New Blade Show Management...do they even care?

See if this is better.
ry%3D480
 
They opened up the left side of the show - that's a false wall. They didn't shrink tables or aisles. It was to get the waiting list people off the list. It also opens up an area they can use for registration so the attendees don't have to sit like cattle in the hall. It sounds like more of an effort to keep attendees happy and makers in business. (this info was from Mary, so I'm pretty sure it's spot-on)
 
They opened up the left side of the show - that's a false wall. They didn't shrink tables or aisles. It was to get the waiting list people off the list. It also opens up an area they can use for registration so the attendees don't have to sit like cattle in the hall. It sounds like more of an effort to keep attendees happy and makers in business. (this info was from Mary, so I'm pretty sure it's spot-on)

It's my understanding that some people have been asking them for YEARS to do just that.

"seems" like it will be a welcome change. (now we just hope that they turn the AC on)
 
Last year, they actually ran the early entry line into that empty room when the hallway got so jammed up. So the extra 100 tables are where the booths were last year and they just moved the booths over about 30 feet or so. I am back in the nosebleed seats in the ABS section, but I am one table off of the aisle, so that isn't that bad for a first timer.
 
Caffrey and friends call the Oregon Knife Show a flea market because they are ignorant of the purpose of the show. As a founding member of the Oregon Knife Collectors Association and also as a partner in the first two shows prior to the club incorporating as a non profit organization, I am in a unique position to state truth. That is as compared with false information that is being kicked around on this forum. The show is governed by the by-laws, not the demands of knifemakers who want to change things.
This year marks the 34th year of The Oregon Knife Show. Visit the web page to see that the show is alive and well with 430 tables this year. http://www.oregonknifeclub.com/Table Layout 2009.pdf
Nick said. “Ed knows what I mean about Eugene. When I first went to it at age 19, there were a couple dozen BIG NAME makers, and probably 100 guys doing really good work. The board decided that custom guys were a bunch of pretentious snobs trying to rock the proverbial boat when we started really pushing for stuff like a custom section, factory section, etc..., and WOULD NOT LISTEN to any of the concerns about the show.
Even though it was THE NORTHWEST show, after all the stuff that went down, makers started dropping out. Last time I went, there were very few custom makers at all.”
The truth is that there are well over a hundred makers holding tables at the show this year, April 18-19.
The purpose of the show as per the bylaws that govern it is that the annual show is a gathering place for all those who love and appreciate anything that goes cut. The bylaws also allow for display tables and the knives displayed are museum quality and well worth attend the show to see.
Please do not let those who disagree with the purposes of the Oregon Knife Collectors Association keep you from attending the most fun show anywhere.
 
List of table holders for the 2009 OKCA Show
Eugene, Oregon April 18-19

Commercial Table Holders

A& M PRESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T13
ALMAR KNIVES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Y01
ALABAMA PRECISION TOOL & SUPPLY . . . . R15
ALLEN CREEK CUTLERY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M09
ALSTAR CUSTOM KNIVES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N18
B & L KNIVES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T12
BADGERBOOKS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N01
BEARPAWCUSTOM KNIVES. . . . . . . . . . . . . E11
BLUE RIDGE KNIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N09
BRADWATTS ENTERPRISES . . . . . . . . . . . . E06
BUCK KNIVES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M04
CHRISTENSEN KNIFE & MFG LLC . . . . . . . . H01
COLUMBIA INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS . . . . . . R06
COMMON SENSE SELF DEFENSE . . . . . . . . T04
CONKLIN MEADOWS FORGE . . . . . . . . . . . . R05
CRESCENT KNIFEWORKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U01
CUTSFORTH KNIVES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Q13
DAMASCUS KNIVES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R12
DEEPAK CHOPRACUTLERY . . . . . . . . . . . . . T09
DOUBLE EAGLE KNIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O03
DRAGONFLYFORGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M12
EDGE-N-KNIFE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P17
ELK CREEK CORPORATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . C07
ENTREK USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J11
EXCALIBUR CUTLERY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . K02
G& LMORGAN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O09
GALLERYHARDWOODS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D07
GERRY'S KNIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O08
GIRAFFEBONE.COM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F10
GLENDOCORPORATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A21
GMWKNIFE CO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H07
GRIFFIN MADE KNIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D04
HANDHELD STEEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R14
HATT CUSTOM KNIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G05
HAWTHORNE CUTLERY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F13
HIGHPEAKS MARKETING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E16
HOGABRASIVES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Y10
IDAHO KNIFEWORKS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M17
IT’SABURL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Y07
IVORYJACKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C06
JCTCORNER STONE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U14
K2A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . K04
"KENCREST, USA" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J17
KING BLADES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P13
KINGDOMARMORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S14
KNIFEWORLD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N02
LATAMACUTLERY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F02
LATROBE SPECIALTY STEEL . . . . . . . . . . . . O15
LONEWOLF KNIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I01
M D CALDWELL& CO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Q01
M LAZYB CUSTOM KNIVES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . B10
MCKENZIE RIVER DESIGNINC. . . . . . . . . . . O17
MONTELL'S CUSTOM KNIVES. . . . . . . . . . . . S03
NIFEBOY.COM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I04
NORTH COAST KNIFE & FORGE SUPPLY . . N14
NORTHWEST FENCINGACADEMY . . . . . . . . Y11
NORTHWEST KNIVES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C13
NWKNIVES & COLLECTABLES . . . . . . . . . . . F15
OKUDEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R07
OREGON LEATHERCOMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . Y03
ORIGINDIA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C11
OX FORGE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C18
PACIFIC RIM GALLERIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D05
PROVISIONFORGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Q10
QUALITY BLADE BOOKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T01
QUALITY CUTLERY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P11
R E BURKE ENTERPRISES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I12
RAYROCK SPRINGS GALLERY . . . . . . . . . . . P03
REDTROLLFORGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C17
RIVERTRADERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D18
ROSEARMS INTERNATIONAL LLC . . . . . . . . P06
S & B SUPPLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F04
SAVAGE SMITH BLADEWORKS. . . . . . . . . . . N13
SCOUT KNIVES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D03
SEVEY CUSTOM KNIFE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F07
SHADOWMOUNTAIN FORGE LLC . . . . . . . . . I06
SHEPHERDHILLS CUTLERY. . . . . . . . . . . . . G10
SIDDARESEARCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H09
SPARTAN BLADES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-02
SPYDERCO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F01
STIDHAM'S KNIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M01
TACTICAL KNIVES MAGAZINE. . . . . . . . . . . . C09
THREE SISTERS FORGE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D12
"TRIPLE ""R"" KNIVES" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E09
TRIPLE B GUN & LOAN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P14
TROYOZ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H17
WHITE CREEK GUNSTOCK BLANKS. . . . . . . J15
WILDBOAR BLADES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R01
WORKMAN OUTFITTERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B13
WORLD KNIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G12
YE OLDE SNICKERSNEE SHOPPE . . . . . . . . L14

A list of individual table holders follows in the next post
 
Individuals

ADAMS, JAMES. . . . . . . . . . . . G18
ADAMS BILL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . K06
ADAMSON MIKE . . . . . . . . . . . T17
ALLEN JAMES. . . . . . . . . . . . . D12
AMOUREUX BILL . . . . . . . . . . N18
ANDERSON DAVE . . . . . . . . . U07
ANDRINGA DONALD . . . . . . . K13
BAILEY PHIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B08
BAINBRIDGE LYLE . . . . . . . . . E16
BAULDREE TRAVIS . . . . . . . . Q08
BEATY ROBERT . . . . . . . . . . . B18
BELL MICHAEL. . . . . . . . . . . . M12
BELL DON. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O12
BERG TONY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H10
BERGLAND ERIC . . . . . . . . . . H09
BERNING RON. . . . . . . . . . . . . Q07
BINGENHEIMER "BRUCE ""BING" B10
BIRKY JACK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O02
BOCHMAN BRUCE . . . . . . . . . B17
BOEDCHER J BRUCE . . . . . . O16
BOLKAN MIKE. . . . . . . . . . . . . T05
BORACCA BILL. . . . . . . . . . . . P07
BOURLAND SKIP . . . . . . . . . . C01
BRANDT MARTIN . . . . . . . . . . N14
BROOKS B.K. . . . . . . . . . . . . . X01
BROWN JOHN. . . . . . . . . . . . . K02
BROWNE RICK . . . . . . . . . . . . T15
BUCK CHUCK. . . . . . . . . . . . . M04
BUDIL BETTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . O03
BUMP BRUCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . R12
BURKE BILL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D14
BURKE RON. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I12
BURTSCHER BOB. . . . . . . . . . J12
CALDWELL MATTHEW. . . . . . Q01
CAMPAGNA CHARLIE . . . . . . U02
CAREY MRK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-02
CARRIVEAU RONALD. . . . . . . K11
CARTER MURRAY . . . . . . . . . P01
CHAN STANLEY . . . . . . . . . . . A19
CHICARILLI ROCCO. . . . . . . . O18
CHOPRA DEEPAK. . . . . . . . . . T09
CHOW LOUIS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . B11
CHRISTENSEN BRYAN . . . . . H01
CLARK ROGER. . . . . . . . . . . . D11
CLARK NATE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . K08
CLARK TOMMY. . . . . . . . . . . . N09
CLAUSSEN WILLIAM . . . . . . . F15
CLINCO MARCUS. . . . . . . . . . . I11
COCHRAN FOY . . . . . . . . . . . . J07
COLEMAN FRED. . . . . . . . . . . B06
COLEMAN JOHNA. . . . . . . . . N17
CONOVER JUANITA . . . . . . . . L10
COOK CHUCK. . . . . . . . . . . . . D03
COOK LARRY . . . . . . . . . . . . . N05
COOLEY JOE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . D01
COPE DANNY. . . . . . . . . . . . . H05
CRAIN STEVEN . . . . . . . . . . . M08
CROTTS DAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . D16
CROW BRYAN. . . . . . . . . . . . . U10
CROWDER BOB . . . . . . . . . . . J05
CROWNER JEFF. . . . . . . . . . . N12
CUTSFORTH DAREN. . . . . . . Q13
DANIELS KENNETH . . . . . . . . H12
DAVIDSON CHARLES. . . . . . . B13
DAVIS LARRY . . . . . . . . . . . . . D07
DAVIS JOHN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E01
DAVIS TERRY . . . . . . . . . . . . . P09
DEKORTE GARY . . . . . . . . . . . I03
CYR, GILLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U12
DIAZ SHARON. . . . . . . . . . . . . B03
DICK STEVEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . C09
DIETZEN GENE. . . . . . . . . . . . F17
DOAN FRANK. . . . . . . . . . . . . Q06
DODGE DICK . . . . . . . . . . . . . D05
DOERFLER PHELAN AMY . . . K04
DOUGE STEPHEN . . . . . . . . . R10
DRIVDAHL MARTIN R. . . . . . . U13
DYSON JOHN . . . . . . . . . . . . . R09
DZIALO TED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L07
EDWARDS RON . . . . . . . . . . . X07
EICHORN THEO . . . . . . . . . . . H16
ELZINGA-DIAZ JOSE' . . . . . . . R08
ENGLERT TODD . . . . . . . . . . . L12
ENNIS RAY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J11
ERICKSON DANIEL . . . . . . . . U14
FADDEN GARY . . . . . . . . . . . . Y01
FARLEY MARK. . . . . . . . . . . . . Y07
FASSIO MEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S13
FISHER THEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . J08
FOX WENDELL . . . . . . . . . . . . J10
FRANK BRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . T04
GAIL RTERRY . . . . . . . . . . . . U09
GAMBLE FRANK . . . . . . . . . . M10
GIRVIN BILL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G16
GLASSER ELLIOTT . . . . . . . . . L01
GLESSER SAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . F01
