ECCKS Anyone?

Kevin, I was fortunate enough to get to fondle your knife before it headed out east last week, and it is a great one! I haven't handled too many S-guard blades, and I was amazed at the balance and feel this one had. It needs a Coop shot to share the real joy with those that don't have the chance to handle it.
Very nice catch! :thumbup:

- Joe
 
Thanks Joe.
I was pleasantly surprised at the balance. You kinda see it as an "Art Knife" however after handling you realize it's a very serious weapon.
Don was telling me he got an impressive photo taken of it at the show. I will post it when It's received.
 
I really wanted to write up a nice report like Coop did here and STeven has done for other shows but I have been absolutely swamped since I came back home from ECCKS.

So here is an abridged version. Hopefully better late than never.

It was damn cold in NY the day I arrived and after getting of the train walked from Madison Square Garden to the hotel at about 8:30AM. That's about 15 city blocks and the windchill brought the temps to probably the mid teens. That's cold for a CA boy who dragged his luggage through the snow and sleet.

After dropping of my luggage I grabbed a bite to eat at Roxy's (best french toast I ever had :thumbup: ) and walked around the area a little to kill time hoping that a hotel room would become available. I was able to check in shortly after 11 and took some time to unpack and freshen up. I went downstairs to get in line around 12:30PM.

At this time I was sorely dissapointed and actually rather upset :mad: . There were people already in there buying knives yet the website had stated an opening of 1PM. I also asked a knife maker a few days before the show to make sure there was no VIP hour. That knife maker told me that he didn't know of one. At this time I found out that it was open at 12PM for VIPs and active guild members. Hell, had I known that before hand I would have joined the guild just for this opportunity. This was not the start to my time at the show I had hoped for after traveling a few thousand miles for plenty of money and staying in an expensive hotel. Anyway, I entered at 1PM...

First table I tried to get to was Wolfgang Loerchner's. No one there.

Next table was Edmund Davidson. Had a real nice time chatting with him some more and seeing his knives up close. Decided right there and then on a nice stag-handled utility in S7. I would have preferred stainless, but that's how it worked out.

Next I went to Charles Bennica's table. An interesting large damascus hunter and a couple of smaller knives. The one that really caught my attention though was an interframe sub-hilt, mirror polished with a really intersting tip. I inquired about the knife and it was already sold (before the show ever opened). Quite the beauty though.

After that I started moving through the aisles. I won't give an account of every table I visited and honestly it isn't so fresh in my mind anymore.

It was really nice meeting Peter Gill and Riad from the forums. It was good to meet Coop again.

I enjoyed seeing these guys again:
Don Hanson - nice knives as already discussed here plenty
Virgil England - had one really large amazing looking fighter (I guess that's what you would call it)
Joe Szilaski - of course with a fabulous looking hawk
Jonny Walker Nilsson - some amazing creations in wood, bone and antler - not to mention steel
Darrel Ralph - the usual fabulous knives (but not the one I have on order :grumpy: - just kidding - :p )
John Young - didn't get picked at this lottery either (really cool anniversary knife and a nice boot)

It was good to finally meet (in person):
Bertie Rietveld - a nice dagger, two of his folders and some really nice sleek fixed blades (I picked up one and brought it home :D )
Ricardo Velarde - a sub-hilt that didn't really catch my fancy but two really nice Wilderness knives with 6-inch blades
Paul Schindler from Knife Legends

I got a chance to meet:
Dietmar Kressler - no knives at the table when I met him
Anders Hogstrom - sold out before the standard opening bell I think
Harvey Dean - was there when Peter was at the table and chatted about that really nice feather pattern damascus. As previously told in this thread, he also was rather proud of his AKI pin :thumbup: . I look forward to seeing him there again.

That was it for my Friday. On Saturday I briefly headed back into the room in the morning to see if Wolfgang Loerchner was there. He was and I finally got a chance to meet him. He didn't have any knives for sale but had a beautiful folder on display. It was good talking to him for the few minutes that I had before needing to head out of town. As to Loerchner's knives, Simon Lytton had two for sale that were absolutely gorgeous. But at price tags of $12K and $15K, they were just a bit out of my price range :eek: .

Even though I met all these great makers and their fabulous knives at the show, following are the true highlights of my ECCKS trip :) (not in order, they both rank equal with me):

1) Going to dinner with Bertie Rietveld. I have had sporadic contact with him for about 1.5 years now. He is an extremely likable guy and we made dinner plans before heading to New York. We went to this great little Italian place and talked about knives, motorcycling and various other subjects. It was a good time.

2) After spending some time chatting with Dietmar Kressler on Friday and enjoying talking to a knifemaker in my native language, I asked if he was available for breakfast on Saturday. We made tentative plans pending his jet lag. He called me around 7:30AM and we headed out about 8AM. He said he was bringing a couple of other guys. Much to my total suprise one of them was Ron Lake! The other was Manfred Melzer of ArsCultri (a german knife dealer). Dietmar, Ron, Manfred and I went to the Essex House across from Central Park for a really classy breakfast experience. What a place! Conversation ranged over a myriad of subjects and knives came up a few times, too. A great time with 3 really nice guys (where 2 just happen to be legends in the industry). Really cool.

That raps it up. I guess not so abridged after all. I took some pictures and might be tempted to post them here once I upgrade to a membership and when I get the time. That'll probably not be for another week+. Let me know if you guys will still be interested in seeing the pics then or if this will be considered old news by then. I guess this is a test to see if anyone is reading this far in my long post.
 
What did you get besides the Davidson, if anything?

S7 is good steel, just be sure to oil it after handling.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
STeven,

I got a Bertie Rietveld fixed blade. Sleek stainless damascus.

I'll do my best to post the pics late next week.

Best,
Thor
 
Hi Thor,

Well, what a treat to read even more good tidings.

Yup, I have learned from the past watching Knifemakers Guild members get in early to make sure I bring my card and keep my membership active (and why not, anyway?). I was on the platform back at home when I realized I forgot my card. I missed that train and caught the next as I dashed home to get it. Not worth the anxiety of getting there early to watch and wait.

Glad you have a good relationship with Paul Shindler, as I do. Oh yeah, that Bennica subhilt is especially lovely. I am owning it for this week.... :p Give him a shout.

I didn't mention much of my conversation with Bernie, but he ranks as one of THE most interesting men I have ever chatted with. There was one fixed blade on his table that I wanted to ogle more, but our chatting got in the way. It had a dirk look to it. Could this be...????

Years ago, I was invited to a breakfast table with Phil Lobred and Bob Loveless. Like you, it was a breakfast conversation I will always cherish.

Thanks for your report. You had a small pocket digicam, and I am inspired to get one myself. THAT was smart. Now let's see some crummy pics! :eek: They are good enough!

Coop
 
Nice write up Thor and very good to see you there. If I had known about the VIP thing, I would have acquired one for you and a few others. Show those pics when you get a chance.
 
I want to point out that it wasn't Don that I asked ahead of time. I also am not bothered that the other maker whom I did ask did not know about the VIP hour. I am annoyed with the show organizers for not letting the regular participants know about this via their show website. In my opinion this is a big NO-NO (not the hour but rather the lack of information on it). Again, this isn't a cheap show to attend unless you live in one-day driving distance.


Coop,
Maybe that is the same Rietveld knife. You'll just have to wait for the "crummy pics" to know for sure. ;)
Very cool about the breakfast with Lobred and Loveless. I can see how that was a very special moment. :thumbup:
 
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