First time Blade Show advice?

Like everyone else has said, have a plan, wear comfortable shoes, and bring cash because a million people all trying to be on the Galleria Wi-Fi or cell service at once with their Square dongles* is going to really slow things down.

Also, a good rule of thumb is that if whatever you are looking for is ultra rare and/or exclusive, if you aren't walking in when the doors open on Friday, then you're prrroooooobably not going to get it, because those sorts of things are generally gone by Saturday.




*LOL dongles
 
Don't accidentally schedule a trip for the "Blade Convention" in San Fran...

Just kidding, have fun!
 
From my experience go very early on Friday morning and wait in line if there is something or someone you are interested in. That and a floor plan with a plan of attack. Enjoy and have your budget in cash.
 
Ajack60 said:
Cash is king, bring cash if you’ll be buying
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This is thrpe advice I would give. Both times I ve gone to Blade, I ve gotten a bit of a discount by buying a knife with cash. Big name knives.
Have a good time.
 
Quiet said:
Like everyone else has said, have a plan, wear comfortable shoes, and bring cash because a million people all trying to be on the Galleria Wi-Fi or cell service at once with their Square dongles* is going to really slow things down.

Also, a good rule of thumb is that if whatever you are looking for is ultra rare and/or exclusive, if you aren't walking in when the doors open on Friday, then you're prrroooooobably not going to get it, because those sorts of things are generally gone by Saturday.




*LOL dongles
Click to expand...

How do you know WHICH knives will be gone first?

There are so many.

Anyone have a list for example?

For instance with production companies will have cited runs or particular knives that will be sold out on the first day? I am wondering what knives you are all talking about?
 
colubrid said:
How do you know WHICH knives will be gone first?

There are so many.

Anyone have a list for example?

For instance with production companies will have cited runs or particular knives that will be sold out on the first day? I am wondering what knives you are all talking about?
Click to expand...

I could probably have been more specific. I'm talking primarily about customs or highly sought-after midtechs, that sort of thing. As an example, when I went in 2015, I got there Friday night. So, I walk in on Saturday morning first thing and Bob Terzuola had nothing left. His table was completely bare. If you're a Hinderer guy, as another example, all the best custom stuff has already been grabbed by folks on Friday. Additionally, if you're looking for something like a one of the small-batch knives which come in a variety of scale choices, whatever you're seeing on Saturday is the best of what's left. Well, unless the maker held stuff back, which I have read that some makers do.

Now, if you're just looking for a production knife, you should be alright, unless it's something (again) highly sought after, then it has a fairly good chance of being snapped up on Friday. There's a reason why people pay out for those early bird passes. All of that said, there's still about a trillion knives at the show on Saturday, so if you aren't there for something very specific in mind, then chances are good that you're going to find what you're looking for and about a gazillion things you didn't know you needed.
 
Bring lots and lots of money ... and maybe a high limit credit card (with a low existing balance) "just in case".
 
Quiet said:
I could probably have been more specific. I'm talking primarily about customs or highly sought-after midtechs, that sort of thing. As an example, when I went in 2015, I got there Friday night. So, I walk in on Saturday morning first thing and Bob Terzuola had nothing left. His table was completely bare. If you're a Hinderer guy, as another example, all the best custom stuff has already been grabbed by folks on Friday. Additionally, if you're looking for something like a one of the small-batch knives which come in a variety of scale choices, whatever you're seeing on Saturday is the best of what's left. Well, unless the maker held stuff back, which I have read that some makers do.

Now, if you're just looking for a production knife, you should be alright, unless it's something (again) highly sought after, then it has a fairly good chance of being snapped up on Friday. There's a reason why people pay out for those early bird passes. All of that said, there's still about a trillion knives at the show on Saturday, so if you aren't there for something very specific in mind, then chances are good that you're going to find what you're looking for and about a gazillion things you didn't know you needed.
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Okay so Hinderer and Terzoula. Who else?


I would like to know the top 3 mid tech and top 3 customs that will be picked clean come Friday afternoon.






certainly not CRK or Southern/ Grimsmo?


Just wondering what tables people would rush to the most.
 
A couple things...

