Knife Show Question

Hi Murray,

I met Mike Sakmar at a show in Chicago probably 20 years ago. I was a judge at the show. He won Best New Maker award hands down. Right after the judging I went to find out who he was!

Very talented knife maker. I still see his knives showing up for sale once in a while.

You have had two photos of knives (at least for me) that prove my point. There are a lot of good knives at every show you go to. They may not just have the name yet....yet!

When I first got started setting up at shows I used to do displays as well. Great way to learn about the knives and their makers.
 
I'm busy and don't have time to fix the industry. I was pointing these things out in hopes that you would do it. Thanks in advance,

Pete
 
2knife said:
Why?
David
Click to expand...

David, because it's my job. :) Before a show and after making knives for 2 months, with no income, I'm ready to sell knives :)

The longer into a show that knives are unsold, the less likely they will sell, IMHO. Might be different for other makers but I have a hard time selling knives on day two, and can't sell one on day three.

The bonus to shows, are the people, good friends and visiting, and they are just a lot of fun :thumbup:
 
Hey Roger,

I remember those envelopes stuffed with 4 x 6 prints - Nordic used to send out a very tempting batch back in the day. I also remember the printed lists with a description of the pieces available.
Click to expand...

I used to love those!

Until I started doing that myself.

No one was happier than me to see the Internet come along!

Your right about the leap of faith....look at Murray's images...except for maybe Jim Weyer there was nothing like that 20 years ago.
 
Hi Don,

The bonus to shows, are the people, good friends and visiting, and they are just a lot of fun
Click to expand...

You can see all the knives you want on the Internet...but that sums it up very neatly as why many of attend shows!
 
I used to enjoy getting the monthly Northwest knives & collectible catalogue, owner Bill Claussen.. Always a good assortment. Is he still around?
 
I am a maker, not extremely sought after but I do OK. My orders are a year out and I can generally sell everything I can make, eventually. Exhibitors to the show have to book a year in advance to get a table to most of the good shows (this years Blade an exception) When I book a show I have all the best intentions in the world of having a table full of knives to show. Two things are inevitable, (1) I will never have as much ready for the show as I planned. (2) Someone will buy some of them before I get there.
If I am ever able to sell out before a show starts, I will consider myself very fortunate, we all want to be successfull. I will jump at the chance and I won't be sorry about it. I will still attend the whole show, I will still have knives there for display and anyone serious about buying a knife from me will have the chance to do it. A sale today is sure a lot better than one I might have tomorrow. I think a potential customer will be very upset at me if he picked a knife off of my table was ready to buy it and I told him I'm saving it for the guy that comes in tomorrow.

Some of my customers will be upset to find that I am working on knives for a show instead of working on knives on my order list, even when I am ahead of my schedule.

I do a little bit of business with quite a few knife makers (in handle materials) and they all have some things in common. They all work very hard, they all know of easier ways to make money than knife making and I'm pretty sure none of them are carving a fat hog, they consider their purchases very carefully.

I think that most of us price our knives pretty much the same way, when I find I am having trouble keeping up with the demand, I raise the prices a few percent. If I find I am getting to keep most of my own knives, I think twice about raising prices. I can still make a whole lot more in my tool shop than I can in my knife shop.

Respectfully Mark
 
Last edited:
AV8R said:
I'm busy and don't have time to fix the industry. I was pointing these things out in hopes that you would do it. Thanks in advance,

Pete
Click to expand...

Why Pete, if I didn't know you better, I'd say that sounded like sarcasm. ;) Did Matt Gregory stick that prank bullseye target on my back again? Someone pull it off for me please. :)

I don't presume to have all the answers Pete. I don't even presume to know all the questions.

Roger
 
We're good. Your last post got a laugh out of me. Spirited discussion is always welcome. No target. Be well my friend,

Pete
 
my take on shows is more than the knives it's the people the booze the food and the laughs. I usually get what I am looking for if it is in my budget . I have missed pieces by a hair or because of indicision but that gives me an oppurtunity to order a knife tailored to my likeing even more. Like the Foster persian I saw 2 years ago orderd one and picked up this year at Blade.

