

Here it is with Christoph

One of Christoph’s other knives on display

It was great to see Thomas Haslinger back at the show

 

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Brian Tighe’s stunning button locks

Brian (note the snazzy shirt!) and I

Neil Ostroff of True North Knives showed some incredible custom Striders

Including this one which sold quickly for $3K

The AR Team Dagger Spitfire was one of my favourite knives of the show

Moving around the room…for now I’ll just list the makers…and post more details in the show review section.

Wolfe and Elizabeth Loerchner

Brian Lyttle

 

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Craig Wheatley

Paul Bold

Greg Lightfoot

David Sylvester

Rick Todd

I really liked the handle on this one

Sylvain Dion

Simone Raimondi

 

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Rick Frigault

Paul Savage

Eric Elson

Mike Mossington

Steve Linklater

A pretty big crowd

Finally the winner of the pre-show knife, shown with maker Guillaume
Cote

Now off to dinner at Milestones before the big show tomorrow…

 

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The 2010 Canadian Knifemaker Guild Show

As I alluded to earlier, several knifemakers either joined the CKG or graduated from probationary to voting Members. In recognition of this, I will start my review with a focus on them.

I have known Craig Wheatley for years through the forums where he posted as CKE (Canadian Knife Enthusiast) and have met him at past shows. It was great to see him become a voting CKG Member and be there for his first show. He showed lots of great bushcraft knives with Scandi grinds and other working knives as well.

Elizabeth Loerchner is following the footsteps of her famous father, Wolfgang “Wolfe” with art knives made completely by hand (no power tools). Based on her first two knives, I have no doubt she will one day be winning her own Cronk Awards!

Extreme art meets extreme tactical! Elizabeth’s knife with a Warren Thomas Rhino.

Speaking of Wolfe, he brought five incredible knives to show.

Also following in his father’s footsteps, Andre Benoit is the youngest ever to be granted voting Member status. Andre made his first knife at age 10.

 

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The source of Andre’s inspiration is his father John Benoit, who graciously donated a knife that I won at the 2009 Fall CKG show.

David Sylvester passed his probation…congrats.

Simone Raimondi came all the way from Italy to display his knives.

Not only was this one beautiful, it had a great balance.

Fred Thynne has been making knives for years and has even taken lessons from Bill Moran but this was his first CKG show.

Some interesting displays on Fred’s table, including a demonstration of the steps from steel cable to twisted Damascus…one of my favourite knives of the show

Another of my show favourites on Fred’s table, this forged hunter…felt like it was custom made specifically for my hand.

The knife Fred made while learning under Moran

 

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Fred and I

Kudos once again to all of the above.

Someone else who deserves special mention for his contribution to promoting the CKG is my bro Neil Ostroff of True North Knives. TNK is a huge draw for attendees, which in turn attracts more knifemakers and so on.

Neil with some incredible Mick Strider and Duane Dwyer customs

These two with sealed bearing pivots sold immediately

Strider folders

Strider fixed blades

Neil with a huge selection of Chris Reeve knives

Chris Reeve folders

 

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The Sebenza Enigma and Umnumzaan Tanto were my favourites

Chris Reeve fixed blades

I was sad to learn recently that the one-piece line is being discontinued. At least Neil had a 28 year anniversary MarkIV on display.

TNK also offered Zero Tolerance.

And flashlights from both Fenix.

And Lenslight

Back to the knifemakers…

Again, nice to have Thomas Haslinger back...he could not make it last year

 

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Thanks to Brian Lyttle for the discussion on forging. I learned more about forged knives in those few minutes than I had in years of collecting.

Speaking of forged knives, it is always fascinating how Christoph Derringer can transform a simple ball bearing into works of art.

More beautiful matched sets of knives and belt-buckles from Brian Tighe

A better shot of Greg Lightfoot’s rings

And his display of knives

Kirby Lambert’s table

 

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Tactical knife fans always look forward to James McGowan’s table. I look forward to the one I have on order…and thanks for the ride home James!

As I have mentioned in past reviews, I am also a big fan of William Nease’s knives. I bought two at his first show and another one today, in tactical pink! Those axes were also unbelievably cool!

William, me, and my new knife!

Speaking of cool axes, albeit forged ones, check out the ones on David Macdonald’s table! I really like some of his unconventional designs.

 

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Rick Frigault’s table

This was my favourite piece with a moose antler handle and camo kydex sheath.

Steve Linklater

Link’s prototype bare bones folder

Steve Vanderkolpf had a few knives with mammoth tooth (as well as a mammoth tooth itself on display!), one of my favourite materials for art knives.

The ergonomics on Guillaume Cote’s are great…I am a big fan of finger grooves.

 

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Antoine Marcel

Joe Arnold

Eric Elson

George Roberts with a dazzling display of hunting / outdoor knives in every size and shape imaginable.

 

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Jim Downie

With this beautiful piece in mastodon

Murray St Amour

Rick Todd

Paul Savage

Paul Aime Fortier

 

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Paul Bold

Off for a quick lunch before the TNK draw

The Chris Reeve kitchen knife to be drawn

I picked the Ace of Spades…as I did the last time I won…actually, I have won something at the last three shows in a row…

Lightfoot stands guard during the draw

No luck for me this time…here is the lucky winner!

TNK also drew winners for t-shirts, Darrel Ralph multi-tools, and Spyderco Byrd knives.

Sunday’s draw knife, Strider PT

 

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The crowd was pretty steady all day.

That about wraps it up. See you all next year!

RL

 

[gak]

Sweet pics, another great show !

Here's my loot from Paul Savage, L6/O1 differentially hardened Damascus for the blade, guards, and pommel. Walnut for the handle. About 17" overall:

 

[SharpByCoop]

Hi Robert,

As always, I enjoy your comprehensive followups, and savor all the images.

Much appreciation!

Coop

 

[Kohai999]

Great photojournalism, the CKG is lucky to have such a devoted enthusiast to record these events!

That Lyttle fighter really caught my eye.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson