Thanks for posting the pics Flava!
Unfortunately, my trip to the show didn't go nearly as well as planned - late plane, hotel problems, etc. Eventually I did make it to the show on Saturday, but wasn't able to stay long as my girlfriend wanted to do some sightseeing and we'd lost a lot of time with the delays. And, when I went to take some pictures, I discovered that while I'd brought the camera I'd left all the memory cards at home -ugh.
Overall I thought it was a very nicely put together show with a good mix of styles present. Some of the highlights for me were -
Jens Anso - really nice guy, getting to handle some of pieces in person was a treat. Really solid work that I liked a lot. I'm not a big fan of tactical pieces, but he's got some great looking designs that feel great in the hand.
Anders Hogstrom - another great guy, with some very nice pieces on his table - the pictured fighter was great, but he had another hunting dagger style piece with an off-center grind that I loved. Would like to have taken it home with me, but opted instead to put in an order for something with one of his amazing wooden sheaths.
Hank Knickmeyer - he had a couple of great little folders and a couple of beautiful ivory handled fixed blades on his table. He'd have also been on the short list if I'd been able to buy anything at the show.
Ed Schempp - down to earth & really fun guy to talk to, had some beautiful mokume bracelets at the show that my girlfriend really liked.
Josef Rusnak - Czech maker with some beautiful carved pieces, not exactly my speed, but beautiful carving. I wish my Czech was better, so I could have talked a little more intelligently to him.
Tonu Arrak - from Estonia. Probably my biggest dissapointment of the show was not going home with one of his knives. This guy is doing some amazingly clean work, with a very appealing design aesthetic. He had a few tanto styled pieces, an amazing dagger and a large utility/hunter that I really wish I could have bought. Most of the pieces used ebony handles with wrought iron or steel fittings, and silver for habaki. Some of the tanto pieces had great texturing on the bolsters. I'll definitely be looking to get something from him soon.
Hidetoshi Nakayama - beautiful carving work, some really unique little pieces, a wonder to look at up close. Very cool.
While everything didn't go like it was supposed to, it was an fun little trip anyway & I got to see some great knives as a bonus.
