CKG show review - 50 pics

[RL]

PART 1


Welcome to our review of the October 2003 Canadian Knifemaker Guild Show and Toronto Knife Knut dinner!

Our two day affair began with a trip to local knife store S&R Knives. Here Bobby B poses with a maniacal grin as he holds the production version of the Carson U2 while wyrm and John Freeman look on.

Knifemaker John Freeman checks out S&R’s huge selection of production knives…

And a closeup of the display

Next, we headed over to Murray’s Mystic Knife Mansion for our customary knife show-and-tell/pics. Wyrm was the hands down winner of “ugliest knife” with this entrant…possibly the ugliest “knife” known to man (and that says something coming from me!)

Bobby B brought along his entire collection of Busse knives, including variants, prototypes, and military overruns

Such as the INFIcoot, Air Rescue Knife, and Anorexic Badger prototype.

Our host, Murray White, and cockroachfarm check out Bud Weston’s latest creations.

 

[RL]

Next, we went out for dinner…going around the table…John Freeman, RL, Bud Weston, and wyrm

Bobby B, Murray White, Phyllis White, and wyrm

Murray White, bobbyB, John Freeman, and RL

RogerP and James McGowan, who were with us earlier, could not join us for dinner.

Sunday morning…show time! My first stop was True North Knives to pick up my RJ Martin Kwaiken, shown here with a Wasabi for comparison

And here I am with Neil Ostroff behind the TNK table. As you can see, Neil had two tables worth of incredible knives from the likes of Crawford, RJ Martin, Hall, Hitchmough, Osborne, Obenauf, Ralph, JWS, Elishewitz, Steigerwalt, Fujisaki, and many, many others.

Here’s a candid shot of Neil in action…

And chatting with Greg Lightfoot

 

[RL]

Speaking of whom, Greg had a handful of Full Contact folders including a quasi spring-assisted variant…the FC feels GREAT in the hand!

Following my usual path through the show, I hit Proedge next. They had three tables worth of incredible tactical knives/gear including Emerson customs, JSP/Bladerigger, Strider, Surefire, Microtech and more.
Here’s Murray Haday (holding the Emerson Karambit) and his friend (holding my Panther)

And a closeup of the table.

Of course, shows aren’t just about knives alone. A great part is meeting up with fellow knife knuts. I was glad to run into fellow forumite Tig who put on quite a demonstration of balisong flipping for a small crowd of us…after a few aerial flips (shown below) CKG President Peter Wile came over with an “Excuse me Sir…” to which we yelled out in a chorus “Training blade!” before he could finish the sentence…one of the funnier moments of the show

Here’s Tig holding his new 7.25” Mad Maxx, accompanied by his equally lethal lady friend (holding my Panther).

I also ran into fellow forumite HJK and his brand new Brian Lyttle Damascus dagger…here he is with RogerP and Murray White.

Knifemaker Brent Beshara stopped by for a visit, accompanied by his fiancée (Kelly Ann? Sorry I’m not good with names)…here’s the happy couple with knifemaker Rod Cook and fellow forumite BernM (thanks again for bringing your Livesays!)

 

[RL]

Ok..back to knives…here’s “MC” John freeman with a huge selection of hunting/utility/kitchen knives in colourful Dymondwood…his knives have great ergos…definitely users!

Bud Weston and Christoph Derringer

Bud Weston knives

Murray speaking with Wolfgang “Wolfe” Loerchner, who needs no introduction…

 

[RL]

Kirby Lambert, all the way in from Saskatoon with his new fixed and folding Claw.

Rick Frigault’s skinner was one of the more interesting knives of the show.

Mike Mossington with his daughter, Elizabeth

Brian Tighe

 

[RL]

Eric Elson

Randy Doucette

Steve Vanderkolff

John Dorrell with a very interesting axe…

Thanks again to Mike Mason (knifeman7) who once again showed me things I had not seen before (especially the Scott Cook Lochsa)…here’s Mike’s table, complete with a Steve Ryan M1 next to my Panther for size comparison.

This was definitely one of the better CKG shows…LOTS of buying/selling. I can’t wait for the 10th anniversary show in April!

RL

PS As usual, thanks to Murray White and cockroachfarm for supplying some of the pics.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

Thanks again RL. Another great show report. I'm glad to see that this was a good show for sales. From what I hear, the last one wasn't.

 

[GigOne]

As usual. . .excellent review and pic's from RL !

I really enjoy these. . .thanks for sharing RL !

 

[Stumpy]

Super job RL.Looks like it was a lot of fun. Thanks for bringing it a little closer.

 

[RogerP]

Thanks for the comprehensive review RL! Sorry I couldn't make it for dinner

Cheers,

Roger

 

[Danbo]

Great pics. Sounds like I missed a great time.

 

[TDE]

I love pics like that! Great job and thanks for taking the time to do it! Paul

 

[cockroachfarm]

Another excellent review, RL! Boy, it was gratifying to see so many people at this show. I'm really looking forward to the 10th Anniversary CKG show in April/04 - should be a "can't-miss" event for makers and collectors. You out-of-towners better start nailing down your accommodations now! (If the currency exchange rate stays about the same, it should be a knife shoppers paradise!)

 

[Wulf]

Thanks RL,
These pics and commentary are the next best thing to being there.

 

[Bobby B]

Thanks RL for a great job again!
I really enjoyed the get-together on Saturday (thanks to Murray and Phyllis for putting up with us again!), and dinner. I am sorry I missed the show.

I may take Cockroach farm's idea and tie bed-sheets together to get a pass for the April show. Looks like fun, but I would have ended up broke! Beautiful knives; there are more than a few I'd love to have!!!

 

[HJK]

Great report!!!!

 

[Bruce Bump]

Grand Review! Thanks for taking the time to let us almost be there!

 

[RL]

Thanks everyone!

RL

 

[fishface5]

totally cool!

 

[R. Lemmen]

Good report RL. Nice to see you at the show as well. As a rank newbie to knife collecting, it was good to have someone give me the $5.00 tour.