- Joined
- Jan 6, 2001
- Messages
- 4,399
I was lucky enough to be able to attend both days of the Canadian Knifemakers Guild show in Mississauga, Ontario this past weekend. My response can be summed up in a single word - wow. Let me repeat that - WOW! Not only was this my first Guild show, this was the FIRST knife show I have ever attended since becoming a more "serious" collector about a year and a half ago. I was truly awed by the collection of design talent and technical expertise that was contained in that single conference room. A while ago, as I was commenting on the superb quality of a production folder, a forum member advised "...wait 'til you handle a custom knife. Then you'll see what quality is all about!"
Needless to say, I now understand what he meant. Many of the pieces I was privileged to handle at the show were of a standard that I would not have believed existed in a hand-made product (and I also collect very high-end wristwatches). Forget about the "kid and candy store" cliche, I was simply amazed at what I saw.
What impressed me as much as the technical expertise of these ladies and gentlemen was their "attitude" (a character trait that is very important to me). Unlike "watch people", or "gun people", or "car people" (all of which I collect), I have come to the conclusion that a "name" knife maker is no less entusiastic about knives today than he/she was on the day they picked up their first piece of raw steel. I was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm with which even the "stars" of the knife world talked about their products and how willing they were to answer basic questions which I'm sure they have answered thousands of times before. And I was constantly urged by everyone to "please feel free to pick up that knife", with no pressure at all to make a sale. No kidding! Who could possibly need convincing to purchase ANY of these pieces?
I went to the show partly to do a little informal research for my next planned project, a book about Canadian knife makers, tentatively titled "Northern Blades: The Canadian Knife Makers". Did I end up buying any knives at the show? Pleeeeze - no silly questions, OK. (And, of course, I joined as a Friend of The Guild).
What a show, what wonderful people! I was privileged to spend some time talking to Thomas Haslinger, Jot Singh Khalsa, Peter Wile, Jason Kilcup, George and Carol Tichbourne (always a pleasure), Eric Elson (definite potential), David Bolton, and Buddy "Bud" Weston and Garry Weston (thank you, gentlemen) - and many more. I hope to be talking to most of you again in the near future as plans for my book solidify.
My congratulations to the Canadian Knifemakers Guild and all its members for a fantastic show.
Holger
www.cockroachfarm.com
Needless to say, I now understand what he meant. Many of the pieces I was privileged to handle at the show were of a standard that I would not have believed existed in a hand-made product (and I also collect very high-end wristwatches). Forget about the "kid and candy store" cliche, I was simply amazed at what I saw.
What impressed me as much as the technical expertise of these ladies and gentlemen was their "attitude" (a character trait that is very important to me). Unlike "watch people", or "gun people", or "car people" (all of which I collect), I have come to the conclusion that a "name" knife maker is no less entusiastic about knives today than he/she was on the day they picked up their first piece of raw steel. I was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm with which even the "stars" of the knife world talked about their products and how willing they were to answer basic questions which I'm sure they have answered thousands of times before. And I was constantly urged by everyone to "please feel free to pick up that knife", with no pressure at all to make a sale. No kidding! Who could possibly need convincing to purchase ANY of these pieces?
I went to the show partly to do a little informal research for my next planned project, a book about Canadian knife makers, tentatively titled "Northern Blades: The Canadian Knife Makers". Did I end up buying any knives at the show? Pleeeeze - no silly questions, OK. (And, of course, I joined as a Friend of The Guild).
What a show, what wonderful people! I was privileged to spend some time talking to Thomas Haslinger, Jot Singh Khalsa, Peter Wile, Jason Kilcup, George and Carol Tichbourne (always a pleasure), Eric Elson (definite potential), David Bolton, and Buddy "Bud" Weston and Garry Weston (thank you, gentlemen) - and many more. I hope to be talking to most of you again in the near future as plans for my book solidify.
My congratulations to the Canadian Knifemakers Guild and all its members for a fantastic show.
Holger
www.cockroachfarm.com
