Fort Worth Knife Show

S

Sidehill Gouger

Joined
Dec 29, 2007
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Any word on how the Fort Worth Knife Show this weekend is going/went? I saw that TOPs had tables there so I was wondering if this was really a Guild/ABS show.
 
My son went and had a sensational time, the place was packed and a lot of money changed hands... :cool:
 
I'll put up a post about it later when I get a chance.

Bullet points
- Big crowds
- Good sales
- spectacular knives

Big news out of the Knifemakers' Guild, positive changes on the board of directors. Pres Todd Begg, VP Gary Langley, members at large Jason Fry and Gene Baskett. Other members not up for election were Charlie Matthews, Les Adams, Edmund Davidson.

@blade_show on Instagram put up a ton of video content including some good walkarounds.

The show was purchased by the Blade Show folks, and is no longer officially the ABS/Guild show.

There will be a show in Ft Worth next year at the convention center, TBD. Maybe ICCE, maybe "Bladeshow Texas."
 
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Jason Fry said:
I'll put up a post about it later when I get a chance.

Bullet points
- Big crowds
- Good sales
- spectacular knives

Big news out of the Knifemakers' Guild, positive changes on the board of directors. Pres Todd Begg, VP Gary Langley, members at large Jason Fry and Gene Baskett. Other members not up for election were Charlie Matthews, Les Adams, Edmund Davidson.

@blade_show on Instagram put up a ton of video content including some good walkarounds.

The show was purchased by the Blade Show folks, and is no longer officially the ABS/Guild show.

There will be a show in Ft Worth next year at the convention center, TBD. Maybe ICCE, maybe "Bladeshow Texas."
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Jason, does that mean they are opening it to anybody and everybody like Blade in Atlanta?
 
Sidehill Gouger said:
Jason, does that mean they are opening it to anybody and everybody like Blade in Atlanta?
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Too soon to tell. This time they opened it up to a few select manufacturers, but also (wisely IMO) opened it up to cowboy artisans: spurs, leather, hats, etc.
 
Jason Fry said:
Do you take care of your best customers? I do...
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Depends on the extent. Taking care of best customers is one thing. Doing it while excluding other customers is another.

I wasn't there and don't know the particulars but just going off posts in this thread,

*IF* I was a maker wanting a table and was told "no" then found out there were horse tack and western wear vendors, I wouldn't be happy.

Shouldn't a knife show try to fill all their tables with knife vendors and related suppliers before allowing/ inviting vendors of other trades?

I'm not saying that did or didn't happen. Just giving my perspective.
 
They were limited by the contracts with the previous vendors first, and second by the size of the venue. Too soon to tell what it’ll be like next time.

Western artist combo show makes sense for Ft Worth. It was handmade saddles, leather, Spurs, paintings. Wasn’t clothing, jewelry etc.
 
Jason Fry said:
They were limited by the contracts with the previous vendors first, and second by the size of the venue. Too soon to tell what it’ll be like next time.
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So are you saying the hat, spur and saddle makers had previous contracts with the venue? Or once they added those vendors, the venue was too small for any more knifemakers?

Jason Fry said:
Western artist combo show makes sense for Ft Worth. It was handmade saddles, leather, Spurs, paintings. Wasn’t clothing, jewelry etc.
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It wasn't additional knifemakers either. Once you start adding in other vendors, the knife show gets watered down.

Do you know if there were other knifemakers that wanted tables but were told "no"? If so, that would be a problem, IMO.
 
“Once you start adding in other vendors, the knife show gets watered down....”

It’s no longer a ‘Knife Show’ and is a glorified Flea Market....not interested in a bunch of superfluous bs when I go to look at KNIVES, not at all interested in tchotchkes and all the crap that comes with it.
 
Dawkind said:
“Once you start adding in other vendors, the knife show gets watered down....”

It’s no longer a ‘Knife Show’ and is a glorified Flea Market....not interested in a bunch of superfluous bs when I go to look at KNIVES, not at all interested in tchotchkes and all the crap that comes with it.
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I agree wholeheartedly!!!...
 
Google Wilson Capron for tchotchkes. The western group brought their A game, not their watered down.

I'm realizing I sound defensive... It's not my show, I don't have a skin in that game.

I can tell you it was interesting to sit in a pre-show meeting at a show where we were hoping to do well, and still hear people complain about shows being "no good" any more.

I don't know who made the decisions or how as far as who got tables and who didn't.
 
There are THREE parties at stake here:
Knife makers
Show Promoters
Attendees

Makers (tableholders) want it all for themselves. As they would.

Show Promoters want a SUCCESSFUL Show with happy attendees (and makers) willing to return.

Attendees MAY want to see only knives, and MAY be interested in other quality crafts.

I would not be put off to see quality handmade items which may interest me, even if I wasn't purchasing.

This extends to non-handmade vendors as well. They are catering to a less costly section of the market.

In the end, it's up to the Promoters to figure out who's generating the most interest and income.

To that I don't have a clue, but seeing things evolving is instructional.
 
Jason Fry said:
Google Wilson Capron for tchotchkes. The western group brought their A game, not their watered down.

I'm realizing I sound defensive... It's not my show, I don't have a skin in that game.

I can tell you it was interesting to sit in a pre-show meeting at a show where we were hoping to do well, and still hear people complain about shows being "no good" any more.

I don't know who made the decisions or how as far as who got tables and who didn't.
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I saw his work and awards and it’s phenomenal....just think if he made knives of that caliber. :D
 
Bastards at Blade f-ed it up again...Times have changed, shows used to proudly advertise, Knives Only.

Cowboy artisans is not the Knife Guild or ABS...some souls are now owned by the devil, aka Blade.

Isn't Cowboy Artisan an oxymoron unless it's a rope trick or bull rider with unusual technique? :)
 
I don’t mind some other vendors being at a knife show but it definitely should be a small percentage of the tables and it should be relevant to the show. Sounds like it was in this case. With regards to the advertising, I never saw an advertisement for the show that wasn’t about knives. Most advertisements were from knife makers saying they would be exhibiting there.

Complainers see a saddle or leather maker selling their wares, I see a potential new sheath maker for the knife I just bought.
 
I wasn't at the show, but have heard from a number of makers and collectors that were there. Very positive reports about the show. No negatives.
 
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