Custom Knife Shows

I am particulary fond of those closest to where I live ,Like the one in McKinney Tx. the 20th and 21st. hope yall can come Tank
 
Howard,
I am sure that most knifemakers will tell you that it is sales. I am going to agree with that statement, but there are other factors as well. The shows that are a great pleasure to attend are the ones where the show promoters treat you well, the public treats you well (sales), and the other makers and suppliers treat you well. I have done shows where the promoters are indifferent to the makers as long as the public comes in large numbers. I have also done shows where the public is rather unappreciative of me (the knifemaker). These are usually not knife shows.

When you attend a show where everyone(knifemakers, suppliers, dealers, and the public) are well treated then everyone has a more enjoyable time.
One show that comes to mind is the Chesapeake Knife Show. It is put on by Ted Merchant and is held every December in Timmonium, Maryland
(Baltimore). This is one classy show where everything is well planned and executed. I highly recommend that everybody try to attend.

Barry
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=126319&a=926274
 
How could a show with the likes of Jess Horn, D'Holder, Loyd McConnel and makers of this quality be a bad show? Easy if you were in Bellview for the Contempory Metal Werks (???) show. A good time was had by none for sure. We planned to spend and spend. Really wasn't much to look at lest buy. A shame as this part of the country NEEDS a quality show. Even the local makers shunned it. Comments.
 
I didn't go to the Bellview show, because I went to the NY show. I think that putting this show at the exact same time as another major show, is a mistake. Not that I would have gone to Bellview anyway, living in NY makes that show a bit difficult to get to.

From the collectors point of view, the fact that these two shows are on the same date and are run by different organizers seems to hint at some rivalry. The Cutlery biz and we as followers of it are I think for the most part a homogenous group, causing rivalry makes people shun the flamer.

------------------
~ JerryO ~
 
Joe and Paul have been running the NY Show for 22 years. I asked Joe about this situation at the show and he said in a very nice way that it's being done on purpose. The promoter of the Contemporary show has been doing it for a few years now as he wants to be in control.
Silly, enough for everybody.

------------------
lifter
Phil. 4:13

Dave
Wharton,NJ

 
Hi Howard,

It was good to meet you and your wife. I'm glad you made it home safely.

A good show needs a good name. Contemporary Metal Werks Show is NOT a good name (in my opinion the name stinks).

The show also needs to be advertised. Advertising in Blade magazine is preaching to the choir. Other forms of advertising are essential. If enough people come to the show everything else takes care of itself.
 
Ultimately, makers and dealers selling knives makes a good show. In the short term, it means that the hall is full of enthusiasts, buying knives, and happy, and the people behind the tables are making money, so they're happy.

In the long term, good "money" shows will attract bigger names, the table holders will bring larger, better varieties of stock, and bigger crowds will be drawn to the names & knives.

Although most of my buying is done to order, I try to spend some money at every show I attend, even if it's just a token, like a sharpening stone or a lanyard. It's a karma thing...
 
The Belleuve Show wasn't "that" bad...

I finally got ahold of Roger Dole there, and
he's now making a custom for both my wife
and I, plus I got an "ok" deal on a Chris
Reeves knife for the wifey, to replace her
Spyderco.

There were some interesting swords there.
I was (personally) hoping to see a better
collection of folders, but overall I
enjoyed the show.
 
Guys. This post isn't to lamblast CMW show. I only used that as an example of how just a bunch of great names, does not a show make.
I too have been to small local shows in various venues that I thought were super. EVEN WITHOUT the huge names and $10,000 knives. So, WHAT MAKES A GREAT SHOW????? Not a specific one just those in general.

------------------
Howard A. Faltz, Owner
Arizona Knife Source
"Keep it Sharp"
Luke 22:26
www.azknife.com
 
I was wanting to try and get a table for the March New York Show. The promoter is the same guy that promoted the Washington show. Should I reconsider trying to get a table for it? Any of you guys been to the March NY show?

------------------
Lynn Griffith
Available knives now listed on
My website
GriffithKN@aol.com

 
Lynn, the NY March show (ECCKS - East Coast Custom Knife Show) Is larger than the one in Bellview (if what I've heard about the Bellview show is correct). The Nov. show which just passed has mostly customs but also production knives. Camillus, Spyderco, Benchmade, Busse Knives (both factory & Custom) Chris Reeve Knives (both factory & Custom)were there. The March show is customs only (I believe). Both of these shows are very good. With regards to Contemporary Metal Werks (CMW) I think poor advertising affected this show. I'm not familiar with that part of the country, but NY is a major population center and you end up with a lot of people attending, no matter what.

Even with the date conflict (2 shows one weekend) I think that both could have been successful; just by geography. Seattle is going to be easier for west coast makers to attend, same for the growing contingent of Hawaiian makers and all the makers in the pacific rim. The east coast shows draw the east coast makers plus from Europe and Africa. Lynn, your in Oklahoma so it's six of one half dozen of the other for you.

As for the original question. I think (as a collector) that the succesful show is going to be one that is convienent. First it's got to be easy to get to, it helps if there's things to do in the area of the show, so you can send the wife and kids (not interested in knives) off shopping or whatever. In the show the same applies. There has to be enough room to move around and be able to see all that's out there. In that sense I think that the NY show may need some more room, the aisles get rather crowded. For me the show has to let me get access to the knifemaker. I can't afford to buy tons and tons of knives I usually can only get one or two (if that) per show. So the enjoyment comes from being able to talk to knifemakers, maybe order a knife for the future or talk knife design or basically what we do here on the forums, but in person!

------------------
~ JerryO ~


[This message has been edited by JerryO (edited 12 November 1999).]
 
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