lucky draw at knife shows

castor0troy

castor0troy

Joined
Sep 17, 2009
Messages
147
hi guys
im planning a trip to the east coast knife shows in feb.
my first knife show.
im aware of the 'luck draw' system some knife makers have and ive heard that you could hit jackpot if you won one of ron lakes knives.
from what ive heard, these knives can be sold for a premium at the show itself.
can someone give me a list of these knifemakers whose knives command premium at the shows?
i dont wish to trade in this way but it nice to know who the 'hot' makers are.

thanks
castor troy
 
I can only think of a few makers that have drawings at that show. I know that the following do:
John Young- 4-7 knives
Ron Lake- usually only 1 knife available
Michael Walker- Only 1 knife available
Matthew Lerch- 3-4 knives available

Wolfgang Lorchner ???

If you buy the knife to keep that's great. The problem with buying one of these high end knives to flip is that if you don't find a buyer at the show you have to find one when you get home. That's also a large chunk of change to put up to make 2K or less.
 
R J Martin did a draw at the NYCKS

Rick Hinderer normally does also

Todd Begg does too.
+ Ernie Emerson, I'm sure there are others also.
 
frankly, if the reason to go to the show is to "capture" a winner then maybe you just might miss out on all the other great knives that are there as well as the opportunity to spend time chatting with the makers and learning more about knives and enjoying the multitude of knives there for viewing and purchasing.
 
Murray White said:
frankly, if the reason to go to the show is to "capture" a winner then maybe you just might miss out on all the other great knives that are there as well as the opportunity to spend time chatting with the makers and learning more about knives and enjoying the multitude of knives there for viewing and purchasing.
Click to expand...

You will be sorely disappointed if that is the main reason you are going to this show......especially if you dont get drawn!!!!!!
 
^Agree.
That's about the last reason I go to a knife show.
I generally don't participate in them unless it's for a knife that
I want to keep.
The exception would be the AKI, where it's a pretty sure bet that those in attendance
will lay down some big bucks.
 
trying to take a shortcut to wealth, eh? nice try...

welcome to bladeforums,
hans
 
Hinderer, Emerson and Begg to my knowledge do not have tables at he ECCKS.

Hinderer and Emerson do have tables at the NYCKS.
 
I'll repeat my story - I went to hopefully win, by the luck of the draw, a Curt Erickson knife at the AKI. Otherwise, I only put my name in for 5 other knives, expecting to win nothing. After all, it's all about the show and beautiful knives and great makers.

Well, I drew a Jurgen Steinau priced at $9500. And everyone who has heard this story knows what happened to it.

Just go to the show. Enjoy it. Learn something.
 
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thanks guys.
ofcourse my main motive for the trip would be to meet several knife makers.
i have pending orders with some makers too.
i hope i didnt offend anyone by using the term 'hot' makers.
i was only interested in finding out which makers were in demand.
 
Hi Castro,

There are a lot of makers who are "hot" and "in demand" that do not have drawings.

People tend to focus on the ones who do have drawings so if they are chosen, they have the opportunity to re-sell the knife should they choose to.

I rarely enter the drawings. I did at the NYCKS Show (RJ Martin and Rick Hinderer) primarily because if I did win I could fill orders with the knives.

For full disclosure I have entered drawings for knives from Walter Brend, Ken Onion, John Young and Ernie Emerson. I have won one knife from each of those makers over the past 10 years.

Everyone who recommends you go to the show to enjoy the knives, the makers and your fellow collectors is correct. But enter the drawings as well. You never know and it is nice to win a knife that you can resell and pay for your trip or allow you to get another knife.
 
I've never been to a show, but Les makes a damn good point:thumbup:
 
and if your name is drawn and the knife if not one you like, think twice at least as when purchased, it is yours. You might not find that buyer you expected.

Buy knives you like because if you don't sell them and that big profit is not made, you may be stuck with something neither you nor anyone else wants but your wallet is lighter.

Personally, if there is a draw for multiple knives and if the one I want is already taken, I simply walk away and enjoy the show. I enter draws to win the opportunity to purchase a knife I want or I don't bother with the draw.

Not every knife a hot maker makes will be desirable by others -- at least not at that show at the price you may want.
 
point noted.
i plan to enter draws for the following makers.
ron lake,john young and emmanuel maker.
i am in the waiting list for jyoung and emmanuel but it would take years before i get myself a custom knife from them.
how many people attend such shows?
anyone has figures?
 
If there's specific (non-draw) maker's knives that you are interested in it may help to contact them a few weeks before the show and ask what knives they are planning to bring and to get an idea as to where there tables are located in the show room. I have found that this is often the difference between getting a knife or not.

Have a plan and get there early on Friday morning, as the most sought after knives go FAST. Good luck.
 
thanks for the advice Kevin.
is there a limit to the number of entries a maker accepts for each draw?
 
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