But to be fair I usually get to shop in the hotel the night before and I usually have an exibitors pass:D
 
Beside what I said above I can only add that many of us remember all to well, our early shows when we sat the whole show and didn't sell a knife. (well maybe not Kyle:D)
We consider ourselves fortunate that someone would want to spend their hard earned cash on our work, to not sell is backward thinking, even if it's early.
 
Win Heger said:
Karl, even though I lived only a couple of hours from the show, I stayed at the show hotel. I was first in line when the doors opened and it was no more than 50 feet to the maker's table. I got there to find an empty table, not even the maker. A friend at the adjoining table told the maker had sold out a half hour ago and taken off with better things to do. I stopped back several times and he never returned, to my knowledge.

Within 5 minutes a fellow collector came up and told me he had managed to get in early and showed me 4 knives he'd bought from the maker I wanted to see.

I really don't care how collectible a maker is but he owes it to the public to be available at the shows we pay to go to. I take it as arrogant and have no good reason to support him.

Win
Click to expand...

I have seen the same thing happen two years in a row at the January Vegas show , and now I no longer long for one of this makers knives. To not have anything on the table when the show opens , or even be at the table tells me that person could care less about the folks attending. There are plenty of other makers who will benefit from his lackluster approach.
 
John T Wylie Jr said:
I have seen the same thing happen two years in a row at the January Vegas show , and now I no longer long for one of this makers knives. To not have anything on the table when the show opens , or even be at the table tells me that person could care less about the folks attending. There are plenty of other makers who will benefit from his lackluster approach.
Click to expand...

The "good ol' days"....cut my teeth at the NYC Custom Knife show in the '80's where Eric Meyer and his buyer would cut through the pack like a wolf after a wounded deer....forget about getting there early, the efficiency of this buying machine meant that "the good stuff" was gone before your eyes....no need to fight about it.....'twas a done deal...finis.

Set a tone and pace for my future shows.....which is....show up ready to play and play hard.

JParanee said:
my take on shows is more than the knives it's the people the booze the food and the laughs. I usually get what I am looking for if it is in my budget . I have missed pieces by a hair or because of indicision but that gives me an opportunity to order a knife tailored to my likeing even more. Like the Foster persian I saw 2 years ago orderd one and picked up this year at Blade.

But to be fair I usually get to shop in the hotel the night before and I usually have an exibitors pass:D
Click to expand...

Brother Joseph is turning missed opportunities into purchasing decisions for the future....that is smart.

I feel for primary and hopeful in purchasing, shows are the purview of the newer collector, to see, hold and optimally learn about the knives.

For the advanced collector, the show is about furthering relationships, establishing new ones, and picking up your orders, with the potential for ancillary purchase. When I was at Blade, I picked up three knives from makers, already ordered....., R.J Martin and Tom Mayo....also picked up a Wally Hayes at an awesome price and two Jason Knight knives, one which I sold at a profit, and one sitting at my desk right now....of these, the only guarantee without the show was the Mayo knives.

I also picked up some stellar handle materials, including some now dyed amber stag and black pearl from Culpepper....both materials are very rare in "the right" sizes and I got amazing stuff.

And had a great time....with some excellent meals with some of my best friends.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Les Robertson said:
Hi Murray,

I met Mike Sakmar at a show in Chicago probably 20 years ago. I was a judge at the show. He won Best New Maker award hands down. Right after the judging I went to find out who he was!

Very talented knife maker. I still see his knives showing up for sale once in a while.

You have had two photos of knives (at least for me) that prove my point. There are a lot of good knives at every show you go to. They may not just have the name yet....yet!

When I first got started setting up at shows I used to do displays as well. Great way to learn about the knives and their makers.
Click to expand...

Yowsa! I was at that show. Not in downtown Chicago then. Whatever happened to Mike Sakmar? He really made some nice fighters, as evidenced by the aforementioned black beauty.
 
Last edited:
Kohai999 said:
I feel for primary and hopeful in purchasing, shows are the purview of the newer collector, to see, hold and optimally learn about the knives.

For the advanced collector, the show is about furthering relationships, establishing new ones, and picking up your orders, with the potential for ancillary purchase.
Click to expand...

Some good insight right there.

Roger
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top