CKG Show review...100+ pics!

[RL]

PRE PRE SHOW

I had such a good time at the CKG show last year that I wanted to replicate as much of the experience as possible. Granted, things were more “low key” this year (no Hummer ) but it was a great show experience just the same!

I should point out that while the CKG has graciously recognized me as an “official show reporter,” (more on this later) my review (as my others before this one) is very much about my personal show experience.

Greg, Kirby, and I had such a good time after our chance meeting last year that we decided to set something up for this year…so my “show experience” started with a little pre-pre-show visit….

I knew Greg would be bringing a new axe design and I was very anxious to see it. Believe it or not, it was even cooler than expected!

Some of Greg’s folders…fans may note unique touches like the extra holes in the handle scales.

A dressed up Suppressor

Greg’s new neck knife

My favourite knife from Kirby had stingray scales!

The mammoth tooth on this one was also pretty stunning!

BTW, I have to give both Greg and Kirby big kudos for their support of us Canadian collectors. With their international reputations, Greg and Kirby could easily debut new models at American shows like Blade (as some other makers have elected to do). It is nice to see them sticking with their roots!

After our pre-pre show, we headed down to the lobby where we met up with other knifemakers.

As we were having dinner, we saw Neil Ostroff arriving with A LOT of goodies.

I immediately gave chase and was rewarded with a preview of this INCREDIBLE custom Strider sword

 

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and Damascus belt buckle

I could hardly wait for the official pre-show gala!

PRE SHOW

The pre-show gala is open only to Friends of the Guild. Friends are given early opportunity to purchase knives before they become available at the show. Each maker is invited to show only a few knives.

Greg showed his axe, a fixed blade in 21st century San Mai and a new folder design.

Can’t get enough of that axe!

William Nease also had a carbon/steel laminated knife on display

Mike Mossington showed some spectacular mosaic Damascus pieces. The Canadian flag at the tip reminded me of our military’s sniper rifles with Canadian flags embossed into the suppressors

Paul Savage showed a tomahawk and his first foray into forged tantos, complete with shoulder harness

 

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Brian Tighe’s knife to be raffled off to “Friends of the Guild”…I hope to win this one!

Brian’s other pre-show knives

The Tighes and Whites

New, lighter weight folders from Eric Elson

Antoine Marcel’s two knives

Sylvain Dion’s pre-show offerings

At the closing of the pre-show, I was very pleasantly surprised to receive Official Show Reporter status from the Guild in recognition of all the reviews I have written over the years and I thank them for that. I tried to tell Lightfoot that my reported status entitles me to a 50% discount but he wouldn’t buy it

After the pre-show, Greg and Kirby wanted to see my new loft (and, of course, to grab a milkshake) so off we went…

We tried to find better lighting for pics in my loft…here’s a Gladiator edition (bolster on one side) of Greg’s Full Contact and a fixed blade in his 21st century San Mai

 

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A closeup of the axe-head

A few of Kiry’s folders

SHOW

Finally it’s show time! My first stop was the TNK booth (5 tables, actually!) Striders as far as the eye could see…including folders

Fixed blades

Axes

And, some incredible customs

 

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Many of the Striders were offered with Lifter’s fantastic custom leather

There was no shortage of Chris Reeve knives either, from folders

including some limited edition pieces

to fixed blades…

I finally got to see an Ubejane in person

The raffle knives, generously donated by Strider and Chris Reeve.

Neil also pulled a rabbit out of the hat with a table full of Spydercos including some rare ones like my all time favourite, the Gunting! (now my second “duplicate” purchase)

 

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With a purchase already under my belt in the first few minutes of the show, I thought it would be a good idea to have another look at that axe and Gladiator FCF at Greg Lightfoot’s table

I got lucky with the lighting at Kirby’s table

Not so much at Wolfgang “Wolfe” Loerchner’s. Unfortunately my pictures do not do justice to the incredible art knife he had available for auction

The Wolfe pack

Here’s a piece by daughter in law Barb Loerchner

 

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It was nice to see Christoph Derringer again (saw him at another knife show a few months ago). My friend (a knife newbie) and I really enjoyed Christoph’s info on forging. We were most impressed by the small knives made out of a single ball bearing.

