- Joined
- Oct 8, 2001
- Messages
- 12,336
Man, am I tired from Friday's visit.
It was a long day with so much input, it *almost* wore me out. From zero to overload in 8 hours!
The line forms long for the opening of the doors at 12:00, and I was one of the first 20 in. After I cleared the stampede, I walked over to Bailey Bradshaw's table for a visit. Met him for the first time, and he was as fine a gentleman in person as is the quality of his knives. Which, BTW were awesome. He had a Bowie and several carved folders and several 'plain' 'ole lockbacks. Very shweet. I hope he comes back empty-handed. He's working on a knife for me now and will have it ready soon--but not today. Wished him well.
I'll sum up my some of my biggest finds with these two words: South Africa! I won't minimize our own USA work at all here, but the value of some of these knives for what they were asking was to be recognized. And recognize I did!
Here--let's cut to the chase and first look over what I got, then come back to me.
Ok, you're back. I bought those three little working knives from Arno Bernard. Warthog Tusk handles and a great little blade shape. ATS34 w/brushed finish six pins holding them in and leather sheaths. If you look close you'll see a price tag. See what I'm talkin' about! You'll see some, not all, of them up for auction soon.
Above them is that lonnnnngg slender knife from Wm Burger. Warthog tusk again. He has no email or webstuff, so don't ask. Just a S. African P.O box and a phone. This guy had some of the nicest boxed up sets of swurvy knives you could imagine. By the time I got there they had ALL been snatched up by some collector. I wish I had more to show. I'll be in touch with him again. This has a tapered tang with red liners--the works.
Below is a little hidden blade in a beautiful wooden sheath by none other than Stan McKiernan.(USA) I paid him a visit and paid him some homage. (well, some cash, too) Check out his own handmade LARGE mosaic emblem inlay. Nice!
Ahhhhhh, I knew you were intrigued by that sleek and sexy long blade. Bertie Reitveld. This guy is sole author of this knife, and the closer you look at it, the better it gets. It has a very subtle colored stainless damascus blade, and he did it. He also engraved that blued bolster, and his trademark little 'stanhope' lense in the bolster has his logo in it when you look into it up to the light! Carmel mammoth ivory scales. It don't get any finer than this! Plus we talked for half an hour about motorcycles! We get along just fine. (Even my wife's eyes bulged out when admiring this blade!)
Next up is a really fine little folder from Lourens Prinsloo (again, S. Africa). this gem has ironwood handles, R. Eggerling mosaic bolsters and a combination of polished and satin stainless parts that is so tastefully done. Garnet stone in the stud. Really well executed. His logo is the most elegant I think I have ever seen. Such a deal.
Lastly, I spent mucho time before and after this trip in dialog with Les Robertson (both in private and in his forum on CKD). We went over a bunch of stuff and he helped me fill a 'void' in my collection for a really fine tactical knife. I picked up a Butch Valotton D/A carbon/titanium Vanguard masterpiece. It has a very, very trick front scale release for the auto opener, and it is virtually indistiguishable unless told and shown. I am proud to have this fine knife in my selection as well. It is MASSIVE for a folding knife, and has some real authority! I drove to work today just opening and closing it manually, again and again with such a 'THWACK'!!! Les, as you know, is just as knowledgable and generous with his info about many matters of our CK world, and it was a great pleasure to meet him as well! Thanks!!!!!
Many other forumites were there too, and I thank all who made me feel welcome to this group! There's more to tell, but it's past my bedtime. I'm going back Sunday, this time with the little lady for another round. Part 2 soon. I posted this here because it seemed more appropriate. (Thanks Martial Way for your post!)
Coop
(Hey buddy, can you lend me a dime? I'm broke! ;^)
Other shots from the show
It was a long day with so much input, it *almost* wore me out. From zero to overload in 8 hours!
The line forms long for the opening of the doors at 12:00, and I was one of the first 20 in. After I cleared the stampede, I walked over to Bailey Bradshaw's table for a visit. Met him for the first time, and he was as fine a gentleman in person as is the quality of his knives. Which, BTW were awesome. He had a Bowie and several carved folders and several 'plain' 'ole lockbacks. Very shweet. I hope he comes back empty-handed. He's working on a knife for me now and will have it ready soon--but not today. Wished him well.
I'll sum up my some of my biggest finds with these two words: South Africa! I won't minimize our own USA work at all here, but the value of some of these knives for what they were asking was to be recognized. And recognize I did!
Here--let's cut to the chase and first look over what I got, then come back to me.
Ok, you're back. I bought those three little working knives from Arno Bernard. Warthog Tusk handles and a great little blade shape. ATS34 w/brushed finish six pins holding them in and leather sheaths. If you look close you'll see a price tag. See what I'm talkin' about! You'll see some, not all, of them up for auction soon.
Above them is that lonnnnngg slender knife from Wm Burger. Warthog tusk again. He has no email or webstuff, so don't ask. Just a S. African P.O box and a phone. This guy had some of the nicest boxed up sets of swurvy knives you could imagine. By the time I got there they had ALL been snatched up by some collector. I wish I had more to show. I'll be in touch with him again. This has a tapered tang with red liners--the works.
Below is a little hidden blade in a beautiful wooden sheath by none other than Stan McKiernan.(USA) I paid him a visit and paid him some homage. (well, some cash, too) Check out his own handmade LARGE mosaic emblem inlay. Nice!
Ahhhhhh, I knew you were intrigued by that sleek and sexy long blade. Bertie Reitveld. This guy is sole author of this knife, and the closer you look at it, the better it gets. It has a very subtle colored stainless damascus blade, and he did it. He also engraved that blued bolster, and his trademark little 'stanhope' lense in the bolster has his logo in it when you look into it up to the light! Carmel mammoth ivory scales. It don't get any finer than this! Plus we talked for half an hour about motorcycles! We get along just fine. (Even my wife's eyes bulged out when admiring this blade!)
Next up is a really fine little folder from Lourens Prinsloo (again, S. Africa). this gem has ironwood handles, R. Eggerling mosaic bolsters and a combination of polished and satin stainless parts that is so tastefully done. Garnet stone in the stud. Really well executed. His logo is the most elegant I think I have ever seen. Such a deal.
Lastly, I spent mucho time before and after this trip in dialog with Les Robertson (both in private and in his forum on CKD). We went over a bunch of stuff and he helped me fill a 'void' in my collection for a really fine tactical knife. I picked up a Butch Valotton D/A carbon/titanium Vanguard masterpiece. It has a very, very trick front scale release for the auto opener, and it is virtually indistiguishable unless told and shown. I am proud to have this fine knife in my selection as well. It is MASSIVE for a folding knife, and has some real authority! I drove to work today just opening and closing it manually, again and again with such a 'THWACK'!!! Les, as you know, is just as knowledgable and generous with his info about many matters of our CK world, and it was a great pleasure to meet him as well! Thanks!!!!!
Many other forumites were there too, and I thank all who made me feel welcome to this group! There's more to tell, but it's past my bedtime. I'm going back Sunday, this time with the little lady for another round. Part 2 soon. I posted this here because it seemed more appropriate. (Thanks Martial Way for your post!)
Coop
(Hey buddy, can you lend me a dime? I'm broke! ;^)
Other shots from the show
I am generally in Norwalk a few times a year on business. We should hook up and talk knives over a couple beers sometime. Certainly looks like you have good taste.
