Do you go to at least one knife show a year?

golok

golok

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Oct 20, 2000
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From the knife show calendar, it looks like there are at least two or three shows a month taking place somewhere across the US continent.

I know it is an absolute thrill to be present at any knife show. Some people find it addictive. Many haven't even been inside a knife show.

There are others who consider it their annual pilgrimage which must be made several times within a year. But what about those who don't have so much time or resources to be wandering all over the country?

Are there collectors who go to a knife show at least once a year?
 
Yep, I try to make two that are somewhat local for me; the Badger show in March, and the AECA show in Chicago in September. I do one day plan on making the holy pilgramage to BLADE...
 
Golok

Almost always attend Blade. After all I'm only 20-30 minutes away.:p
 
I go to both the NY city shows in the fall and spring, the one in Connecticut in the summer, and I try my hardest to make it to the one in Baltimore in the winter. I'll make it to Blade one day I hope.
 
I try to go to every knife show within reasonable traveling distance(every gun show too, for that matter). What is reasonable traveling distance? It varies, depending on the show. For your average, small show, I will usually put 300 miles as a max. For the Blade show, all bets are off, and I gladly drive 600 miles.

My permanent knife show schedule:

February- Little Rock, AR for the Arkansas Custom Knife Show. This show is getting better every year, and contains more Bladesmiths per square inch than any other show.

March- The Badger show in Janesville, WI. Great show. More knives and customers in one room than just about any other show(except Blade).

April & October- Tulsa, OK for the HUGE Wannamaker Gun and knife show. If you can't find it here, it can't be found!

May/June- Atlanta, GA- The Blade show! Knife sensory overload! Do not miss it! Once you go to the Blade show, you WILL find a way to never miss it.

September- Chicago, IL Can't remember who puts the show on, but it's a nice Knife Show, and that's all that matters.

December/January- Our knife collectors club puts on a nice knife show here in St. Louis. Becoming a pretty good show, and looks to be better every year.

I do make other shows in between these, but I will rarely miss any of these shows. And, I was wondering the other day where all my money went! ;) :D
 
I plan on attending as many as I can. I was at the Vegas Classic in January, and I'm going to be at Blade West in Sepetember. Sadly, I can't make it to BAKCA. :(
 
Yes...The local ones...I'm too poor to travel to see the BIG knife shows such as "Blade", but if I ever win the Lottery, I'll be there.:).
 
YUP! One knife show and one gun show a year

Knives I go to the New York Knife show in November
and Guns I go the Big E west Springfield Gun/Knife show once a year.

Wish I could do the circuit. Blade Show, BACA, do all the big ones!
 
Yup I'm lucky where I live we have the NKCA shows in Wilmington Oh,in Louisville Ky and in Lexington Ky to go to and they are in a sequential order so I can keep my knife habit in good shape and my bank account in terrible shape lol
 
I do exactly one show - BAKCA - which happens to be next weekend in San Jose. Although it is a "custom" show, there is usually a selection of production models to handle, which is good because I'm not really a collector (although I like looking!) and am more likely to pick up some out-of-production or hard-to-get production models rather than a custom. Last year, though, I had a hard time putting down a sweet Bob Lum fighter. Since my folks are in SoCal, I might try to combine a family visit with a side trip to Knife Expo, Blade West or the Solvang show some day. I go to Vegas once or twice a year, and I'd love to see the Shot Show there.
 
The closest show to me is 700 miles and it is small. The closest big show is 1300-1400 miles. I would love to take in a show a year, but with the distances and cost involved I always end up figuring the money would be better spent on another knife.

The show I would really like to get to next year is the ABS show in Reno. Probably the best show to go to for a guy who loves forged knives.
 
Knife shows are great! We have two in New York, in March and in November, which I've gone to for the past few years. In 2002 I got to Blade, obviously spectacular, but a one day local show can be a lot of fun, too, especially getting together with the knife knuts from the area.

Then there's the local club -- for the past few months, we've been meeting as the New Jersey Knife Collectors Association and it's like chat in person or a poor man's knife show, with everyone bringing sharp stuff to show off!

Check out the link -- anybody in the area is welcome, Pennsylvania or Connecticut or New York, too -- even Hawaii, if Klesk can figure out how to get here :p

The best part about a show or a club meeting is not just playing with the knives, but having real experts tell you about them. Knife stores are good, but the hired help isn't always knowledgeable. Going to a show, especially a big deal like Blade, and talking to rightfully world-famous makers is an unforgettable experience.
 
I'm fortunate to be able to attend Blade, the Southeast Custom Show, and the Greater Shenandoah Valley Show.
 
I visited a tiny knife show in Gembloux (Belgium) last year and will try to do the same thing this year. It's the only knife show in the neighbourhoud (200km drive). All depends on my wife however because she is due of our first baby two weeks later :D:)
 
For the last two years I've caught the Nordic Knive Custom maker show in April in Solvang which is amazing and I caught Blade West last year which I intend to catch again this September. I've only talked to one or two BFC members at these shows but I hope to meet more in the future.

I also hope to catch Plaza Cutlery's show the next time around. Lot's of awesome custom makers!

These shows are all within 90 minutes to two hours drive for me.

jmx
 
how do you find a calendar for all the possible knife shows? I moved to Seattle recently & apparently missed 2 area shows b/c I had no idea they were going on! how do I find the schedule for the Northwest???? thanks - FF5
 
Well I just attended my first knife show, and I'm definitely going back for more. I bought my second custom knife at the show (a small slip joint folder with a warncliffe blade, burl scales and titanium bolsters made by Norman Sandow)

There are not that many custom knife makers in New Zealand, but several of them make fantastic knives. I particularly admired the work of one maker (I can't remember his name unfortunately) who specialises in damascus blades.

My collection of knives (folding blades are my area of interest) is just beginning. I haven't quite decided what exactly I want to specialise in collecting but I think custom made knives is going to be it. Having said that, there are a number of commercial knives from makers such as Gerber, Benchmade and Spyderco that I intend adding to my collection.

Next show in Auckland is a general weapon show in the next couple of months - I had better start saving now - although I do have a bid in on a Leatherman Wave on an online auction closing in a couple of days.


Cheers,
Lindsay
 
well considering where i am i know of no blade shows at all, we just dont have the amount of smithies the states is blessed with. i try and get to militaria fairs where you occasionally get good ol' folding knives from the different wars and armies over the years but no shows specifically for knives :(.

oh well one day i will have the cash each year to fly to ATL blade show each year. :)
 
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