Displaying Fixed Blades?

[NoviceWoodsman]

I want sure of the best forum location to post this question. Any one have any good idea on how to best display a large number of fixed blades? I may be going to a show soon and I'm trying to come up with a good way to display puukko knives so that every person doesn't have to handle every knife, since those sheaths don't allow you to see either the blade or the handle. Any ideas from the pros? Thanks!

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I set the blade down, handle toward the table edge, and set the sheath next to it.

 

[NoviceWoodsman]

Well that method sure is simple enough. I think I am just a little concerned about them either disappearing or someone getting cut if they can just pick them up. Probably best to keep it simple though..thanks

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

If you go to a knife show, there will be hundreds to thousands of unsheathed knives on the tables. People usually know the rules, and ask permission to pick one up. They expect them to be sharp. Placing them handle first to the customer makes them a bit safer. Have a clean cloth with a little knife/gun oil on it to wipe down the blades after the day. There is a little spittle and such floating around over the table ( from people talking) that settles on the knives and can cause spots and rust weeks to months later. Fingerprints are not desirable on the knives, in storage, either.

As far as theft, you probably have a better change of them being stolen at your home than at the knife show.

 

[William Schrade]

Don't forget the free Bandaids.

 

[Burl Source]

Maybe a table top display case.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I haven't been to nearly as many shows as some folks, but in my experience, except items of great value and small size, show cases make people just look as they walk by. To many people, show cases say, "for display, not for sale."

Obviously there are things like folders and such that need to be under glass.

 

[Horsewright]

This has worked the best for us, but we aren't doing knife shows. We do western shows, ropings, cowboy shows etc. This pic is from the Sponsor Dinner from our local rodeo last week. This is where the rodeo comittee thanks the sponsors for their donations that made the rodeo happen.

In the past we've tried just about everyway possible to display my knives for sale. What we did was tag each individual knife with a price and a few details (style, blade steel and handle material). On the back side of the tag is a number. Each sheath has a tag with a number. So knife #3 goes with sheath #3. Each of my sheaths are wet molded and fitted to a specific knife so this prevents mixups getting the wrong sheath with the wrong knife, customer putting the knife in the sheath upside down etc ....becuase they end up asking you. Even when busy and several folks there at the same time it really simplified things. Helps out the help too if any. To sell your knives folks need to be able to handle them. Put em in the case they won't sell, tried it. Also this really helps if you're not at a knife show and not deealing with quite as an educated as a crowd as you might at a knife show.

There is a thread on this over at Sheaths and Such

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...w-or-Making-a-Living-with-your-Leatherwork-or

 

[Rick Marchand]

I like to separate the sheath from the knife. Knife upfront(handle forward), sheath toward the back(throat away). I try to make it obvious that I want folks to ask, before sheathing. I have had someone put a large knife into a small sheath by hammering on the butt with their open hand... no fooling... I was pissed and he was indifferent. That guy almost lost his mustache... swipe-swipe, bye! Another thing that happens often are the people who pick up a knife and immediately run their finger down the edge. I laughed out loud at the last lady who did that at a local artisan event. She cut her finger wide open, dropped the knife and looked at me like I had just attacked her. It was ridiculous.

I also had two kids (10-12yrs) clash two of my knives together as if they were dueling. I'm not making this stuff up. Expect anything at shows... even, Blade Show.

 

[Busto]

Talking about "Cuts" I finally had one of the guys at work who does all the plastic sign engraving with a gravograph set up for plastics cut me out a warning sign SHARP REALLY SHARP and did a nice graphic of a finger dripping a bit of blood in a circle with a line through it you know those signs....People still ask if its ok to pick up the knives and of course ask if its true about them being really sharp...I then reach down and pick up a box of BandAids nod my head and ask if they would like one if they are really going to test the edge.....The part I like is that they nod and ask which sheath goes with this REALLY SHARP one I'm holding then they pony up the cash....Must be some kind of subliminal selling tool...