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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Solvang Show - Let's have some reports!
- Thread starter dogman
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2000
- Messages
- 79
MY WIFE AND I ATTENDED ON FRIDAY AND BOUGHT 2 OF DANIEL WINKLERS SMALL FIXED BLADE KNIVES. DANIEL WAS NOT THERE (FAMILY EMERGENCY, HIS FATHER IN LAW IS ILL)BUT HE DID SEND SOME BLADES TO NORDIC KNIVES SO THEY COULD SHOW AND SELL THEM FOR HIM. I WISH I COULD SEND PHOTOS BUT I DON'T HAVE THAT CAPABILITY. THERE WERE ALOT OF GREAT MAKERS WITH SOME GREAT KNIVES. WE ALSO SAW DAVID CROSBY (CROSBY, STILLS, NASH AND YOUNG)BUYING KNIVES. HE HAD BOTH HANDS FULL OF BLADES (MUST BE NICE) IT WAS A QUICK SHOW FOR ME SO THATS ALL I HAVE.
Double Edge Dave
Moderator and Gold Member
- Joined
- Mar 27, 1999
- Messages
- 1,379
This was my first Solvang show. We went to the VIP preview on Friday and got in line about 10:00 A.M. I am glad we did that! We first went to John W. Smith`s table and found he had sold 2 of the 4 knives he brought in the 1st 5 minutes! This was a serius buyers show.If knife shows were cocktails, this would be pure 180 proof everclear.Only custom makers with outstanding reputations are invited to participate.This is the good stuff without any of the fillers.There are only 60 tables and they are filled by invitation only. To be considered, a maker must send samples of their work for approval.The waiting list is over 400 names long!
The show is held in a hotel ballroom and lends itself to a very intimate atmosphere. With a limited number of tables,everyone was in no rush to get around and most felt the freedom to linger at the tables. It was nice to get to know some of these makers without a lot of pressure to keep moving along.On Friday the crowd was not overwhelming and there was plenty of elbow room. Saturday was considerably more crowded,but the attendees were still more polite and cordial than any other show I have been to.
Personal highlights included a long conversation with Chris Reeve and learning that he was a neighbor of my sister in S. Africa years ago. Spending time with D'Alton Holder and coming to appreciate his dry and wickedly sharp sense of humor. Getting to know John W. Smith and finding out he is just as cool as his knives.Finally meeting Phil Boguszewski and seeing exellent examples of his custom work.Frank Centofante was as friendly and helpful as anyone I have ever met.Joe Kious remembering that we had met once,a long time ago. Bob Lum spent a good deal of time with us outside the hall just talkin' knives.
These are just a few of the highlights for me. I hope to be able to return and can recommend this show to anyone even remotely interested in customs.
David
The show is held in a hotel ballroom and lends itself to a very intimate atmosphere. With a limited number of tables,everyone was in no rush to get around and most felt the freedom to linger at the tables. It was nice to get to know some of these makers without a lot of pressure to keep moving along.On Friday the crowd was not overwhelming and there was plenty of elbow room. Saturday was considerably more crowded,but the attendees were still more polite and cordial than any other show I have been to.
Personal highlights included a long conversation with Chris Reeve and learning that he was a neighbor of my sister in S. Africa years ago. Spending time with D'Alton Holder and coming to appreciate his dry and wickedly sharp sense of humor. Getting to know John W. Smith and finding out he is just as cool as his knives.Finally meeting Phil Boguszewski and seeing exellent examples of his custom work.Frank Centofante was as friendly and helpful as anyone I have ever met.Joe Kious remembering that we had met once,a long time ago. Bob Lum spent a good deal of time with us outside the hall just talkin' knives.
These are just a few of the highlights for me. I hope to be able to return and can recommend this show to anyone even remotely interested in customs.
David
- Joined
- Dec 24, 1999
- Messages
- 38
The Solvang Show was once again great. It's a serious show where people truly know their knives and can recognize the difference between "marketing" and art. I did not see one knife that did not deserve to be on the maker's table for sale. No unfinished knives with bad grinds or clips with three holes and only two screws. John W. Smith, Bob Lum, Phil Boguzuskie (actually his wife) were especially nice and accomodating and willing to talk. Had to question Ernie Emerson though with very few knives for purchase and only then at a designated time. What's that all about?
- Joined
- Aug 22, 1999
- Messages
- 667
Ernie has been doing his lottery system for years.
There are several reasons why he does it.
It's his way and it has it merits.
Some peole who are there get a lottery number for someone else. This gives someone a chance who may not be able to make it there at for example 12:00 PM Friday for example. Whether or not they sell that Lottery number or charge a fee or just do it because they are there is really not anyone's business. The intent is honorable and as fair as it can be. His Tactical Customs, ALWAYS sell out. So he does this to give others a chance to acquire a rare Custom.
People have different motives let's be honest, he still charges a very reasonable price. I have personally seen Dealers send "Shells" in to buy for them and turn a 100% profit. I have also seen others who have driven several hundred miles to get the OPPURTUNITY to purchase a Custom. I have done that myself. It's his system and I can see why he does it. He is tasked w/ a untenable position at times. Everyone won't be happy if he sells out at 11:05 AM to Dealers as well and they jack up the price at 12:00 PM to $1,000.00 for any Custom Tactical.
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"This is the law:
There is no possible victory in defense, The Sword is more important than the shield, And skill is more important than either, The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental."
There are several reasons why he does it.
It's his way and it has it merits.
Some peole who are there get a lottery number for someone else. This gives someone a chance who may not be able to make it there at for example 12:00 PM Friday for example. Whether or not they sell that Lottery number or charge a fee or just do it because they are there is really not anyone's business. The intent is honorable and as fair as it can be. His Tactical Customs, ALWAYS sell out. So he does this to give others a chance to acquire a rare Custom.
People have different motives let's be honest, he still charges a very reasonable price. I have personally seen Dealers send "Shells" in to buy for them and turn a 100% profit. I have also seen others who have driven several hundred miles to get the OPPURTUNITY to purchase a Custom. I have done that myself. It's his system and I can see why he does it. He is tasked w/ a untenable position at times. Everyone won't be happy if he sells out at 11:05 AM to Dealers as well and they jack up the price at 12:00 PM to $1,000.00 for any Custom Tactical.
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"This is the law:
There is no possible victory in defense, The Sword is more important than the shield, And skill is more important than either, The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental."