NWKC fall show- Tacoma, WA

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Dec 3, 1999
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I just wanted to put a bug in your guys' ear about the show on October 27 and 28, at the Tacoma Freighthouse Square.

We're trying to make this show grow, and we need attendance to do that.

In an effort to draw some more people...a few of us volunteered to do some demonstrations. So apparentely I volunteered myself to do a hollow-grinding demo....I think Roger Dole is doing a fixtured hollow grinding demo, and Tom Ferry is doing the flat grind demo. He's also going to give a short demo on how to come up with patterns for damascus. Tom's damascus rocks, so he's a great man for that job.

I guess I should learn how to hollow grind eh? :o

We were looking at a rope cutting comp, but it didn't seem to fly just yet.

Can I get some ideas from you makers on how to coordinate my demo...and from all of you on what you would want to see in one???

This area has the potential for a great show (the Pacific Northwest) we just have to really work for it.

Please come by and check it out!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Thanks,
Nick
 
Well, you see the secret is hollow grinding is...nah, nah I don't know anything about making knives...:) But I will be at the show, and based on a fluted handled dagger of yours that I saw, I will be stopping by.

Look for me with the Bybee's!

~Mitch
 
This show sounds very interesting. Where can I find out more info on what makers are booked to be there?

We have no shows in my area and this one would be almost as close as any.
 
It seems as though some of you guys think I'm in that "commercialism-zone" here.

I really really really don't want to get back into that whole pi$$ing contest about what's allowable to post here and what's not....but what's wrong with what I posted?

If in any way it came across as "come to the show and buy my knives," I'm very sorry and do apologize. However, the point was just to remind everyone in the Northwest area that might be interested that the show is coming up quickly.

It is by no means a big show (or a great show yet) but things like announcing them are how you get people in the doors and make them grow. I don't care if you come to the show and buy my knives, I just want to see people that want to talk/handle knives. The more people we get that appreciate customs (hmmm...in a custom forum ;) ) the more fun the shows are.

The more fun the show is, the more high caliber makers come to them.

Again, I would very much like to know what you guys would want to see, or what you would do for these types of demos... :)

Thank you much,
Nick
 
Originally posted by NickWheeler
It seems as though some of you guys think I'm in that "commercialism-zone" here....

Not that I can see, it looks to me like you were just trying to beef up attendance and make everyone aware of a Gathering! Good Idea in my book, I surely hate to hear about a show after it is over! So I am not sure why someone would take what you wrote as a commercial for your knives? But for the sake of the show, it's a good thing!

just wish I lived closer! ;)
G2
 
Did some people email you or something? I do not in any way see anything self promoting in what you posted. It was very informational as far as I am concerned.

Edited so that people can understand what I meant.
 
Keith, that is what happened, but I'm glad to see that I wasn't the only one that didn't take my post that way :)

By the way, I know there are some other forumites that are on the table list like the Bybee's and Lonnie Hansen. If you are another forum user please come by and show your face, it's always nice to put a face to a screen name! :)

Thanks,
Nick
 
Nick,

I didn't think the post was commercial. I think some guys are getting a little too sensitive. Let's face it, every knife discussed here is pretty much for sale. I feel the whole point of these forums is to help promote makers/companies work...to shed light on who's doing what and what's working well.

Anyway, I'll see you at the end of the month!

~Mitch
 
I saw nothing self serving in your post. We are all in this knife thing together, why not try to grow it?

I will certainly try to make it. Maybe leave the wife and daughter home and have a guy day with my year-old son.

I think it would be neat to see a Japanese handle tying demonstration.
 
BTTT as a last-minute reminder to folks in the NW area that you have a chance this weekend to peruse & drool over bladeware at Freighthouse Square in Tacoma, WA both Saturday and Sunday.

