Guild Show

I am guessing that show was about as dead as this thread.

We have a bad, bad, bad, really awful, and terrible economy in the US. Been that way for three years now and no end in sight - if there is ever even going to be an end to the "new normal."

Who has money for luxuries like custom knives? Not many folks.
 
This was the first Guild show I attended in the last 5 years or so. That makes it difficult to compare collector attendance to previous years. I very much enjoyed the show. The Guild puts a great deal of effort into the event to make it a pleasure for makers and collectors, and it shows. I am planning on going back next year.
As with any show, sales were excellent for some makers, less so for others. S.R. Johnson sold out, Des Horn and several others had outstanding sales. The location is great, with a grand old hotel and retaurants etc. within easy walking distance.
The show was excellent for those who are looking for bargains from very fine new and upcoming makers.

Wolfgang
 
Don Hanson told me that it was greatly improved compared to a few years back. That's good to hear.
 
I went last year and had a good time. There was something for everyone and it was well attended. It sounds pretty much the same. Maybe next year I'll go again. Thanks for the info.
 
jdm61 said:
Don Hanson told me that it was greatly improved compared to a few years back. That's good to hear.
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Yep, way better than the last Guild show I did, 2007.

I sold 5 knives, bought too much ivory, ate good food and visited with good friends. It was great! :D
 
You bought MORE ivory? Sheesh!!!! Well, that confims the suspicion I had all along. You bought that second 100 lb Little Giant so that you could cover up the construction of the new wing in your underground ivory vault by passing it off as anohter very large hammer foundation. :D
Don Hanson III said:
Yep, way better than the last Guild show I did, 2007.

I sold 5 knives, bought too much ivory, ate good food and visited with good friends. It was great! :D
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jdm61 said:
You bought MORE ivory? Sheesh!!!! Well, that confims the suspicion I had all along. You bought that second 100 lb Little Giant so that you could cover up the construction of the new wing in your underground ivory vault by passing it off as anohter very large hammer foundation. :D
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Well Joe, that was a secret. :o :D
 
The Virginian said:
I am guessing that show was about as dead as this thread.

We have a bad, bad, bad, really awful, and terrible economy in the US. Been that way for three years now and no end in sight - if there is ever even going to be an end to the "new normal."

Who has money for luxuries like custom knives? Not many folks.
Click to expand...

I have been hearing that song at knife shows since the 1980's.....and will have been to at least 3 knife shows by the end of this year. Purchased less knives this year than just about any previous year...but it isn't due to lack of funding....just not seeing that much stuff that compels me right now...two of the knives that I picked up at Blade were gifts from the makers, truly appreciated gifts at that. FWIW, most of the collectors that I know are slowing down on purchasing for the same reason that I am....what we like is not that readily available right now.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
My Dealers had a field day purchasing. Good for the makers, good for the dealers, good for ME! :)

I'm told Terrill Hoffman filled in for the Photography studio, in a pinch for Eric Eggly who could not make it.

My take: The internet is a 24/7 knife show and it's having more of an impact on shows than the economy. Dealers are selling expensive knives.

Coop
 
hi Virginian,

Im guessing you haven't been involved with custom knives for very long.

We have a bad, bad, bad, really awful, and terrible economy in the US. Been that way for three years now and no end in sight - if there is ever even going to be an end to the "new normal."
Click to expand...

Like STeven I have been involved with custom knives since the early 1980's. I have been hearing that same lament from both makers and show goers since my first Blade Show in 1985. A bad economy is without a doubt the most overused excuse for not selling knives within custom knives.

The reality is with all shows (with the possible exception of the AKI) Some makers will sell out, some will do ok and some will sell nothing. If the economy is so bad how do you explain makers like Wolfgang and Don selling all the knives they did? Obviously someone has money.

As well I agree with STeven that many of the buyers out there have been avid collectors for so long that there "eye" is so developed that they are now buying fewer knives, but more expensive ones.

Also I agree with Coop that the 24/7 knife show that is the Internet. Sales at shows have been decreasing for the last 10 years. As you no longer have to wait for a knife show to get the knife you want.

Knife show reviews have slowed to a crawl on most of the forums. Perhaps many of the people who attend the shows are not active on the internet?

Just because people aren't posting doesn't mean it was a bad show.
 
SharpByCoop said:
My Dealers had a field day purchasing. Good for the makers, good for the dealers, good for ME! :)

I'm told Terrill Hoffman filled in for the Photography studio, in a pinch for Eric Eggly who could not make it.
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If that is the case, it is the second time I know of, in about 5 years that Eric has missed his commitment. I'll ask him about it next month at the AKI.

I like going to knife shows. This year at Blade I MADE money, and made more money after the show....and I spent a bunch of money there in Atlanta....good drinks, good dinners, visting with friends....only purchased about 3 knives in Atlanta, also couldn't find silver vine wood to purchase, and the pearl that was available was small and expensive...it is apparent to me that demand is outstripping supply for certain makers, certain styles of knives, and certain materials....it is a good synergy to have this situation for the makers, and also for the buyers, as it helps to keep them interested...you always want what you cannot have.

There is a very strong human element about going to shows that you miss on the internet....it is the difference between a phone call while eating, and going out to a meal with someone. If it is just about the knives(and there is NOTHING wrong with that), the internet is a great way to scratch that itch, but at this point(maybe always for me) it is as much about the interpersonal relationship as it is about the product. The knives I own from deceased makers like Ron Gaston, Corbett Sigman or R.W. Loveless would not mean NEARLY as much if I had not had the opportunity to get to know these fine craftsmen.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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^ I agree Steven.
Though the internet has certainly progressed custom knives and will continue to do so, there's a lot more to custom knives than can be found on the internet.
There's the human element, there's the education, and actually being able to see and feel the knife in hand.
Imagine that, actually being able to see, feel and enjoy a fine custom knife in hand as opposed to a photo?

I believe there's a limit as to how much one can truly learn about custom knives without actually handling and examing them.
 
Guys no one is saying you shouldn't go to shows. Just talking about that in fact the Internet has had an affect both good and bad.

I wish I could get to 25 shows a year. Alot of them you just can't get to without driving. I was going to go to the show in Boise....would have to change plans 3 times and it would take between 10 - 12 hours to get there...by plane! Oh and don't forget the 2 1/2 hour drive to Atlanta! In the same amount of time I could get to the Custom Show in Milan Italy! :D

Now that is not the case with getting to Louisville. Non Stop from Atlanta.

Just some shows...at least for me...you can't get there from here! LOL
 
I went to the show to buy supplies and see good friends. It seemed better than last year. Kevin Casey was doing well. And I agree about knife shows. It's a great way to interact with customers and people in general. I currently do not sell on the internet, and I have been blessed to almost sellout at Blade every year. The internet is great, but shows are still where it's at!
 
STeven and Kevin have a deep understanding of what collecting is all about, along with a passion for the items they collect. I know a number of collectors who are very selective in what they will buy. In fact, many of them only add one or two pieces to their collection every couple of years, in spite of the fact that they could afford to purchase anything they desire. Like STeven, they know exactly what they want to add to their collection, and will not settle for less. Many of these collectors still attend a number of shows, knowing full well that they will not find anything they are looking for. They are wise enough to know that there are always new makers to discover and keep an eye on. Only by handling their work and talking to them can their true potential be evaluated. As well it gives collectors the opportunity to see any new work of the makers they collect, but may have already be sold, or delivered. Personal contact with the makers they have placed orders with is also of benefit, much better than an email or phone call. Of course, then there is the personal contact with makers and other collectors, an important part of collecting.
Wolfgang
 
Les Robertson said:
Guys no one is saying you shouldn't go to shows. Just talking about that in fact the Internet has had an affect both good and bad.

Just some shows...at least for me...you can't get there from here! LOL
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Bolded part is dead true, Les.

Some shows, the effort is worth it in spades. I remember going to Josh Smith's show a few years back, took my wife with me, she fell in love with a Larry Fuegen piece that I was able to purchase for her, started the forging of a friendship between my family and Larry's family....you can't buy that. Shared a few cigars with Paul Shindler, Mark Strauss and Harvey Dean over the course of the weekend, got to hear some GREAT stories, you can't buy that. Showed one of my heroes, Don Fogg some Nick Wheeler knives, shared a few laughs over Don's pathetic attempts at leather work(and Nick's leather greatness) and had the perfect moment captured by Buddy Thomason, you can't buy that. Got to tattoo Erik Fritz, Wade Colter and Cameron Eggly, and you CAN buy that, but only if I am in the mood, and the payback that I got from Erik and Wade was vastly greater than the effort initially put out-...sheath made after the fact by Steven Rapp.


My crappy photo, you don't want to buy that.....you all get the picture. Until my brain gives out, these are memories worth having, even though I had to jog twice in one day to avoid missing my plane, and it was expensive to get to Missoula, MT.

As an aside, and very side..... not....I unhappily but accurately predicted the downfall of momentum RE the American Bladesmith Society five years ago, comparing the Knifemaker's Guild heyday to the ABS situation at the time, and due to shortsightedness and bickering and provincial politics, the ABS is not 1/10 in the position that it was 5 years ago to drive the bus that it is today. DAMNED shame....this is not about me, and not about them.....it is about us......Jon Brand could be Kevin Jones, or me, or Roger Pinnock in 10 years....or he could be a fry cook in a diner.....make your own destiny and desire to drive the damned bus.....own it, and do it well.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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No complaints, great food, freinds, and I don't know how I could attend a knife show and
not have a good time. Got to meet Don Hanson, and I sold knives. Whats not to like.
Ken.
 
Thought show went well. Sold everything I took saw alot of other knives sell got to spend time with good friends and ate way to much. Just can't ask for any more.
I will be back next year.

Cliff Parker
 
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