Press Release, from Gil Hibben

Don Hanson III said:
On a side note, show promoters should try a little harder to space these shows out. When two or more shows are bunched up together it hurts them all.
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I agree Don. Example, the ABS Expo, Montana and Denver Shows all scheduled for the weekend of Aug 21-22.

Or perhaps there are just too many shows.
How many show does the average knife collector have time and finances to attend per year?

Relates back to the old question; are the number of new knife collectors growing at a healthy ratio to the number of new makers and knife shows?

This is why the CKCA is working so hard to bring in new and sustain existing collectors.
 
I have a hunch that by having two ABS type shows 3 weeks apart will do nothing more than damage them both. I am a member of the commitee for the ABS expo and am quite disgusted that this action of creating another forged blade function so close to the ABS expo.I cant believe it has even been considered. It would be great if the Moran foundation had a presence at the Guild show to honor Bill's contribution to the knife world.That would take only one or two tables and not add more makers to the Guild show which would most likely just dilute the sales per maker all the way around.
Most of us seasoned knife makers seem to find that smaller selective shows that have a strong group of well known makers are the best for our opportunity to have good sales, large shows are not the same.
I am hopeful that we will still have a true ABS expo show and that we can continue to improve it for the benifit of the ABS knife makers and members, which by by the way is what the ABS is truely supported by..... Division of the membership of an organization with such great potential would be a real sad thing to see happen...
Tim Hancock
 
Why isn't the Moran foundation display being shown at the ABS Expo?

The ABS Expo to me is schizophrenic. The show was in Reno in January which is not a pleasant time of year to travel or be in Reno. Then the show was moved to San Antonio in August. Again, not a pleasant time of year to be San Antonio. Will the next move be to Antarctica in winter or Hell in the summer?

Things I do like about the ABS Expo are:
1) The collector preview
2) Minimum quantity of knives available by each knifemaker
3) Having an equal chance to draw for knives

Is the ABS Expo sold out? If yes, how would the Moran display and attending knifemakers impact the ABS Expo? Have some knifemakers withdrawn from the ABS Expo?

Show scheduling is a problem. Anyone who has worked to put on a show knows the scheduling starts more than a year before the show. The fact that shows overlap is an unfortunate coincidence. We've been working on a solution to this problem for a few years.
 

Chuck Bybee Why isn't the Moran foundation display being shown at the ABS Expo?

The ABS Expo to me is schizophrenic. The show was in Reno in January which is not a pleasant time of year to travel or be in Reno. Then the show was moved to San Antonio in August. Again, not a pleasant time of year to be San Antonio. Will the next move be to Antarctica in winter or Hell in the summer?

Things I do like about the ABS Expo are:
1) The collector preview
2) Minimum quantity of knives available by each knife maker
3) Having an equal chance to draw for knives

Is the ABS Expo sold out? If yes, how would the Moran display and attending knife makers impact the ABS Expo? Have some knife makers withdrawn from the ABS Expo?

Show scheduling is a problem. Anyone who has worked to put on a show knows the scheduling starts more than a year before the show. The fact that shows overlap is an unfortunate coincidence. We've been working on a solution to this problem for a few years.

Chuck,

The ABS Expo was fast declining in Reno and most in that show at the time agreed. The committee at that time decided to move it to San Antonio, with wide support I might add. I don't understand why you think it is schizophrenic. The only change in 6 years was from Reno to San Antonio which resulted in a time of year change. Where is the schizophrenia? Everyone agreed Reno was a nightmare in the winter. The SCI show is going to Vegas, and then its going back to Reno. Are we supposed to follow it around the country? We felt it was better to host a stand alone ABS show.

There have been changes within the show such as format. Some good some bad. We listened to the thoughts last year and have taken every majority idea under consideration and acted on it.

There is no minimum number of knives and hasn't been for years. We just ask that makers have things for sale. The collectors appreciated the preview and asked last year that we extend it. So this year it has been extended to two hours.

The makers did not like the drawing and the collectors were 50/50. So this year we have eliminated the drawing and made it an open sales format.

The show is not perfect but as a committee we are doing what we are allowed to to make it better. As a committee we truly believe this is the makers show. If they ask for something as a group we will and have listened.
 
Chuck Bybee said:
Why isn't the Moran foundation display being shown at the ABS Expo?

The ABS Expo to me is schizophrenic. The show was in Reno in January which is not a pleasant time of year to travel or be in Reno. Then the show was moved to San Antonio in August. Again, not a pleasant time of year to be San Antonio. Will the next move be to Antarctica in winter or Hell in the summer?

Personally, I don't feel the outside temperature of a show venue is that big a deal as there's always plenty of air conditioning as there is plenty of heat.

Things I do like about the ABS Expo are:
1) The collector preview
2) Minimum quantity of knives available by each knifemaker
3) Having an equal chance to draw for knives

Is the ABS Expo sold out? If yes, how would the Moran display and attending knifemakers impact the ABS Expo? Have some knifemakers withdrawn from the ABS Expo?

I believe much of the concern is that forged knife collectors who normally go to the ABS Expo may now have to decide between the two.

