How to act at a real knife show

Yep, everybody needs to bring their own Hawaiian shirt. It's just a Blade show thing. Ken, if you can find a nice one in XL Tall, bring it for me!
 
I disagree about not touching the blade of a knife. Sometimes touching the blade is the best way to give an accurate assessment of the grind, edge geometry and edge sharpness. If I am going to lay down a large ammount of money on a custom blade, I am going to look it over very close to see if it is really what I want.

I have found that most makers WANT you to touch the knives. Often when I stop by a knife table at a show, I start looking without touching to see if there is anything I want. Every custom maker I have come across has always said "go ahead and pick it up. See how it feels in your hand." They want to you to touch the knife and feel the knife. The best knife is one that feels like it is part of your hand.

Back to the blade touching. If I am looking at knives from a maker I have met on the forums, and know beyond a doubt I have zero intentions of purchasing the knife (maybe price or it doesn't fit into the user category I tend to buy) then I will not touch it anymore then necessary. To me, that is just being polite. If I am seriously considering the purchase of the knife, then I feel I should be able to look it over and touch it enough to which is necessary to make my final decision. That is why makers carry cloths to wipe down the knives after it has been handled. Just my opinion. See you guys at Blade! And Ken, I might have to war a flowered hawaiian shirt just for you buddy.

JR
 
I think a commissioned knife will run more money.
because it's harder to make (time) than the regular
models that a maker may make normally and all still
depends on the knife being made.
I'm used to customers haggling with me, being a
retail small engine store owner(10% now).
the only thing we can say is
sorry that's the price.
but in turn most the makers go to the shows to
sell they're knives hopeful all of them, other than meeting the
guys.
If one guy buys 3 knives from you, you may feel this
buyer may be a good customer in the future and he's
spending possibly 3 times what another might
so I'd give him a deal.
yes cash is good, plastic cost to take
but Plastic is better than some checks bouncing around..
  I'd like to be asked before someone handles a knife,
not a big problem if he doesn't though
  I have a problem dealing with a lot of people around,
I like one on one and getting to know someone, I'm not very flamboyant, but getting over it.
 it's just the small town boy in me, still at 47,
unless of course I get a few Scotches down, then
I can be the life of the party.
 I was at a show once and the guy setting behind me selling
old folders ( not a maker himself) but part of the show.
he liked one of the bowies I made, he kept taking it and showing
it to guys coming by his side of the tables,, all day long..
  I didn't mind because he was so taken with it
and he wanted to show eeeeeveryone.
  I thought it was kind of cool,
  it was sold before I got to the show anyway. so I didn't loose
anything from it being away from my table, but with One eye on its where abouts,
after all it was sold..
  I to am getting hard of hearing so if you want to insult me at a show because I didn't notice you and I keep smiling,
you'll have to get my attention first..
go ahead and feel it all over Just don't cut yourself.
they are sharp..and please don't wipe it down after.
 
I don't think anyone here is saying you shouldn't touch a knife at a show. In fact, I and most other makers want you to. I'll often ask someone to pick one up, even though I'm pretty sure they are not going to buy. Touching and feeling are a necessary part of undestanding what a knife has to offer. Watching a person's face while they're handling a knife is also more informative than talking sometimes.

I think the only thing that's been said on this thread that limits that is the courtesy of asking sometimes, but even if you don't I'd rather you picked one up than walked on by without meeting my knives.

One thing I really do get bent out of shape about though is when someone allows their children to handle knives, especially without asking. I've wiped gummy bears off my blades and had kids almost take a finger off by carelessly playing with a dangerous weapon. Some parents need to get spanked!

Generally speaking though, knife shows are a pretty comfortable environment for showing off knives. Gun shows on the other hand can get a little strange at times, especially the small ones.
 
Jerry,

I agree, no one said not to handle the knife. Someone simply said do not handle the blade of the knife. That I disagree with.

JR
 
Hey yall got a good one going. This is one of the best threads in weeks, I been looking every chance I get. I think everyone has brought up good thoughts on the subject. My only whine at the shows are when some one gets through looking at one and pulls that dreaded rag or hankerchief out of their pocket and starts installing a hand rubbed satin finish on a mirror finish. I want you to pick them up and look thats where the magnetic attraction starts. You dont even have to ask I just assumed thats what I came for. Everybody stop by and browse, B/S or just say hi. Trust me the cooler will be nearby. So we will see yall at the same place as last year at table 23-E Back to work take care. GenO
 
Well, I really do appreciate the "lessons" on appropriate behavior at BLADE. The most important things that I believe cannot be streesed enough is asking before touching, never wiping down a knife unless you already paid for it, be polite as it is a two-way street, Rob has a cooler, Tom has a chair and if I take too many pain meds, I might halluncinate staring At Ken Onion's shirt:eek: :eek:

I keep looking at the calendar and even if I have to be rolled in on skateboards glued to my Butt, I am going to be there.

NOW, for the stupid, nosy question that has been eating at me and I just gotta ask...........How many have you had knives STOLEN off your table at a show? Is it common.........Thanks
 
Now this is a subject that can take the air out of my tires. Years ago I used to play around at peddling factory knives and a few (very few) customs also.

It does not happen too often, but it does happen. When it does it really does get to you. In 1996 or maybe it was 1995 I had a table near a friend who had helped me along with my collection and his tables were just a couple of rows in front of mine. At the time he was selling high-end factory and custom knives. (Now he has his own factory.)

