RENO Exposition ’08 – Show us what you got; Please!

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The Reno Show is just a little over a month away. There's a new and exciting format and I can't wait.

Who's going?

Details from ABS website:


Dear knife collectors and enthusiasts,

We would like to take this opportunity to invite you to attend the 6th Annual American Bladesmith Exposition in Reno, Nevada on January 25th and 26th of 2008.
The ABS is excited to say that we have designed a new and exciting venue for the exposition. This is now a two day event that is packed full of positive changes to enhance your knife show experience, understanding and appreciation of the forged blade and the Bladesmiths who preserve this important craft form. The attending makers will be available for fun and conversation throughout the day and evening. What a great way to spend some time with your favorite makers and to meet some of the newer makers as well.

The new show format will have one day –Friday- filled with seminars and demonstrations from 10 AM-3 PM on topics of knife making and collecting. There is an on-going forging demo that will offer the opportunity for some attendees to actually forge a blade with the guidance of a Mastersmith. What a great way to gain an understanding of the forged blade process. There will be a knife preview only from 4 PM- 6PM, with no sales, in the afternoon. Every one that attends will have a unique opportunity to leisurely see all the knives before any sales take place, and an equitable chance to acquire knives. A cocktail period from 6:30 onward will precede the annual banquet at 7 PM. The auction in the evening will follow the banquet and is always a favorite event with all attendees.

Get involved by visiting the collector’s corner. You may bring up to 3 knives from your collection that are made by ABS Smiths to show off, trade, or sell at your discretion. This has been initiated for your benefit to help open your horizons to the other collectors that follow the forged blade.

Another one of the exciting changes of this EXPO is that you will get to see all the knives at the preview times and you will have the opportunity to put your name in a lottery box for any knife that the maker agrees to sell on the lottery system. Our hopes are to level the playing field for all the collectors and dealers that may be interested in the same piece.

Saturday is the day that you will have the opportunity to purchase the fine forged knives that the makers have so diligently made specifically for this EXPO. We’ve asked the makers to make this a special place to bring their finest work, whether it’s a working knife or an exquisite art knife. The show room will open for all to enter and participate in a second preview period from 10am- 11am, with no sales allowed until 11am. At 11:00 am the makers will draw out the lottery tickets (intent to purchase) for those particular knives and for the knives that are not in the lottery status, the open sales will begin. The EXPO closes at 6 PM.

Collectors, don’t be afraid to place as many lottery tickets out there in different boxes as you want (only one name per knife is allowed.) You will have the opportunity to accept the purchase or decline it, if you so choose, and the subsequent ticket holder will then have the same opportunity and so on until the knife is sold. It will be up to you to keep track of the status of the drawings with the makers you have placed lottery tickets with.

We hope that the Collectors Corner, the seminars, and the lottery system will level the playing field and will be added incentive to attend our EXPO. Come for the education, the camaraderie, and to support your passion for the forged blade.

Two fine knives have been donated to the Expo by Master smiths A.G. Barnes and Red St. Cyr. Raffle tickets are currently available from the attending makers and will be available at the EXPO as well. Pictures of both knives can also be found on the website.

We look forward to seeing you there, it is the event to attend. If you would like to donate something to the auction contact Steve Dunn ( 270-563-9830) or bring it along, it all goes for a good cause.

Don’t miss out getting your trip planned early and booking a hotel room before they are all gone.

For more information, call Rick Dunkerley (406-677-5496)



We would sure appreciate pre-views of any RENO bound knives makers care to share.

If anyone has trouble posting your photos, please feel free to e-mail them to me and I will get them posted up: Kj1056@aol.com

Let's start with a beauty from Jerry Fisk:
2111035880_a2128a8ae3_b.jpg

This is the first NLT for 2008. Game Master model. It is the first of a small run of the "Wedgie" series. This small out lay of models with feature different shaped butt ends. All will be one of a kinds. Let me tell you now that they take more time on the fitting up. This one features a damascus wedge or triangle butt cap that has some small amount of fluting. The guard and pin is stainless with engraving. The pin features a gold inlay center and the two back pins are of 14kt gold with the engraving on the guard having 24kt gold inlayed main trunks of the scroll. The blade pattern is a modified W pattern. Fossil Walrus ivory handle.
 