GODDARD WAYNE. . . . . . . . . N10
GOLDEN ROBERT . . . . . . . . . M13
GOODMAN JIM. . . . . . . . . . . . G01
GRANT BOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P14
GREEN ARTHUR . . . . . . . . . . G03
GRIFFIN GARY . . . . . . . . . . . . D04
HALUCHA WALTER. . . . . . . . . F02
HANHAM DON. . . . . . . . . . . . . B02
HARSEYvBILL . . . . . . . . . . . . . H03
HASTINGS PATRICK . . . . . . . . J06
HATT ROGER . . . . . . . . . . . . . G05
HAWK GRANT. . . . . . . . . . . . . C07
HAYDEN JIM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . M06
HAYES SEAN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Y11
HERGERT BOB . . . . . . . . . . . . X15
HERRINGTON ARLEN . . . . . . S06
HOLBROOK ED. . . . . . . . . . . . X23
HOLLAND LARRY. . . . . . . . . . Q12
HOSKINS HOWARD . . . . . . . . L04
HOUSE GARY. . . . . . . . . . . . . D13
HOUSE CAMERON. . . . . . . . . F09
HUEY STEVE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . H04
HUGHES STEVE. . . . . . . . . . . S12
HUMENICK ROY. . . . . . . . . . . P09
HUNT ROBERT . . . . . . . . . . . . E12
HUTCHENS DOUG. . . . . . . . . . I01
HYDE CHRIS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . G12
IRVIN WILLIAM (BILL) . . . . . . . T07
ISHIHARA HANK. . . . . . . . . . . E02
ISOM GUY F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I06
IWAHARA JEMMY . . . . . . . . . . J17
JENSEN BEAU . . . . . . . . . . . . Q03
JOHNSON HARRY . . . . . . . . . E08
JOHNSON BILL . . . . . . . . . . . . F04
JOHNSON THURSTON . . . . . O06
JONES STEVE . . . . . . . . . . . . A01
KANTOR CHET . . . . . . . . . . . . D02
KARWAN JAKE . . . . . . . . . . . . C08
KEENAN DEBBIE . . . . . . . . . . E04
KELLEY GARY. . . . . . . . . . . . . K01
KEYES GEOFF . . . . . . . . . . . . T08
KING MICHAEL . . . . . . . . . . . . P13
KNUTSON LEROY A . . . . . . . . R04
KOVALOV VLAD . . . . . . . . . . . P06
KUNTZ SCOTT . . . . . . . . . . . . Y10
KYLE MICHAEL. . . . . . . . . . . . B05
LANG BUD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P16
LASCH HENRY . . . . . . . . . . . . H14
LEE SHERIDAN . . . . . . . . . . . G04
LEVINE BERNARD . . . . . . . . . N01
LISCH DAVID. . . . . . . . . . . . . . G07
LITTLE GARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . R05
LOMBARDO DAN . . . . . . . . . . N13
LOY MARV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S08
LUCAS JAMES . . . . . . . . . . . . U15
LUFT MICHAEL. . . . . . . . . . . . . I14
MABE JOHN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G08
MACK DENNIS . . . . . . . . . . . . D15
MACY RON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M11
MAGRUDER JASON. . . . . . . . S15
MANN MICHAEL . . . . . . . . . . . J15
MANN MIKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M17
MARAGLIA JACK . . . . . . . . . . . I07
MARCELJA NICHOLAS. . . . . . C17
MARTIN GENE . . . . . . . . . . . . Q10
MARTINDALE JIM. . . . . . . . . . U06
MATHEWS BRETT . . . . . . . . . Q15
McCAFFERTY DAN. . . . . . . . . D10
McCLURE SANDY. . . . . . . . . . F10
MCNINCH PATRICK . . . . . . . . Q16
MEADS DAVID. . . . . . . . . . . . . J16
MILLER BUD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . G06
MILLER PAUL & LEAH. . . . . . . L06
MILLER RICK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . X17
MONTELL TY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . S03
MOORE ARTHUR . . . . . . . . . . K14
MOORE LYNN. . . . . . . . . . . . . O13
MOORE SCOTT . . . . . . . . . . . U03
MORABITO JOHN. . . . . . . . . . N06
MORGAN GERALD. . . . . . . . . O09
MORGAN CRAIG. . . . . . . . . . . P05
MYERS WAYNE. . . . . . . . . . . . O11
OCHS CHARLES. . . . . . . . . . . C18
O'DONNELL M SHAWN. . . . . . K18
OLIVER DEAN. . . . . . . . . . . . . D18
OLSON "DARROLD ""OLE""" . Q04
PAINEvCHARLIE . . . . . . . . . . . R03
PALLAY HAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U05
PARMLEY GERRY. . . . . . . . . . O08
PATRICK BOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . U01
PATTERSON RANDALL . . . . . K10
PATTON GORDON . . . . . . . . . C10
PEERS BUD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S07
PETTY DAVID . . . . . . . . . . . . . H15
PETZKE JEFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . F14
PFAHNING DAN. . . . . . . . . . . . P11
PHILLIPS STEPHEN H . . . . . . R06
PITBLADO JIM . . . . . . . . . . . . R02
PITT DAVID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E11
PLASS GREG . . . . . . . . . . . . . U08
