My visit to the Canadian Knifemakers Guild show...lots of big scans

[RL]

Hi All,


I just attended my first Canadian Knifemakers Guild show and I would like to share some highlights of the great experience with my fellow knife knuts…thanks to all who read this…

First, I must thank Les Robertson for chatting with me about knives and the knife industry for nearly half an hour…I learned a lot through the discussion! I would also like to thank Les (pictured here)

http://a1060.g.akamai.net/f/1060/597/30minutes/www.zing.com/picture/p7def02a81c4c0e1561c6df36d07e7464/feaaa2a6.jpg.orig.jpg

for bringing along a ton of custom knives allowing showgoers like me to compare various custom makers. This was especially important for me, as my exposure to custom knives had been very limited prior to this show. In any case, thanks to this exercise, I have come to the conclusion that I will not buy any more production knives…the difference between custom and production is HUGE. Here are some of the knives Les brought to the show.

http://a1060.g.akamai.net/f/1060/597/30minutes/www.zing.com/picture/p8e1b4ade977d8a8a6847f57448ad8bfa/feaaa00c.jpg.orig.jpg

http://a1060.g.akamai.net/f/1060/597/30minutes/www.zing.com/picture/pa7fadc4aafa8eb7f5da90d9dd9f5e3ca/feaa9fa3.jpg.orig.jpg


My two favourite knives of the show were at Les’ table, the Kasper Folding Fighter and Al Polkowski’s Urban Kukri, both pictured right here:

http://a1060.g.akamai.net/f/1060/597/30minutes/www.zing.com/picture/p2d9711d72bd389f33262c1f821fc7b8e/feaaa1e9.jpg.orig.jpg


Last year, at eighteen years of age, Eric Elson became the youngest custom knifemaker ever granted Probationary membership into the CKG. Do not let his age fool you though because Eric’s knives, IMHO, were among the nicest designs at the show. I especially like his “epoxy” traditional-cord-wrap-like grips. Here’s a picture of Eric

http://a1060.g.akamai.net/f/1060/597/30minutes/www.zing.com/picture/p4b45e4b9789963bf571828f1c51b7173/feaaa141.jpg.orig.jpg

and here are some of his knives

http://a1060.g.akamai.net/f/1060/597/30minutes/www.zing.com/picture/p5fa73c08aed1a688a5d74261749fe147/feaaa106.jpg.orig.jpg

http://a1060.g.akamai.net/f/1060/597/30minutes/www.zing.com/picture/p64648137e991a55b0823622d007527a9/feaaa0a0.jpg.orig.jpg

Jeff Diotte also makes great tactical/hunting knives. The ergonomics on his fixed blades are incredible and they are very aesthetically pleasing. I especially like the “two-tone” (my terminology) knives where some parts of the blade are satin finished and other parts (sorry I am not technical enough to name the parts) are mirror (and I mean MIRROR) polished…very sharp! (excuse the pun). Not surprisingly, Jeff won an award (sorry, don’t remember the category) at the show. Here’s a picture of Jeff

http://a1060.g.akamai.net/f/1060/597/30minutes/www.zing.com/picture/pf1cc4f5b0b1d2ef49ce40f87d39f836a/feaaa22f.jpg.orig.jpg

And here are some of his knives

http://a1060.g.akamai.net/f/1060/597/30minutes/www.zing.com/picture/p3ffca05620ef2e1698c2d8b2ab844aa1/feaaa353.jpg.orig.jpg

I was also thrilled to meet knifemaking “legend” (especially among us Canadians

) Greg Lightfoot. His knives certainly live up to his reputation! Greg also picked up an award at the show. Here’s a picture of us (I am holding one of his knives…a Hammerhead, I think).

http://a1060.g.akamai.net/f/1060/597/30minutes/www.zing.com/picture/p574ed53c1f51c5fc64883d38fb66a262/feaaa191.jpg.orig.jpg

Aside from these top picks, I also enjoyed seeing knives from Wally Hayes, Brian Tighe, Tichbourne and many, many others. I really enjoyed the show…I wish they would come around more often…

RL

 

[Gus Kalanzis]

Thanks for taking the time to put these up for us RL!
Those pics are huge.
Looks like it was a great show.
Great to see young guys like Eric getting some recognition too.


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" The real art of living is to keep alive the longing in human beings to become greater versions of themselves." Laurens Van der Post in memory of James Mattis

 

[Stumpy]

Thanks for the pics RL they made me drool.

 

[Normark]

Hey RL...

Sorry to have missed you at the show....
We may have ran into each other though without knowing about it....

Great pics,,but Man are they Friggi'N Huge!!!

Can you calm them down a little,, My puter crashed Big time trying to open them...

Whatcha got in that camera a Gigabyte Flash Card ?? LOL

There was definately some Wicked talent at that show...

Good to see everyone at the show...
Eric you still owe me a coffee dude!!

Dead Kennedys Rule!!

ttyle

Eric...

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On/Scene Tactical
Leading The Way In Quality Synthetic Sheathing

 

[EricElson]

Thanks RL, for this report on the show and for the very kind words.
It was a very good weekend for everyone I think. It was very busy and full of new faces.
I believe Jeff won the "Best utility" award for his Piranah design.Great stuff!

L8R
Eric




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Eric Elson

<A HREF="http://www.elsonknives.tsx.org" TARGET=_blank>

</A><A HREF="http://www.customknifedirectory.com" TARGET=_blank>

</A>

 

[EricElson]

Hey Eric!
Good seeing you again, About that coffee,...

Its in the mail....you'll see

Eric



[This message has been edited by EricElson (edited 04-08-2001).]

 

[RL]

You're welcome everyone!

Normark, LOL. The scans are too big for my computer too! I used an SLR to take the pics and I had them scanned into electronic format...Zing often "shrinks" them but thankfully they did not this time

)

Eric, again, you're welcome...give credit where credit is due! Can you tell us a bit more about your epoxy handles...what's the process?? (if it's not too "proprietary"

).

RL

 

[wyrm]

I had a great time at the show also. RL you are correct in everything you said. Eric Elson is a talented young maker with a great attitude. Everyone interested in tacical folders should look-up Kirby Lambert. He is a young maker as well, with excellent quality. I ordered a sheath from Normark (Eric @ On/Scene Tactical), who is a really nice guy to deal with. Looking forward to the next show already.

Dale.

Apparently Eric Elson also has passed his probationary period with The Guild and now has full voting privileges. Congratulations Eric!!

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Dale C. Tipert aka 'wyrm'
Learn. Apply. Share.
Visit Knifeforums

[This message has been edited by wyrm (edited 04-09-2001).]

[This message has been edited by wyrm (edited 05-26-2001).]

 

[Steve-O]

Big?

Big doesn't begin to describe...

Looks like Les doesn't use arm shaving to test his blades...and he had pizza with olives for dinner.

Nice pics...the bigger the better.

Steve-O

 

[James Healy]

Damn those are big....

I'm using a P3 1000mhz, with a T-1 connection (lol, no, this is not my personal computer - you think i can afford a T-1?)

I opened 5 of those at once, and it nearly crashed

Oh, and btw, nice knives everyone

James

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The beast we are, lest the beast we become.