Show scheduling is a problem. Anyone who has worked to put on a show knows the scheduling starts more than a year before the show. The fact that shows overlap is an unfortunate coincidence. We've been working on a solution to this problem for a few years.
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I use to think this was true until struggling to get show dates for the 2010 CKCA Show schedule over the last few months. There's still a few 2010 shows that haven't locked in dates as of yet.
 
I will clarify. By schizophrenic I meant with regards to extreme weather conditions.

I think the current ABS Expo in San Antonio is an ideal location:
1) High population with 250 miles
2) Good airport access
3) Proximity to the Alamo
4) San Antonio Riverwalk
5) The middle of the country

The only problem is the time of year. October or April would be great. The temperature would be cooler. There are fewer shows.

When I went to the Expo in Reno I was impressed. The show seemed to focus on knife collectors. I enjoyed having time to walk around and look at the knives without the pressure of feeling I was going to miss something. It was also nice to see tables with more than one knife.
 
Kevin Jones said:
I use to think this was true until struggling to get show dates for the 2010 CKCA Show schedule over the last few months. There's still a few 2010 shows that haven't locked in dates as of yet.
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Kevin,

You are using the few shows that are not locked in to affirm my statement is not true? What is the percentage of shows that do have dates verses those that do not?

If you were to help coordinate a show you would learn that most good venues are booked more than a year in advance. A show that does not have a venue under contract for 2010 is facing a challenge.
 
Chuck I agree with all of the above. I do know we would prefer a better time of year however as small as our show is we don't have a large enough room block to compete with the large conferences that those hotels host. I know you probably know this already. If we were to try for a better time of year it would result in much higher table fees for our makers. I would be for it but I'm not sure how our exhibitors would feel. Since we are under contract through this year for August as it is we were committed. It will be up to our exhibitors if we decide to move it to a more favorable weather time of year.

However I'm with Kevin on this issue. I feel the heat has little to do with the success/failure of a show. Instead its about the quality of and within your show. I think this goes for all shows.
 
Chuck Bybee said:
I will clarify. By schizophrenic I meant with regards to extreme weather conditions.

I think the current ABS Expo in San Antonio is an ideal location:
1) High population with 250 miles
2) Good airport access
3) Proximity to the Alamo
4) San Antonio Riverwalk
5) The middle of the country

The only problem is the time of year. October or April would be great. The temperature would be cooler. There are fewer shows.

When I went to the Expo in Reno I was impressed. The show seemed to focus on knife collectors. I enjoyed having time to walk around and look at the knives without the pressure of feeling I was going to miss something. It was also nice to see tables with more than one knife.
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Chuck, just out of curiosity, when were you last in San antonio?

If it's been a while then you may not know that San Antonio now has running hot and cold water, inside toilets, and Air Conditioning,in addition to the attributes you listed above. The knife show is held inside where it is cool and the venue is both historical and beautiful. You pick any month you like and you will be comfortable in San Antonio, if you don't make a concentrated effort to be too hot or too cold.

You seem to be an authority on how and when to book shows. Don't you think just maybe the committee tried for the venue at some other time of the year and found many dates were booked and took what they perceived to be the best available dates?

I was at the Expo in 2009 and was very impressed and pleased with what I saw and experienced. Come on down to San Antonio this year and take a look for yourself!:)

Paul
 
Chuck Bybee said:
Why isn't the Moran foundation display being shown at the ABS Expo?
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I was wondering the same thing and feel the ABS missed an excellent opportunity which could have possibly helped get more collectors attending the San Antonio Expo.

Chuck Bybee said:
Kevin,

You are using the few shows that are not locked in to affirm my statement is not true? What is the percentage of shows that do have dates verses those that do not?

If you were to help coordinate a show you would learn that most good venues are booked more than a year in advance. A show that does not have a venue under contract for 2010 is facing a challenge.
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No Chuck, just pointing out that it's not always true, especially considering the poor economy of the past 18 months.

sheathmaker said:
I was at the Expo in 2009 and was very impressed and pleased with what I saw and experienced. Come on down to San Antonio this year and take a look for yourself!:)
Paul
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I agree Paul, as I thoroughly enjoyed myself as well. Take a look > http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=670827
 
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I would expect that San Antonio won't work for everyone same as Reno or any other city for that matter. As a committee we appreciate the compliments and constructive criticism too. I feel our committee, who is made up by Rick Dunkerley, Harvey Dean, Tim Hancock, Larry Fuegen, Steve Dunn, and myself, is comprised of makers that are approachable and willing to listen to ideas that will help our show. I just hope the ABS Expo-San Antonio- which is in its infancy will be able to continue.
 
On February 16, the W F Moran Foundation registered on the Blade Forum. The Forum provides an opportunity for introducing the Foundation to the viewers who are unfamiliar with our organization. The exact corporate name is the William F. Moran Jr. Museum & Foundation, Inc. We are a 501 (c) 3 Charitable Organization and have been in existence since 2006. The Foundation was established, according to Bill's wishes, to create a Museum to house many of his knives and other memorabilia. Membership is made up of knife collectors, knife makers, and friends of Bill and Margaret Moran.