PUTLITZ LARRY. . . . . . . . . . . M09
RAPPOPORT DAVID . . . . . . . . F13
RAYNOR DICK. . . . . . . . . . . . . E13
REID ROD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G10
REMER LEROY. . . . . . . . . . . . E09
RICH DON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P08
RICHARD RAYMOND . . . . . . . H08
RICHARDS ALVIN (CHUCK). . . I09
RICKLES ROBERT . . . . . . . . . C13
RIDER DAVID . . . . . . . . . . . . . O14
RIDGEWAY RICH. . . . . . . . . . . C15
RIPPY TERI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H17
ROBINSON ROY. . . . . . . . . . . R14
ROCHA GAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P04
RODENBERG PHIL. . . . . . . . . B01
ROE J.R. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N04
ROUSSEAU JERRY . . . . . . . . S10
RUIZ TED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P17
RUPLE BILL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O01
RYDBOM DAVID . . . . . . . . . . . S14
SCHECHNER RICHARD. . . . . D06
SCHEMPP ED . . . . . . . . . . . . . T10
SCHEMPP MARTIN . . . . . . . . . T11
SCHICK JIM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I04
SCHILLING PEGGY . . . . . . . . C14
SCHMIEDT DAVE . . . . . . . . . . U18
SCHULTZ DAVE . . . . . . . . . . . B15
SEIDERS WADE . . . . . . . . . . . B12
SETTANI BOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . Q09
SEVEY JOHN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . F07
SILVA DORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P04
SILVEY MIKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J14
SIMONSON RAY . . . . . . . . . . . R01
SMITH LARRY. . . . . . . . . . . . . E03
SMITH GREG . . . . . . . . . . . . . G14
SMITH ROD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . K15
SMITH RONALD . . . . . . . . . . . O17
SMITH BRUCE J . . . . . . . . . . . T13
SONNTAG CARL. . . . . . . . . . . . I08
SQUYER MIKE . . . . . . . . . . . . R13
STEPHENS CLAY. . . . . . . . . . Q05
STIDHAM RHETT . . . . . . . . . . M01
STILLWELL STEVE . . . . . . . . . P10
STRAUCH STEPHEN. . . . . . . . L11
STUCKY DAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . C03
SWYHART ART . . . . . . . . . . . . K16
TAMBOLI, MICHAEL . . . . . . . . . L08
TAUTGES, THOMAS . . . . . . . . F06
TEETZ, WELDON. . . . . . . . . . . B07
THOMAS, GARETH . . . . . . . . . Y03
TIPTON, RAYMOND . . . . . . . . . L17
TOLMAN, HAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . T18
TOLSON, BEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . G02
TRIPP, KURT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C06
TUCKER, HAROLD K. . . . . . . . S04
TURNER, MIKE. . . . . . . . . . . . . T16
TWITTY, JERRY . . . . . . . . . . . . B14
TYRE, MICHAEL. . . . . . . . . . . . K17
VALLOTTON, BUTCH. . . . . . . . K09
VANDYKE, DENNIS . . . . . . . . . G17
VASQUEZ, CHARLIE . . . . . . . . S05
VEATCH, RICHARD . . . . . . . . . P12
VICE, BRAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R15
VINCENT, DALE. . . . . . . . . . . . O10
WAGNER, JAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . A25
WAGNER, BRIAN. . . . . . . . . . . R07
WAGNER, RICK . . . . . . . . . . . . T01
WAKEFIELD, ELLIOTT. . . . . . . P03
WALDRUP, BILL . . . . . . . . . . . . T12
WALKER, JIM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E15
WALLACH, DAVID. . . . . . . . . . . J01
WARD, KEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F08
WARREN, AL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G15
WARREN, ALAN. . . . . . . . . . . . M18
WATTS, BRAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . E06
WEINAND, GEROME. . . . . . . . H07
WELFORD, DENISE. . . . . . . . . A21
WELLS, JIM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F12
WHEELER, RICK . . . . . . . . . . . C04
WHITMORE, JERRY. . . . . . . . . A15
WILL, BILL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E14
WILLIAMS, CHARLIE . . . . . . . . L18
WILLIAMS, STEVE. . . . . . . . . . O07
WILSON, PHILIP. . . . . . . . . . . . L09
WILSON, JIM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L14
WILSON, R W. . . . . . . . . . . . . . R16
WISE, TIM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O15
WOOD, HERB. . . . . . . . . . . . . . K12
WRIGHT, BILL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I16
YADAV, MANOJ . . . . . . . . . . . . C11
ZALESKY, MARK . . . . . . . . . . . N02
ZIELINSKI, JAMES. . . . . . . . . . N07
ZVONEK, DANIEL. . . . . . . . . . . L03
 