1. If you see a custom knife you want, and you're sure, buy it. Odds are good it will not be there 4 hours later. Even factory/production models sell out.
2. Take the time to talk to the guys you want to meet; you may never get another chance.
3. Take a lunch and snacks with you. Food there sucks.

After the show...
1. If you want to get away from the local area, Buckhead is the upscale part of town.
2. Peachtree Center is mostly for business types, so it's pretty dead weekends.
3. If you're a Coke fan, south of the city is the Coke museum, and it's right next to the Aquarium which is also worth a visit.

FYI:

Atlanta traffic, like all major cities, sucks.
 
91bravo said:
Does anyone know if Knifeworks is going to be there this year? Unless I missed it, I couldn't find them on the floor plan.
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How do I get this floor plan of which everyone speaks. I downloaded the mobile app they emailed me about...... completely useless....?

Someone help!
 
eisman said:
A couple things...

1. If you see a custom knife you want, and you're sure, buy it. Odds are good it will not be there 4 hours later. Even factory/production models sell out.
2. Take the time to talk to the guys you want to meet; you may never get another chance.
3. Take a lunch and snacks with you. Food there sucks.

After the show...
1. If you want to get away from the local area, Buckhead is the upscale part of town.
2. Peachtree Center is mostly for business types, so it's pretty dead weekends.
3. If you're a Coke fan, south of the city is the Coke museum, and it's right next to the Aquarium which is also worth a visit.

FYI:

Atlanta traffic, like all major cities, sucks.
Click to expand...

Also the college football hall of fame is really cool.
 
I'm only going to Saturday - I've bought my ticket already, do I need to show up super early? I'm not after anything special or rare, I just don't want to spend ages in line (for my ticket or just to go in). Any advice? Thanks!
 
mazibuko said:
I'm only going to Saturday - I've bought my ticket already, do I need to show up super early? I'm not after anything special or rare, I just don't want to spend ages in line (for my ticket or just to go in). Any advice? Thanks!
Click to expand...

Won’t be a line on Saturday. Even the early Friday line moves quick.
 
Do they change up the location for blade show? I'd love to go, but I live in the northeast US :(
 
I've never been to Blade, but everyone I know who has been says it's a blast, but don't expect bargains, even on factory knives and don't expect to get the super hot knife. Super hot knives get sold pre-show or to the VIPs with early passes. The best a "normal" can hope for is to get lucky in a lottery.
 
Well I was there today. It was a madhouse..

I had VIP tickets and that was not good enough as the early birds get in one hour before the VIP's. Even with the early birds they let in too many. And oh my gosh the VIP's there was thousands there waiting in line .. just turned into a mess.


Give an example. Microtech released a new UTX-80 design for the show and made it a even better by making this for the blade show knife as a special run thatc ouold be prurcahsed only at the show. Price was $125 with a limit of 2 per person.. By the time the VIP's got in I ran over to the microtech line and the line had probably well over a thousand people.. Not hard to do the math that with each person buying 2 only the first 300 will actually get a knife.. So most people hung in line for 3 hours wasting the opportunities they could have had being somewhere else.. But those spots also had crowds. Espcially the well known custom makers who wuill sell you a knife for $1000 and you can sell it for $5000 almost immediately. Mostly the set up guys get first shot at the best deals. Then the early bird, then VIP.

Getting a deal is not what it all cracked up to be. Basically if you get an early bird pass it only gives you ONE shot at ONE maker. I think it is better to just spend the extra amount (the real retail) than have to go through all that just to save a few hundred dollars and issing out on the show itself by standing in line. It is just not worth it, IMHO.

The lotterys are mostly held for Saturday. There were a few I entered for friday (today) but when you see the basket full of other tickets you just know it is ridiculous to actually expect to win a knife. With some of the lotterys they expect you to be there when you name or number is called. Other lotterys they will text you If you win and you have 30 minutes to get back to the booth to purchase the knife.

Of course there are some custom makers who have lotteries but there knives don't sell for much over the lottery price.. So you really have to know and study the market to know which lotterys to enter and which not to.. and which booths to run to and which ones not to. Time is really of the essense at a show this crowed as everyone has the same idea. They are all very well versed in knives, prices and custom makers.

The you have all the typical production companies like ZT, Benchmade, Spyderco etc.. they have knives on display that will be released on a later date (usually months from now) so all you can do is fondle them.
 
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