should i go to Bladeshow?

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meathead177

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Jun 1, 2015
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Hey guys I'm new here and pretty new to the knife world. I am lucky enough to live 10 minutes from the Galleria where Blade is at. I don't have tons of money to spend on all the latest cool custom knives. I was wondering do vendors offer big discounts on knives at the show? Or do they just not charge shipping or what? I was looking at maybe getting a few $30-$50 knives. Hoping for an inexpensive Spyderco sprint run or something.........
 
I went to the Eugene Oregon show one year with ZERO money to spend on knives. But I was in town at the time, so hell yes I was going.

Got to see some incredible displays of stuff that wasn't for sale anyways. Got to BS some of the characters in the industry and some damn fine makers too. Got to meet a pile of fellow enthusiasts. Knife folk are some of the finest I've met in my years of wandering the earth.

Of course, the show's always more fun when you have a wad of disposable cash, but I'll bet you won't be disappointed. If I lived 10 minutes from Blade, I'd be first in line every year.
 
Yes, you should definitely go since you live so close. There are some decent deals on production knives at that price point. Knife center is always there and the prices seem to be pretty decent. Go there and have fun.
 
I've got one of my sons (10 years old) talked into going if I go. We went years back around 2011(?) on a rainy sunday morning and it was OK. Nice because it wasn't crowded but I think a lot of people/vendors either left or slept in! He did get some free swag though, like a Kershaw hat and a wooden knife kit from CRKT. I have a Kershaw Link on order and was hoping they may have a special edition Spyderco Tenacious (green scales w/ black blade?!?)or one of those Kershaw/Emerson CQC's in a funky color combo.
 
I live in Smyrna too and love the fact Blade is so close. If you like knifes, you should go.
 
meathead177 said:
Hey guys I'm new here and pretty new to the knife world. I am lucky enough to live 10 minutes from the Galleria where Blade is at. I don't have tons of money to spend on all the latest cool custom knives. I was wondering do vendors offer big discounts on knives at the show? Or do they just not charge shipping or what? I was looking at maybe getting a few $30-$50 knives. Hoping for an inexpensive Spyderco sprint run or something.........
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If you are at a show, and walk up to a vendor and buy something...how are they going to charge you shipping? There would no use of the USPS or any other carrier right? I wouldn't say there are "huge savings" at the show, what there may be is some availability of items that you just cannot find in stock. If you are after budget knives in the $30-$50 range, you can find those 24/7 online. If you want to see custom knives and meet the makers, see what is going to be coming out in the second half of the year then it's a great place to go. The only inexpensive sprint run I've seen was the green and blue G10 Tenacious knives released a few years back.
 
I've gone every year for at least the last 5 years (or whenever I first heard about blade show, might be longer). If you're close and love sharp pointy things, GO. I usually set aside money for this every year, but I have friends who go and don't spend a dime and still have a blast. You get to play with just about anything you could imagine, talk to designers and manufacturers and see/play with lots of cool stuff (not just sharp things). The prices aren't "amazing" but you can find some good deals. The best way to do a show is research the stuff you're interested in, get a price list together and go in with a limit in mind. Even if it's more than you want to spend, you still get hands-on experience with the thing you wanted to know about. Sunday is usually the day that they try to do the "last push" so they discount some things further. You can totally find more than a few decent blades for $30-50 range. Spyderco pretty much sells EVERYTHING they make at the show now (which wasn't always the case). But finding their sprint run stuff at 30-50 is not very likely.

And then there are the custom guys... they're doing all kinds of crazy shit and it's just fun to see how far off the deep end some of them will go with a design.

So here's the list of stuff you can expect:
  • Knives (all kinds, all the major manufacturers, and plenty of custom)
  • Machetes
  • Hatchets
  • Swords
  • Tac gear (5.11, Maxpedition, bags, etc.)
  • Knife making supplies (pretty much everything to make any kind of knife, including steel blanks and sheath equipment)
  • Sharpening Supplies (everything from gimmicky crap all the way to serious/crazy sharpmaking equipment)
  • Swag (cool hats, shirts, bags and assorted marketing shtuff)

The scene is generally cool and laid back. Don't do stupid things (like cut yourself while trying to show off your flipping skills, there's always that one guy, don't be him.) and all is good. Plus, you get to go to the Marietta diner right down the road afterwards, which is one of the best diners in the country.

Also, for those of you that can't make it, there is a company called GoingGear that shows up, have lots of cool stuff and guess what, they have an actual store in Marietta. So check 'em out and support a small local shop that carries one of the coolest knife collections in a mainstream store that I've ever seen. Really nice folks.
 
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ill be there friday. i paid extra for early tickets. hoping to beat out some of the crowd and make it back to charlotte at a decent time.

if i lived in town i'd go both days :thumbup:
 
Go. You won't save a lot of money buying stuff there, but generally the price will be pretty competitive.

Years ago, I'd go just to look at Randall knives and usually end up buying one. These days, the only Randalls you will see are some old collector grade stuff rather than something you are likely to use. I'm not buying Randalls any more. Moved past that point.
 
Good points.....and I agree about Goinggear. They moved from there old store to a bigger one on Concord Rd. here in Smyrna. They have the best selection I've seen plus cool camping stuff and good boots. I also heard SOE (Special Operations Equipment) will have a booth. I hear good and bad about them so wouldn't mind talking with them in person.
 
Absolutely go! If nothing else you will meet and hang out with people that in no time you will call friends. It is a great place with incredible people who all have one main interest in common!
 
What everyone else said GO! . I live 2 and 1/2 hours away, and my 12 year old sone and I are going. We have gone the last 2 years and had a great time. Spent very little money, and got lots of free swag.
 
Go. Even if you don't buy anything, you will have the opportunity to pick up knives and see how they fit your hand. Make a list of what you like and don't like or what feels good and what doesn't. You will save some time, headaches, and some $ compared to the rest of us that buy over the net and find out it doesn't fit your hand well. I also heard deals can be had on the last day for slow moving items.
 
I'd recommend going. I've been the last 3 years and will be going this year. Even if you don't make a purchase you get to meet a lot of great folks and see some really cool blades!
 
I just go because of good friends, knives and a lot of drinking......:D

Oh-yeh and my mom lets me stay up late that weekend.....:rolleyes:
 
Honestly, no one should have to ask if they should go to blade show. If it was in my means I would be there even if I knew I was going to walk away with nothing. Because even then the memory is something. It is THEE show to go to if cutlery is your thing. I wouldnt say you get mad discounts but you dont have insane dealer mark up and you may get lucky in a lottery if you are willing to pony up some cash. $50? probably a little under.
 
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