Hmm, I hope someone can come up with a better floor map - exhibitor list doesn't look right to me :/
 
I might be "ignorant" of the OKCA by laws, but thats not the reason that many makers, including myself, stopped going. You and I have spoken about this in the past Wayne, and although I have a great respect for you, on this issue we will just have to agree to disagree. The last time this came up, you touted all the years you've been doing the show then too....thats great, but you only live a few miles away, and don't have to think about many of the things that those further away do.

When the decision was made to expand the OKCA show, it was at the cost of quality. Anything and everything was allowed, just so tables would be filled. Several times I was asked "would you put some of your knives here" (the empty table next to mine). Collectors were complaining to the makers, and when the makers attempted to relate that to the show chairman, the answer was "I don't want to hear it!" or "I don't want to talk to you about the show." Always in a rude and obnoxious manner.
Over the next two years, the majority of collectors stopped attending, and in turn, many makers had to make a business decision, plain and simple.
I personally attended that show for 13 years straight, and although that doesn't equal your years, I do think it shows that I was a dues paying member of the organization, and a supporter. I donated knives, I did demos, and tried to "give back" whenever and where ever I could.
My thanks for that was a refusal to even hear what I had to say, and a trite email for the show chairman, telling me "If you've not paid your table fee, you'd better get it in!" My reply was that I would like the chance to speak with him on some issues, and that unless we could talk, I would likely drop the show. The response I got back was the last straw...... "Your loss!"
If the OKCA show is a "home town" show for some makers, hey, more power to them, they don't have to worry about the travel, lodging, and other related expenses, and can afford to do the show and not sell anything.....but many of us can't.

The bottom line is that when I lay down my money for a show table, I am a customer to whomever presides over that particular show, and should expect no less customer service than what my knife customers expect of me. Its that simple.
 
Ed and Nick,

You don't go into the Honda dealer and demand a Hummer. The car dealers make the rules, not the demanding customer. The knife world is changing but the OKCA has never changed what is allowed at the show. The import knives of today will be part of what is collectable in the future.

It is not true that standards were changed when the show expanded. The show grew because there were not enough tables for those who wanted to attend.

You called it a home town show and a flea market. I posted a list of table holders so anyone who looks at it will realize that the show has makers and dealers from all over the US and some foreign table holders too. Yes, there are a lot of regional makers, where else can they get the exposure for a table fee of less than $100.

Wayne
 
Wayne,
I respectfully disagree with the statement "the car dealers make the rules, not the customer." That line of thinking is what caused the downfall of the Big 3. I work in Quality Control for Hyundai Manufacturing, you can bet that my work is driven by the "demanding customer." Warranty Claims data, customer audits and other internal/external data drives my job. If you don't provide what the customers demand you won't have customers.

I'd be curious to compare your list of makers to the makers attending the Blade show. I didn't recognize many of the ones on your list (I'm a maker and generally keep my nose close to the ole anvil and grinder) but I'm sure that even you'd agree that the star shines a little brighter at Blade.

I understand your need to defend your show, I would be surprised if you didn't but you haven't said anything to refute the treatment presented by Mr. Caffrey or others. Also your statements about "demanding customers" has a lot of hubris in it. What's a knife show without knife makers?

Respectfully,
Will Leavitt
 
I just spent the last 20 minutes speaking with Steve Denarski from Krause, I had my name on the waiting list and because of the added tables they had an opening for me. Because of the circumstances of the last year I declined, but asked to stay on the list. I made Steve aware of this thread and the comments posted on it. Mr. Caffrey I read verbatum your initial post. I also read several of the posts from others here. Steve had not read any of this material and said he would.
I know that many of you are frustrated and rightly so, however Mary left a big piar of shoes to fill. Give these guys a chance.
Thanks,
Del
 
Mary is awesome as an organizer and a person too. I'll miss her.
 
I have no dog in this fight, but please let's not let it get personal or become a rivalry thing. If I had my way there'd be a big knife show in every state.
 
Hello everyone,
Not to hijack your thread but does anyone have a number or address for Harold "Harry" Johnson! He had table E08 at this show. Any help or direction would certainly be appreciated. Thanks and God bless........r.cordell
 
This thread is three years old.

Try looking in the back of a Knives Annual. They list all the makers and contact info. I'll check this evening if someone doesn't post the info before then.

I did a search, and can't find any current Harold "Harry" Johnson Knifemakers....but found several recent obituaries for people by that name. Is this is the gent you want ?:
http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/di...ry"-Johnson&lc=3600&pid=148132971&mid=4533066
 
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