Anyway a knife (nice custom) was stolen off his table and I was kicking myself for not watching as closely as I could have. I constantly keep my eyes open now. Especially when I see that a table is busy.

The thing that gets to you is that a person who could enjoy owning and using a knife (especially one by an individual person or two) that they stole really does not belong in the room.

Then there are the times when a thief gets caught:D Dwayne Dushane handled one extremely well last year. At least that is what I have heard from several trusted sources.

Keep your eyes open when you are out there shoppin' it is a small problem at worst, but we could do a better job at making it smaller.
 
Originally posted by Gus Kalanzis
Then there are the times when a thief gets caught:D Dwayne Dushane handled one extremely well last year. At least that is what I have heard from several trusted sources.
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He he... What happened?
 
I had two stolen in Vegas this year,nice ones, pissed me off ! first time ever at a show.
 
...see what happens when you have Mayo 'watching' your table...:eek:

Sounds like you're gonna need a new 'watch' dog...

(Personally, I think thieves should be 'drawn and quartered', but then again, that's just me...)

Mel
 
I just figured with that one-percent tht always seems to give any hobby a bad name that someone could or would fall victim to a theft during a very busy show. Especially if someone is picking up knives at very busy tables and not asking, and the maker or dealer is very busy closing a sale or multiple sales.

I know how I would handle grabbing some schmuck who I saw pocket the knife of maker from a table, and calling an ambulance would be required first. But, is it safe to say that most of the folks that go to a show like BLADE are truly knife enthusiaists and act accordingly?

After I typed that post, I started to think about the reaction of a maker who needs to sells quite a few of his knives to just cover the expenses associated with a show like BLADE before he/she can start to see revenue, and I started to fume at the thought of someone stealing a knife. Then I wondered if it happened often because without the attendees [the honest ones] providing some extra "eyes", it would seem to be relatively simple to accomplish especially when a table is swamped with people and all the knives are in peoples hands.

Would or do you limit how many people fondle your knives at one time? And for those of you that have had knives stolen or caught someone trying to, do you at least get a chance to "adminster justice"? After all, BLADE is in Georgia, the home of "Street justice".

You are in a heap of trouble now boy!!!!!!

****DISCLAIMER: I have no intention of stealing anyone's knives, this is not why I am asking. Picture a gimpy 46 year year old, now with a very severely aching back wearing a bright, BRIGHT shirt that I am gonna have Ken Onion give me, who has been sitting on his butt talking about purple haze with Tom Mayo after sipping home made Simonich "mountain Dew". I am just curious because during a large gun show in late 1997, some moron was doing very well stealing handguns until he got greedy. By the time the Law arrived on the scene, it was over, it was not pretty, there were lots of witnesses to the thefts, but no one saw the guy fall over and over and over again on several fists. Just was curious because knifeknuts seem like a much tighter group of folks.........Ira;)
 
How the heck can a knife get stolen off your table Ken? They're only there for 10 minutes, tops, then they're all sold! :)

They caught one in Mesquite a couple years ago. The maker noticed it was gone shortly after it disappeared, and they locked the doors, letting no one out. The thief was observed shifting the knife from his pocket to his sock, the cops nabbed him and he was prosecuted.

When it was announced, the place broke out with a standing ovation!

If you want street justice in Atlanta, you'd better bring your own. This is the most PC city in America. Now if you want to haul him a few miles out of town first, then lynch him, that'll work! :)
 
I can't imagine what someone is thinking doing this Sh!T.
think about it, so many friends so many knives.
  those guys have some balls or are just plain stupid. I'd guess Stupid:mad:
 
You don't have to haggle with Mayo on his prices, just give him the watch off your arm :D

michael
 
If you want street justice in Atlanta, you'd better bring your own. This is the most PC city in America. Now if you want to haul him a few miles out of town first, then lynch him, that'll work!
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I will be glad to provide transportation and a deep hole in the ground :D.
 
This year in Milan Francesco Pachi' had a knife stolen from his bench... :(

As for touching the blade, I have good sight and remain of the idea that I won't touch the blade if at all possible. My eyes can convey to me all the information I need, under good light. The real thing would be trying to cut something serious the knife may be expected to cut, but it's seldom if ever feasible at a show or in a shop.
Anyway, I have my methods, which work for me but are probably not suited to others :)
 
As a fairly new collector, I have vowed NEVER to haggle for the price of a knife that I intend to purchase direct from a maker. However, I have been given (with deep appreciation) totally unsolicited "good customer" discounts - AFTER I handed over the "asking price" (always cash).

An example: recently I purchased a beautiful folder from the table of a young maker who is destined to become one of the "greats". After a few hours of browsing, I went back to his table and also purchased the most expensive knife he had brought (one of only two knives remaining). Because of the amount in question (and the fact that other purchases had severely depleted my cash reserves), I had to pay for this knife with a credit card.

It wasn't until I got home and emptied my pockets that I noticed he had given me a nice discount on my second purchase.

An outstanding knife, an outstanding young man, an outstanding experience.
 
Originally posted by Gus Kalanzis


I will be glad to provide transportation and a deep hole in the ground :D.
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I would also be happy to supply the shovel and the gun.
 
I've been meaning to ask the same question about haggling, so I was glad to see this thread. It's good to know how to play the price issue with the makers.

I'm going to diverge a little: Wolfmann601 mentions carrying a load of cash. Is there an ATM in the Cobb center?
 
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