Guilty at going to knife shows - not buying

DaveH

DaveH

Joined
Dec 2, 1999
Messages
12,249
This forum often talks about dealer and show issues so I though I should post it here.

I went to a knife show this weekend. I feel a little guilty as I did not buy anything from anyone with a table. I actually had cash to buy something but what was there just didn't grab me. I was actually in the mood to spend.

The problem as I see it was that I'm covered in benchmades, spydercos, crkt's in similar. I'm not into war bayonets, traditional pocket knives, fancy folders, or fixed blades that much.

The DMT sharpener guy was great, and I was really into the sharpener he was demonstrating, but it could barely go below 20 degrees. If it would have gone something like 20, 17, 15, 12 I would have bought in in a flash.

Is it just me or is there nothing really "in the middle" as one person there put it?
 
I agree that there was nothing much in the way of "in the middle" there.
 
Assuming that you are talking about the Marlboro show, I did not buy something every time I went. I still had a pretty good time.

I like to see what Chuck Gedraitis has to offer.

Art Green, who sells old knives has a lot of fun stuff to look at.

There are usually a number of custom purveyors there. Some of them are pretty high end, but you never know what they can dig out if you ask.

If you keep your eyes and ears open, some of the foks who do not have tables are also interested in selling. I have picked up a Jens Anso and a couple of nice traditional slippies from those sorts of guys.

Anywya, even if you have no interest in buying, most of the folks ther have no objection to picking up and looking.
 
It's your money. Spend it how you like and don't feel guilty if you don't find "The One" at that particular show. There will be other shows.
 
Yes it was Marlboro. Everyone one at the tables I talked to was very nice.
 
I don't blame ya at all. Believe it or not, there HAVE been knife shows, where Danbo didn't buy anything. They're few and far between, but it has happened. :)

Buy what YOU want, when YOU want. Let nobody tell you otherwise.
 
I bought my first knife at the marlboro show =P I was determined, as someone who doesnt own any knives other than the one on my leatherman, the things in my kitchen that have edges, and 2 things i've made myself so far, to leave the show with a blade >_< Decided to support a friend and aquantence and bought a nice little two finger neck-knife from Paul Letourneau

(yes you're all wondering wth am I doing in the custom forum having just got my first knife, but hey ! I read here because I'm an aspiring maker, and I want to see what people look for in their custom blades =) )
 
I had a really good time just talking to the makers and the forumites!! It was a blast just to look around. I spent a good amount of time talking to Howard Hitchmough and his wife. Mr Hitchmough makes some amazing knives!! I just had an amazing time yesterday!! I will be smiling for days, just thinking about it.
 
I used to never leave a show without buying some knives myself. That was a few years back. More recently, I have found that I look and look and just don't find anything that I would rather have than the money I would have to part with to get it.

I would be interested to know if the tables in the banquet room at the Holiday Inn in Marlboro were mostly filled or were there a lot of empty spaces.

I would have gone yesterday, but had to work. I have been going to the NCCA shows for several years now, and seems like a steady decline in people setting up tables and people attending.

Hopefully Art Green will be able to perk things up some as he is now running the club.

Peter
 
I know how you feel Dave. There weren't any knives on a table I felt I couldn't pass up, which is part how I'm trying to guide my buying for higher dollar knives.

~ Do I really want it? (Answer is often yes. The lust factor.)
~ Does it fit with what I want to have in my collection? (Can be hard to answer this in a few minutes in front of a table, unless it's something that's right at the top of the wanted listed).
~ Is it a good value? (Sometimes this evaluation is clouded by the aforementiond lust factor.)
~ What are the chances I can find it some other place/time, i.e., can I reasonably pass on it?

If the answers to the first three are yes and last one is no, then I feel pretty solid about buying.
 
The tables were pretty filled and there was a good number of people there.
 
I think I have bought something at every show I have gone to. If it wasn't a knife, it was a sharpener, book, or some kind of material. However, I don't think that anyone should feel guilty for not purchasing something at a show. if you don't see something that makes you want to pull out your wallet, then don't. No one is obligated to purchase something.
 
You made the effort to attend and paid admission (i assume), and that's what makes shows work.
The burden is on the makers to bring knives that people will want to buy. ;)

Be glad that you didn't buy on impulse just to have another knife to resell latter.
 
I am curious as to what are you looking for when you say "something in the middle"? Was there something in particular that would have made you pull your money out of your wallet or did you have something particualr in mind when you went to the show?

As Kevin said, the burden is on the makers to bring knives that people will want to buy. My question is what exactly would that be?

I actually put on a custom knife show and the answer to this question might help me present a better show. We're always looking for answers and ways to make the shows better.

Larry Bailey
 
Do show promoters ever either pay makers for attending or at least pay their expenses to attend shows?

Seems like a shows success could be dependent on which makers attend the particular show.
 
I will add that I have NEVER gone to a show and NOT enjoyed myself. I love knives, handling them and talking about them. Howard Hitchmough and his wife are ALWAYS a pleasure to chat with as are most all people I encounter.

Another person that usually attends Marlboro is Paul Jarvis. I thoroughly enjoy seeing his work and asking how various things were done, and he is ALWAYS friendly and willing to describe in detail anything you may be interested to know about his knives.

It is good to hear most tables were filled and that attendance was good. I attend every NCCA show that I can and was getting concerned about the shows.

Peter
 
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