Our mission statement reads as follows: The purpose of the William F. Moran, Jr Museum & Foundation, Inc. is to educate, preserve and promote the ancient art and craft of hand forged knives and tools used in bladesmithing, and to establish a William F. Moran, Jr. Museum for the collection and preservation of hand forged knives and bladesmith metalwork, and to preserve the Moran Forge as a working Bladesmith Shop.

As a short overview, presently, the Moran Museum Shop holds two public educational events each year in conjunction with the local Frederick, MD Tourism Council. Most recently, eighteen of Bill Moran's knives have been loaned to the National Knife Museum located in the Smokey Mt. Knife Works in Sevierville, TN, where they will be viewed by thousands while on display.

The Foundation has been invited by the Knifemakers Guild to be part of their annual show in Louisville, KY, September 16th through 19th. As their guest, we will be on the Mezzanine level and will be given approximately fifty tables. Our only show requirements are that you must be a member of the Moran Foundation and all table holders must have a minimum of five "forged" knives for sale. Present Foundation Members will have the first opportunities for a table. Anyone may join the Foundation, if interested in participating in the show.

If you would like more information about the Foundation or the show, please contact Jay or Nancy Hendrickson at ejayhendrickson@comcast.net.
 
Just out of curiousity.....did Jay run this by the ABS Board of Directors, and get approval before agreeing to do this with the Guild?

The reason that I ask, as an outside, but interested party, is that it would appear to be a conflict of interest between his responsibility to the W. Moran Foundation and the ABS(he is on the Board of Directors for the ABS), as the two shows could attract top ABS talent, and are only three weeks away from each other.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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Kohai999 said:
Just out of curiousity.....did Jay run this by the ABS Board of Directors, and get approval before agreeing to do this with the Guild?

The reason that I ask, as an outside, but interested party, is that it would appear to be a conflict of interest between his responsibility to the W. Moran Foundation and the ABS(he is on the Board of Directors for the ABS), as the two shows could attract top ABS talent, and are only three weeks away from each other.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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Steven, you have hit it on the head. I don't know if Jay ran it by the board. However it appears to be an organization that closely mirrors the ABS, and a fifty table forged blade show that closely mirrors the the ABS Expo, three weeks earlier. I do not understand why this organization would not have tied in with the ABS Expo to make both stronger. Instead both will be diluted and hard feelings will result.

I understand Bill Moran was the president of the Guild. However, Bill Moran STARTED the ABS. Seems to me that Bill would have never done something that would have negatively affected the only all forged blade show in the world, hosted by the ABS.

I am very concerned and hope it is resolved quickly.
 
As an outsider I would ask the simple question: Just how much and what has the ABS contributed to the Bill Moran Foundatoin?
 
Ed,

I'm not sure what the ABS has contributed as I'm not sure what the Guild has contributed. I would point out that I do not hold any ill feelings toward the Guild on this. I just wonder why the ABS was not asked to be a partner in this since their mission statements are nearly identical and their shows are too.

I pose these as questions. The fact is I don't know the answers and as an ABS Expo committee member I feel like our ABS board members that are involved in this new foundation should keep us informed so we can host the best show possible for the ABS members.
 
Way back in the dark ages of knife makers organizations some Guild members wanted to limit the number of makers admitted to the guild to control competition.

Bob Loveless made the statement "custom knifemaking will be a success when there is a custom knifemaker at every country cross roads". I feel the same about knife shows and organizations, the more shows, the more organizations, the more knife makers the better off we will be. Competition only improves our product and service to our community.
 
^ I agree Ed to an extent.

As opposed to some of my fellow ABS members and friends, I feel/hope it will be positive for the custom knife community in general.
I hope the makers who currently attend the ABS Expo will continue to do so and those who don't have a table will be more inclined to attend the Guild Show. Thus increasing overall exposure for the ABS and forged blades overall.

I admit that I may be overly optimistic and totally wrong. The Arkansas Show was busy (my first, however everyone I asked said it was up over last year).
Again, I'm hoping that this will carry over into the remainder of shows this year. The last two shows I attended lead me to believe that we are on an upswing now.
 
W.F. Moran Foundation Mission

Our mission statement reads as follows: The purpose of the William F. Moran, Jr Museum & Foundation, Inc. is to educate, preserve and promote the ancient art and craft of hand forged knives and tools used in bladesmithing, and to establish a William F. Moran, Jr. Museum for the collection and preservation of hand forged knives and bladesmith metalwork, and to preserve the Moran Forge as a working Bladesmith Shop.

Plus

A 50 table forged blade show

American Bladesmith Society Mission

The American Bladesmith Society, Inc. pledges to diligently, reasonably and responsibly work exclusively for the purposes of promoting and advancing the art and science of the forged blade and other implements. And also to inform and educate the public in respect to bladesmithing, metal forging and heat treating processes, knife and tool design and fabrication, related arts and other areas in which the Society has expertise.

Plus

A 50 table forged blade show
 
How can the above post not create confusion in the knife world. It already has I'm afraid?

How will this not dilute both organizations?
 
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