OKCA recap

BenR.T.

BenR.T.

Tanto grinder & High performance blade peddler
Moderator
Joined
Apr 18, 2011
Messages
4,925
Hey everyone! So last weekend was the 38th annual OKCA knife show. This was my third time doing the show, and I had a great time. It was another sold out (table holders) show, and to my understanding they had a record attendance as well. I got to meet quite a few customers and knifemakers in person that I have chatted with online. Some makers names you may recognize that were there include, Ron Lake, Dietrich Podmajersky, Pekka Tuominen, Wayne Goddard, Sam Eddleman, Chuck Richards, Zac Buchanan, Jose Diaz, J.D. Smith.....just to name a few!
As far as awards go, J.D. Smith walked away with Best Fighter, Damascus, Art knife, and best of show. Chuck Richards won Best hand forged. Zac Buchanan won Best hunter utility. And much to my surprise, I was awarded Best Bowie! This year my wife kids were able to be there almost the whole show, which was nice. If you haven't been to the show before or in a long time, I would highly recommend putting it on your calendar next year, you won't be disappointed! I only snapped a few pics of my table, because it was pretty busy. I know Mark Farley snapped a bunch of pics, maybe he can them up here as well.

Unfortunately/fortunately, my bowie sold before I could get a pic with the plaque. But I did a little photoshop that should work.



Here is a pic of all the winners, pardon all of the blurry cel pics!


Here's my table on Friday with my wife, 2 kids, and 1 daycare kid. : )



Here's my little salesgirl !


Behind the scenes saturday.


I did make out with some nice stag and a piece of Carbon fiber from Tru grit.
 
Congrats on the "Best Bowie" award! It looks like the judges got it right.
You have a beautiful family.
I've always looked forward to this show and still feel bad about staying home and spreading gravel instead.
I'm surprised to see Ron Lake and JD Smith there. Its just like the old days almost.
 
Congratulations Ben. Nice to hear the show was a success. Very nice that your family could be with you as well.
 
Congratulations man!!!
Nice seein pics of your family with you, that's what it's all about!
 
Congratulations. I really need to make it to one of those shows one of these days. Sweet bowie.
 
Lorien said:
Congratulations man!!!
Nice seein pics of your family with you, that's what it's all about!
Click to expand...

Other than selling knives, you mean, right? My buddies that went to the show told me that I would have been pissed off to have made the effort. Same basic stuff, same attitude by the show promoters, pretty much same everything.

Those are good looking knives, Ben, did you sell out?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Thanks very much guys.
Steven, I didn't sell out. But I did have my best sales for that show this year. I sold 5 out of the 8 knives I brought. 3 of them were my highest priced knives on my table.
There are still a lot of tables there with junk store stuff, but there are also a lot of fine makers as well. I think the best way for the show to grow (quality wise) is for big name makers to hold a table there. Which in turn will help get the collectors to turn out. The measly $120 for a table is worth it in my opinion. The club board is brand new, so hopefully we will see some positive changes, and better promoting going forward.
 
BenR.T. said:
Steven, I didn't sell out. But I did have my best sales for that show this year. I sold 5 out of the 8 knives I brought. 3 of them were my highest priced knives on my table.
Click to expand...
Very credible, Ben! Congratulations.
BenR.T. said:
I think the best way for the show to grow (quality wise) is for big name makers to hold a table there. Which in turn will help get the collectors to turn out. The measly $120 for a table is worth it in my opinion. The club board is brand new, so hopefully we will see some positive changes, and better promoting going forward.
Click to expand...
I was a table holder from 1994 until about 2008, on and off those last years, probably 12 times total....the show USED to feature top makers....the "Montana Mafia" stopped exhibiting there because of the flea market like atmosphere....I'd love to see it get back to the former glory, but it would not be a conscious effort, it would be a by product....The USN Gathering has become the premier West Coast Show, the promoters of the OKCA Show would do well to attend and take notes.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
Other than selling knives, you mean, right?
Click to expand...
Do you think it's correct to say that a guy's success in selling knives and a guy's ability to receive support from those who he considers family, (kin or tribal) can be complimentary to each other?

this is where I was coming from; a family 'being with you'- regardless of if they're actually there, or even if they are blood- is a key to success in anything. It's a generalization I know, but I do think it's true.
 
Thanks for the report, Ben !
Congrats on your Best Bowie award and your family's attendance !

Doug
 
Congrats on the award and the sells! I was there on Saturday and it was my first knife show ever so I didn't really know what to expect. What I learned from it was next year I need to bring more cash with me. :)
 
Here are a few photos from when I snuck away from my tables.
okca002_zps17e61007.jpg

okca018_zps761ac5ae.jpg

okca024_zps397d1c2d.jpg

okca026_zpsf8badefb.jpg

okca025_zps142211e0.jpg

okca028_zpsb20a0826.jpg

okca030_zps7f4e1b36.jpg

okca034_zps62011d25.jpg

b1017_zpsa39b1960.jpg

b1014_zps2991e8cc.jpg

b1011_zps113d6a43.jpg

b1009_zps6c7ed182.jpg

b1003_zps7d2001c4.jpg

b1005_zps9b511431.jpg

b1006_zps4de10a65.jpg

b1002_zpsccf324be.jpg

okca035_zps2aac93ac.jpg

b1040_zps414678eb.jpg

b1038_zps0824ca23.jpg

b1034_zps46c53c92.jpg

b1031_zpsc45baea5.jpg

b1030_zps59d7ec30.jpg

b1029_zps04f0671c.jpg

b1027_zps66ad26d6.jpg

b1026_zpsd70f7184.jpg

b1025_zpsbe24e82d.jpg

b1024_zps9584b6da.jpg

b1023_zps1cf5701d.jpg

b1022_zps2be4d247.jpg

b1021_zps62afa2e1.jpg

b1020_zpsef4b3705.jpg

b1019_zpsa3cc8b52.jpg
 
STeven Garsson mentioned the USN Gathering. Is that a show, and if so, where and when is it held? Is it one of those "by invitation only"? Can a beginning knife maker like me get in? I am concentrating on hunters, skinners, and chefs knives, so would it be worth my time?

Tim
 
Kohai999 said:
....The USN Gathering has become the premier West Coast Show, the promoters of the OKCA Show would do well to attend and take notes.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...

I totally agree with this Steven.

Tim37, I bet the show is already sold out for this year. It is held in Vegas, in August.
 
Congrats to all the winners I am sorry I could not make it this year I did pay for my table so I would not lose my spot I do hope to be there next year as I have a lot of friends that I only see once a year at that show . nice looking Bowie Ben way to go.
 
Lorien said:
Do you think it's correct to say that a guy's success in selling knives and a guy's ability to receive support from those who he considers family, (kin or tribal) can be complimentary to each other?

this is where I was coming from; a family 'being with you'- regardless of if they're actually there, or even if they are blood- is a key to success in anything. It's a generalization I know, but I do think it's true.
Click to expand...

Obviously it is paramount to have family support your endeavors, but that is a significantly differrent thing than doing a show and selling knives. If family support helps you sell knives at a show, that is absolutely great. If it gets in the way of selling knives and becomes a distraction, that is not so great, from what I have observed.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Steven, you and I are in agreement sir :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top