Plus, you may see something irresistible on a table there to take home. ;) :D
 
I am confused. Not sure how a knife club show posting could be interpreted as commercial. Hopefully who ever sent the message to you was confused too :) (I honestly feel that that was the case). I know that typically knife club members really have to pull together and work hard to put on an area show.

Show threads allow us to make plans to meet eachother and that is important.

It can be a little different if a company or individual is in it for a profit, or if available knives are posted before the show, but I think all of us makers, purveyors and collectors alike would like to hear of shows around the world. Before and after the fact.

Anyway hope you guys have a great show and lots of fun.
Tell Chuck B. I said hello.
 
Nick, your post is not self-serving in any way. The best part of any knife show is the camraderie as well as the opportunity to see/feel more knives of every type than you can shake your weenie at. I'm not a knifemaker, just a collector and a member of the NWKC, the nonprofit organization putting this show on. Since I have no reputation to risk, I will emphatically guarantee that if you attend this show, you will enjoy it. You will see some of the best custom made knives on the planet courtesy of Joe Drouin, who just happens to be a member of the Blade Hall of Fame for his service to custom knife collecting. As far as makers attending the show, I can't mention them all but I will say that Roger Dole's folders are second to none. His attention to fit, finish, and action is obsessive/compulsive. Tom Ferry's damascus netted him best fixed blade of show this past June at the Montana show. This is the home turf of the "Montana Mafia" which many consider to be the avante'gard of damascus alchemy. Lonnie Hansen's forged Japanese tanto repro's will take your breath away. His tomahawks kick ass too. Want a tough no frills hunting knife? See Will Stegner. I'm sorry I can't mention the many deserving others but I will ramble on. The best part is because we are not the size of Oregon or Blade, these guy's can and will spend a tremendous amount of time with YOU. If you live in the Northwest and love knives, you won't find a better place to be this weekend. By the way Nick, with the company you've been keeping, I expect to see some nice stuff on your table! :)
 
I went to this show yesterday from about 10:30-16:30. I think my bank account will be awhile recovering. ;) As noted above, this is not a huge "crowd madness like mall shopping" show. The unhurried casual air of this show was great.

Every one of the makers I spoke with was wonderfully friendly and informative about their blades, even after establishing that I was in the market for some other style of bladeware. The amount of time each one of them would dedicate to a browsing individual was heartwarming. It's also nice to go to a show where everybody is blade oriented, unlike mixed shows where you have to dig the blademaker tables out of the melange of people selling MRE's, tritium night sights, and military surplus winter pants.

Some of the makers who spent a lot of time talking to me and that stick in my mind were Wendell Fox (great crossadas!), Jim Whittaker from Alaska (fully convex hunters), Will Stegner (utility fb & beautiful folders), Criswell (ats34 katanas at amazingly cheap prices), Jim Weatherly (hollow ground ats34 street scalpels on steroids), Tom Ferry (only 2 knives on his table for sale when I stopped by :( ), Roger Clark (fb hunters & fighters), Dan Kendrick (some beautiful damascus hunters), Sam Henson (fine kitchen blades, his wife Joy wins "friendliest wife of show" award hands down :) ), Curneen (more great kitchen blades), Gary Little (great fb hunters & fighters), and Mark Boyer (coated 1095 belt knives). I gotta warn you though, that Criswell guy is a crazy man!! What a refreshing delight he is to talk to.

As for the knives on display, I was dazzled at the artistry on display all day long. :D :D Everything was there - kitchen knives, fighters, hunters, survival blades, little utility belt knives, neckers, katanas, fixed, folders, and knifemaking materials. My only complaint was there seemed to be a shortage of Randalls. But I'd say that even if I was standing in the middle of the Randall factory. ;)

If you're not busy today and are anywhere near this show, go down to Freighthouse Square & check out the fine people & bladeware. It's the best $3 you can spend. :)

(edited to add) Thanks to Nick (whose blades were pretty awesome too) for starting this thread to alert us NW knife knuts to the show.
 
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