Is the Atlanta Blade show the biggest show in the country?

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I have heard and read so much about the upcoming Atlanta event that I am curious about several things.

One, does the number of tables goes into hundreds? I was told that everybody who's anybody in the knife world will be seen at Atlanta.

With such a show of such size, surely a day would not be sufficient to cover everything one wants to see.

Would it be wise for a first timer to the Atlanta blade show to have a checklist so that he knows where to go and what to look for?

Anyway, what's the estimated number of visitors each year to the blade show?
 
If I am not mistaken, there are over five hundred tables at Blade. The only other show that lays claim to being the biggest in the world is the OKCA show in Oregon. That one also has about five hundred tables.

Three days is not enough to nearly cover this whole show. Unless you run from table to table and don't take in a seminars ot exhibtions, you will need a lot more than three days to see everything at a show the size of blade.

A check list would be a good idea. Make sure you see what is of most importance to you first and then if you have time, take in as much of the rest of the show as possible.
 
I think Blade may be the best show overall. It has something like 500 tables, and 72,000 square feet of exhibition space ( if memory serves). It definatly takes all three days to really see everything. The first year I was there, it took me all three days just to walk it ( these were during table breaks ), and scan each table as I went by ( a trick I learned at gun shows, I scan each table and only stop if something trips my trigger ). I think its a good idea to have a checklist of some kind, otherwise you'll get kinda mesmerized as soon as you walk in and forget what you really wanted to see. Not sure how many people they get through the doors, but there is no lack of new faces to talk to. Blade is my favorite show and I look forward to it each year. See you all there -- Charles


BTW I'm at table 18-D ;)
 
Mr Marlowe makes a very good point. While a checklist is a very good idea, that I also use at Tulsa Gun show(11 acres of tables ya have to know what you're looking for), learn how to scan tables as you walk by and only stop if there's something actually interesting there. I do same thing at gun shows, and to some extent, even at garage sales.
 
I went to the Atlanta show two years ago. It was big all right, but almost none of the makers had price tags on their knives. I always figure if someone doesn't display the price, I can't afford it.

I did buy one knife, from one of the few makers that displayed his prices (John Greco). I might have bought more knives if I had known what they cost.
 
Will companies like Cold Steel, Spyderco, Benchmade, Al-Mar, etc. be there? Or is it just like mainly custom knife makers?
 
Fireshaker,
The production companies will most definitely be there, maybe even with new stuff to show off!
Stay Safe,
Clyde
 
I hope that the show has a list upon entry in which you could plan out which tables to hit. I have a good idea of what I want to see, and I need a well organized plan and schedual to pull it off!
 
Is the Atlanta Blade show the biggest show in the country?

It depends on how you measure. It's definitely number one or number two in just about any category.

Bladeshow, being run by Blade Magazine, welcomes and features major manufacturers. Most every name will have an exhibit. The Oregon Knife Collector's Show, being run by the Oregon Knife Collectors Association, focuses less on current production knives and more on collectible and hand-made/custom knives. A few manufacturers sometimes have small exhibits there, but not many.

Shot show is the other that people sometimes mention, but Shot is an industrial tradeshow for the entire "outdoor sports" sort of industry. Knives are just one small part of it.
 
My strategy will be very similar to what Mr. Marlowe described. In pursuit of using a checklist and scanning.... does anybody know where there is a map of the table layout so I can plot my routes? Thanks.
 
The only big names in the industry that haven't had a presence at the past few shows are Cold Steel and United Cutlery.
Cold Steel had a beef with Blade magazine so they pulled out from being an exhibitor. They thought Blade should have done more reviews and articles on their products because they bought a lot of ad space or something to that effect...
United Cutlery is probably put off by the snobbery of the high-end knife knut community. Many knife enthusiasts look down upon UC because of their primary choices in designs and materials. UC probably figured out that Blade is full of these types and that it was just not really their target market audience so they were basically wasting their time. That's just speculation on my part, though...

But every other major (and minor) manufacturer, as well as custom makers, will more than likely have a presence there. Sometimes there are scheduling conflicts but most everyone who is anyone will be there.

As far as a "checklist"... At registration they usually have a table full of the current issue of Blade magazine (free to show goers) that has a list of all the booth holders and a site map with all the locations of all the booths. It also has a complete show itinerary listing all the demos and seminars as well as times. It is very helpful.

Peace-
Cam
 
does anyone know were i can all the info on it, how much does it cost, me and my dad wana go we likve in fl is there a phone number or somthing
 
The only big names in the industry that haven't had a presence at the past few shows are Cold Steel and United Cutlery.

Microtech has been noticably absent for the last couple of years too.
 
Nope, the website does not have a map displaying where the table will be located. It only lists the table number/letter designation of the where makers will be. That is, unless I missed it. It also does not state the entrance fee.

I've written to them but have not yet received a response. I'll post if I do.
 
They're going to send me a map. I've also heard from other sources that they have them at the door as well. Mary Lutz also sent me an e-mail stating that a 1 day pass is $10, a two day pass is $15, and a three day pass is $20. :D
 
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