MKA -- Missoula Montana Aug. 13-14, 2011

[Murray White]

Here we are in the beautiful tiny state of Montana at the Holiday Inn - Parkside for the 16th annual Custom Knife Show. Have bee to the hot tub a couple times but have not seen makers around the hotel which is indeed unusual.

Going to crash so I can head down early to check in with those running the show as I have been requested to judge at noon. Will of course be doing lots of photos and posting as soon as possible so keep looking back over the weekend etc.

Have a bunch of CKCA fliers to distribute at tables and leave at a general table that will allow collectors to see the benefits of membership.

 

[Murray White]

Ok, Bruce, I guess we can get started. I did go out to supper, took a nap and hit the hot tub before beginning the editing process which took me till after 5 am Sunday morning. Decided to show the images at the show and finished one image and then uploaded to Fototime after doing my batch resize.
Will start with the judging to which we were called in about 10:30 am Saturday. The first category was Art/Fantasy and for some reason the eventual winner was not there when I took the original photo and one knife moved from this category to Best Damascus.
Will try to have images of the category knives, the winning knife, the presentation and the table photos of the maker all together and see how that looks.

Art/Fantasy

Winning entrant was Robb Gray

presentation by Dan Westlind

some other images of Robb Gray knives

talking with Joe Olson

and the award winner once more

Now that we are started, we will continue and add sections to both CKCA and BFC today and this evening etc.

 

[Murray White]

Next we will do a couple categories together as the winner in each was the same maker.

First is the Hunter/Utility

and the award winning knife was created by Bruce Bingenheimer

award presented by Dan Westlind

second is Hand Forged

the award winning knife was created by Bruce Bingenheimer

award presented by Dan Westlind

some other images of Bruce Bingenheimer knives

with Art Swyhart who was in charge of judging

and with a customer

 

[Murray White]

Next is the damascus category which got a bit mixed up.

and the winning knife belonged to Mike Ball

award presented by Dan Westlind

Mike is a protege of James Lumens

who created this pistol knife

Jim and Sharon Thompson share ideas with Mike

 

[RogerP]

Thanks for doing this Murray - and congrats to the award winners - particularly Bruce on the multiple awards.

Roger

 

[Murray White]

Well, I was a bit tired so had a short nap followed by Italian quisine and then a bit of time listening to Symphony in the Park near the hotel.
Lets check out Historical/Ethnic.

and the winning knife belonged to Rocco Chicarilli

award presented by Dan Westlind

some other images of Rocco Chicarilli knives

folders

fixed blades -- hunters

daggers

bowies

Rocco and friends

 

[manix J]

Murray, Thanks for taking the time to post these pics.

This one and your blade show 2011 thread were great!

Jeff

 

[Bruce Bump]

Nice images Murry. The cut n shoot caught my eye naturally. Bing sure cleaned up. Congrats Bruce and all the other award winners. Looks like some high quality knives at this show.

 

[Murray White]

Well, the AC went down and while they would move rooms for us, the hassle was not worthwhile so we have a fan which I hope will keep us cool.
Went to the hot tub for awhile and am now replenished for the night ahead.

Now for the Best Folder

and the winning knife belonged to Jim Barth

award presented by Dan Westlind

some other images of Jim Barth knives

fixed blades

well, one folder there

 

[Murray White]

Best Tactical

and the winning knife belonged to Dan Stucky

award presented by Dan Westlind

some other images of Dan Stucky knives

folders

 

[Murray White]

Best Display
award presented by Dan Westlind to Lee Sheridan

some other images of Lee Sheridan's display and knives

 

[Murray White]

Another multiple award winner


Best Bowie and Best of Show

and the winning knife belonged to John Doyle a BFC contributor and soon to be CKCA member

award presented by Dan Westlind

and just when you think the grin could not get bigger, lets see what the $500 cash prize for Best of Show did

well, it was either shock or ho hum, it was in the bag

Congratulations to John from all of us forumites

maybe we have more to show

one more hunter

Beyond the award recipients, many more knives were on display for sale

Bob Crowder has been a long time MKA member and past President and always has a cherry story to tell

and he brings collectors from far and wide to the show including us and others

and he does have some outstanding knives

 

[Murray White]

Knives by Arnold Erdhart

Art Swyhart, contest coordinator chats with Roger Hatt

and of course customers stop by to check out this fine work of a fellow Canuck

need something for around the kitchen?

perhaps something a bit more exotic

for that outdoorsman

or for the pure collector

 

[Murray White]

Dan Westlind who is in charge of the show talks knives and knifemaking to folks while Joe Olson checks out some equipment

Doc Hagen had a few knives for sale

a couple of views of knives by Gary Hannon

Gordon Alcorn Engraver

 

[Murray White]

Another Canuck, from Alberta, Jay Kemble does knives and other things

and a look at the work of Jim Raymond

 

[Murray White]

Jim Thompson and wife Sharon with whom we shared the hot tub one evening

Leroy Kauth and wife came from Wisconsin for the show

a LK bowie

here are two knives. one by Leroy's father in '45 and a duplicate after getting his
appetite for knives whetted by LK

and this is what we do at a knife show -- look at knives

and more knives

 

[Murray White]

long time maker Mel Fasio brought many pieces to choose from

fixed blades

folders

knives by Robert Beaty

Rick Wheeler is refining his skills in the inlay work of his handles to create something
interesting for collectors

Ron Wilson has been around the knife world with supplies forever and many a maker can
tell tales of learning making from RW seen here with Doc Hagen

some Hawks by RW

 

[Murray White]

Sam Henson chats about knives

household chores?

for makers and the hunters

a cut above

and the price is for the wood

it is still about the sale

Tom Buckner chats with Jay Kemble

some of Tom's knives

 

[Murray White]

and now to finish with the work of Tom Rickard

lots of folders

and here is one that tempted me -- a knife with a reversible blade so it provides twice
the cutting time and the sheath was very slick also

and so once more we leave the land of the Cowboy and head to where the skiers are and the PKA show in Denver Colorado next weekend (Friday to Sunday). No knives were purchased at MKA but it was lots of fun to judge and take photos and enjoy the crowd of makers and talk shop etc. Congrats to all the award winners and hopefully we will see many of the makers at some show in the future.

 

[MT Damascus]

Thanks for the pics, you got me and my gal in one. I had a great time and scored a sweet Bob Crowder.