It was also nice to see the finished product of a rough forging he had at that other show.

Speaking of forged work, check out this incredible axe from Dave MacDonald!

Back to tactical knives, always great to see James MacGowan!

I was especially smitten with this neck knife in Lager Ale G10 (and it had been at least an hour since my last purchase so&#8230

Eric Elson…love the stingray sheath on this one:

 

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In addition to the mosaic Damascus pieces, Mike Mossington had a great little neck dagger in a magnetic (leather) sheath.

Time for lunch… once again, a group of us forumites met for lunch (note to self: do not have a hamburger for lunch if you had one for dinner last night)…sitting next to me are Chris_762/RascalChris, Lindey, Wyrm, Boltgun, and CKE

We make it back in time for the TNK raffle. Once again, Neil used the Vegas card system and earlier I chose the Ace of Spades in homage to the Strider Death Card. Let’s see how I do

Anticipation builds as Neil holds up the Chris Reeve Inyoni

Alex draws the Ace of Spades!

Here I am receiving my new knife…thanks Chris Reeve and TNK!

Phyllis won next…a Lightfoot/Timberline Tactical pen…and just after she won, her husband Murray White jokingly said “we’ll know it’s fixed if you pull my name next”…guess what happened?!?!

Enjoy your flashlight Murray! TNK raffled off a couple more after that…

The CKG also offered a few prizes…Doug Meadows won a stag handled fixed blade made by Murray St. Amour

Back to the show…Bud Weston’s table, including a sculpted collaboration piece

 

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Bud disassembled this folder to show us the inner workings of the ultra smooth bearing pivot

More laminated carbon fiber/steel knives from Willian Neese

along with his other unconventional designs

Speaking of unconventional, something for everyone, fantasy knives by Tom Hart

Back to the more conventional, Murray St. Amour

Joe Arnold

 

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Rick Frigault

with some more colourful pieces

Paul Savage

Jim Downie

Steve Vanderkolff’s first folders, along with some show winners

Some early prototypes/works in progress from newcomer Bleeding Edge Blades. Watch for his work at future shows.

Jeff Diotte had a ton of supplies and some cord-wrapped users

Thomas Haslinger

 

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John Benoit (shown meditating in this early morning pic)

Collector Dave Meadows with some unique folders on display

Quebec knifemakers were well represented.

I especially liked this piece from Dave Fortin for its creative use of native Quebec pearl

nice touch on the signature on this one

Alain “DESO” Desaulniers

Guillaume Cote

Paul Aime Fortier

 

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Antoine Marcel

Sylvain Dion

The Quebec makers worked together on this year’s CKG collaboration knife

Finally, my haul from the show

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

RL

 

[HJK]

Superb report!
Thanks, RL

 

[Chefget]

Great stuff, thanks!!

-Michael

 

[Joss]

Thank you for the hard work!

 

[monarh99]

Thanks for all the pix ! great job

 

[Jos]

Nice pics, thanks for posting.:thumbup:

Cool T-shirt!

 

[beluga]

Excellent review and pics. Appreciate it. I thank you on behalf of those who could not attend the show.

 

[dylan_d]

Nice T-Shirt

 

[RogerP]

Probably worth mentioning that this knife by Christoph Derringer sports a forged integral double guard and full tapered tang. A very fast and superbly balanced fighter.

Other show favorites of mine included:

Paul Savage's hawk;
Steve Vanderkolff's small damascus / blacklip pearl dagger
Antoine Marcel's little maple-handled knife and BIG cleaver
Kirby Lambert's mammoth tooth folder
Mike Mossington's maple leaf damascus pieces.
Thomas Haslinger's mammoth / damascus hunter.

Wolfe's dagger, it should go without saying, was stunning beyond belief!

A really good show - my thanks to all involved.

Roger