We're looking forward to the ABS Exposition (won't be able to say "Reno Show" after this year). It's been my favorite show for several years now. The format change is interesting. I can see why they're moving the show after this year. Reno can be a tough place to get to for a lot of folks. But it's been worth the trouble given the concentrated talent and top quality knives.

It's also fun to visit with fellow knife nuts who hang out on this forum - keeps me from getting overly focused on the 'what am I gonna buy' thing. Seems like I enjoy watching others get something they're excited about almost as much as I enjoy getting something I'm excited about.

It would be nice if the new format could relieve some of the understandable pressure and tension that is inevitable for the bladesmiths who naturally want to sell everything they've brought, and for some of us collectors who don't like to disappoint them by not jumping on each and every opportunity. It's a significant dynamic because, if you think about it, collectors have everything to gain and nothing to lose, but the bladesmiths potentially have a lot to lose if their work doesn't garner the attention they were hoping for.

But I digress... we'll be there and it's gonna be a great show.
 
We're off to an excellent start with that fantastic Fisk piece. Looking forward to lots more.

Roger
 
I'll have more, but this one is ready now.

Forged, clay hardened W-2 blade (no shot of the hamon here) 6 bar twisted "W" damascus fittings, 14k gold washed liners, african blackwood scales with 14k gold domed pins.
 

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"Your Majesty, your camp knife is ready for delivery."

AWESOME piece Burt!

Roger
 
I'll have more, but this one is ready now.

Forged, clay hardened W-2 blade (no shot of the hamon here) 6 bar twisted "W" damascus fittings, 14k gold washed liners, african blackwood scales with 14k gold domed pins.

Oh my :eek: ... simply amazing piece of work!

Stephen
 
What a cool design Burt.
Love the long sweeping blade and filed liners. Kind of looks like a folder.

Will present some interesting opportunities for a sheath. Curious as to what you will come up with.

camp23-small.jpg
 
Kevin,
I got to "coonfinger" Jerry Fisk's Wedgie knife a couple of weeks ago it's a great piece. Burt that's a great looking blade.
Jim Treacy
 
I live in Reno now! Yay! I should be able to make it.
 
Kevin,
I got to "coonfinger" Jerry Fisk's Wedgie knife a couple of weeks ago it's a great piece. Burt that's a grat looking blade.
Jim Treacy
Hi Jim. I'm looking forward to examming that one.

What do you collectors, makers and dealers think of the changes to show format?

My opinions:
The lottery system should level the playing field in regard to everyone having equal opportunity in purchasing knives. However IMO, Reno has always been the show that offered the greatest opportunity for even the first time buyer to walk up to a top maker's table and buy even the best examples.

Friday will be a good day to pick up information from the seminars and demonstrations and give collectors opportunity to visit with their favorite makers one on one. I hope collectors/makers/dealers will take advantage of this opportunity rather than only show up on Saturday to take advantage of knife sales.

I really like the "collector's corner" as I see the lack of opportunity or exposure for collectors to sell and/or trade their knives as one of the biggest problems in collecting of custom knives. This lack of exposure contributes greatly to the lackluster appreciation in value of customs on the secondary market.
 
Those are some awesome knives! The detail work really takes them that step above. Burt and Jerry both deserve a pat on the back (an a fat wad of cash!) for those pieces. I wish I could make the show, but it won't happen.

I'm going to try to get to Blade nest year though!

-d
 
CONGRATS to Burt! Not so much on the title as this was all for fun, but more on the fact that he created such a stunning piece!!! :thumbup: :cool: :thumbup:

Can't wait to see what he has cooked up for Reno! :D

Speaking of Reno, what are you guys bringing? :confused:

Just a little over three weeks away. :eek:
 
Here's Jerry's latest for Reno: An Integral full tang knife with a 6 1/4 inch blade of W2 steel, water quenched and double drawn on the temper. Equipped with a beautiful Ironwood handle.

Reno-08-integ-carb.jpg

Reno08-int-clse.jpg
 
Lovely piece!

I heard from Don Fogg that he will not be in Reno after all. He hurt his knee in December and is still recovering.
 
I will have a hunter that I am doing with Greg Neely. He sent the blade, and I'm working on the handle. It will be for the auction. Gosh I hope I don't screw it up! The blade is a beauty.

Dan Farr
 
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