OKCA Review

D lisch

D lisch

Joined
Aug 27, 2007
Messages
2,466
Well, it rained the whole 5 hour drive from Seattle to Eugene, OR. I got there about 10:30 friday morning and with a new table location(G7), I was right across from Papa Smurff, Ray Ricards. I thought if things where slow I could at least through things at Ray. I did not sit at my table as friday is a good day to catch up with old friends, and see all the cool knives. the vib in the room was good and soon John Davis ask me to join a big group for dinner that night. Then it was time to take knives over to the judging room. I entered on both bowie and damascusCatagories. I was very pleased to see that my Mystic Fire Wheel won best damascus. and I was happy for Bruce Bump for winning Best bowie with a beautiful amber stag feather bowie with Tom Ferry engraving on it. He also won best of show. John Davis, was the first to shake my hand. He has won all most every damascus show that I have have entered and is one of my damascus mentors. Thanks John. Dinner that night did not disappoint us, Bates Steakhouse rocks. The 20 plus people at our table had a good time.
Saturday morning the room was jumping. People everywhere, unlike last year. Ray sold a knife, then another, then I sold a small boot knife soon after that Ray sold another. Then I sold a big damascus penny guard bowie then Ray sold another and I thought his face was going to crack from the big ass smile he had on it, good for you Ray your knives rock. Things slowed down for awhile then I sold the hunter that won best damascus and another boot knife, now i know that not everyone had a good show. but it looked like to me everyone had a good time.
My reason for stating some of the sales that took place at this show is that this show has gotten some bad press, and I know it is not perfect but it is a good show with a good bunch of people who just love knives. That was clear to me this year and I will be back next year as the best part of the show was all the people and friends that came together to make this one hell of a good time. This is my first show review so feel free to tell me how I can do it better next time. If you where there please add your thoughts. Thank you D Lisch
 
thanks for the review David. Nice to see you guys did well. Did you find the customers knew of you before? were some BF members? or even CKCA members? who else did well? maybe Bruce will give some insight too. Any photos David? even those of your own knives that you sold and won with.
 
Good for you Dave. Sounds lke a successful show. If there are any pics of the aforementioned knives, I would like to see them.

Peter
 
Good review David.
I enjoyed this show allot and for me it was a very good show. I did win Best Bowie and for the first time Best of Show for the bowie. The judges came over after the awards and inflated my head with compliments. The best judges ever. hehe

Tom Ferry helped make this one stand on its own. He complained about the sculpted guard being very difficult to reach the bottom of the dished backside but he did it with finese. Now he has two more to do like this one. He is really going to be pissed.

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Beautiful knife, Bruce. Is that the one that you were making the tip for the sheath? I like to see a picture of that sheath finished.

Paul
 
Bruce, Tom needs to be pissed off at someone so it might as well be you. I want you to know I was planing on winning Best Bowie again. You deserved it. There was a lot more work done on yours plus that damascus looks like something Dave Lisch would make. Nice Bowie and Best of Show went to the right person!

All and all if enjoyment factor is entered in I by far had the best time ever at this show. First time in years that I haven't done the forging demonstration at this show and I had more time to just enjoy it. Sales were a long ways from being brisk but for me 4X better than last year's sales.

My prediction is this show is on a comeback. I expect next years to be even better.

Dave, You thought about throwing something at me? Sounds like your starting something........ I had a great time visiting with you.
 
Wow, sounds like a great show (and Bruce that Bowie is AMAZING!)

I though about coming to this one (mostly to see Ray Richards knives), all the way from Houston, but decided to do Bladewest instead --- hope i made the right choice.

Glad you guys had fun :thumbup:
 
Dave, Thanks for the review. Sounds like you guys had a good time.
Bruce, Spectacular Bowie !:thumbup: WOW !! :eek:

Doug
 
Bruce, that's one of the nicest knives I have seen. Absolutely fantastic. It deserves the awards it got.

Dave, I really appreciate your review. OKCA is a show that I have thought about attending, because it's not an unmanageable drive for me. I know at one time it was one of the biggest shows in the country. Is this still the case?
 
Thanks for the review Dave. Sounds like it was a good time. Not surprised at all you won "Best Damascus", congrats.

Bruce, congrats on both awards. That's one outstanding bowie. One of the nicest pieces of stag in existence.
Could very well get my vote for Best Bowie in December.
 
Keith Montgomery said:
Bruce, that's one of the nicest knives I have seen. Absolutely fantastic. It deserves the awards it got.

Dave, I really appreciate your review. OKCA is a show that I have thought about attending, because it's not an unmanageable drive for me. I know at one time it was one of the biggest shows in the country. Is this still the case?
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Keith, As far as I know it still is second to Blade Show in Atlanta for size. I think there were around 420 tables at this years show. It was much bigger in years past but I think the larger size could have hurt it. Its been a good show for me for several years and still is.
 
Bruce Bump said:
Good review David.
I enjoyed this show allot and for me it was a very good show. I did win Best Bowie and for the first time Best of Show for the bowie. The judges came over after the awards and inflated my head with compliments. The best judges ever. hehe

Tom Ferry helped make this one stand on its own. He complained about the sculpted guard being very difficult to reach the bottom of the dished backside but he did it with finese. Now he has two more to do like this one. He is really going to be pissed.

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D thanks for the review and Bruce that is a fantastic knife. Maybe a favorite of the ones that I have seen of yours
 
Raymond Richard said:
Wow, 420 is a good number;):thumbup::D

Dammit, I really tried to keep this show completely out of my brain because I knew that there was no way in hell I'd be able to go, and after last year's "ra ra, can't wait to go!" followed by the heel of fate on my neck I was extra cautious about even thinking about it.:grumpy:

It appears I missed a great show. Ok, definitely next year! Dave, good work, I'm very thankful for your review of the show, but I think you also should be putting some pictures up of your work for a little shameless self promotion, and for us plebes who suck so much we can't even make it to Oregon once a friggin year.:thumbup:

Pappa Smurf- man I'm so glad to hear you had a great show! The best thing about spring is that it comes again and again and again...:)

Bruce- Holy sh!t. Please pass on my regards, (for what they're worth) to Tom Ferry. That's just fantastic stuff there, and man that knife is sleek. A killer.

Ok, I said it, definitely next year.
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Thanks guys for the compliments.
I have attended this show mostly every year since the mid 90s and have seen it go through changes with the custom makers. The club members are indeed mostly pocket knife collectors but some do buy customs. I was the last one out of the room when the custom knife judging started and there were no where near the amount of knives I have seen in the past. There were supposedly 430 tables and only about 30-40 knives to be judged. I put 4 in there myself.

I have never seen so many old pocket knives and newly started tactical companies. The old guys are selling their lifelong collections for fear of the good ole days being behind them. The table next to me was that way. He was 80+ years old and selling antique folders for hundreds of dollars each.

The really big buyers follow the really big makers period. This show has lost some big names and I doubt they will ever come back to this one.
 
Keith no good shots but hear is what I could find of the knives I was talking about first is the hunter that won best damascus

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Below is the bowie I was talking about

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This has ben the best month of knife sales for me so far ever I am sold out. and have 3 on order to start after blade. And I now think I can do this thing I love so much still blacksmith bladesmith for now and life is good
 

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Thanks for the review Dave - and congrats to you and Bruce on your awards.

Roger
 
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