South Eastern Show Highlights

[DerekZ]

This show was great! There were some strong players set up there for the small size of it. It was great seeing Mike and Michelle Snody, Jerry Hossom, Geno Denning, Darrel Ralph and Dusty Moulton along with everyone else who was set up there. Les Robertson had some great knives on his table. I missed seeing Wayne Hendricks this year and I don't think he is taking orders. I wanted to get a skinner from him. Anyone know how a man can get knife from him? I have a hard time reaching him.

I would have to say the highlight of the show for me was seeing Mike Snody's Game Master, a very different knife from the rest of his designs, and talking to Michelle Snody. She is more charming than words can say, and pretty as a picture, prettier even.

I would like to thank Michelle Snody for her kindness and for taking the time out to talk to me even when their table was packed with people. She really lit up the show, which was slow and dragging both days in the afternoon. Mike, my hats off to you!

Derek Johnson

 

[Gus Kalanzis]

Any one see what Ron Newton had. His knives are nothing short of amazing to me.
Thanks,
Gus

 

[Dexter Ewing]

Originally posted by Gus Kalanzis
Any one see what Ron Newton had. His knives are nothing short of amazing to me.
Thanks,
Gus

Oh man you ain't kidding, Gus! At the dinner on Friday, Ron passed around his new auto folder, the Ovation, that was absolutely gorgeous! And it kicks like a mule too I also highly enjoyed spending some more time visiting with Ron at his table during the show, and he introduced me to his Five Function Folder...pretty trick stuff!! He definitely does some stunning work.

 

[Jerry Hossom]

Personally, I found Ron's work very depressing. It's just so darned good, it makes mine look like child's play. He's really one of the very best.

I should note that he entered three knives in three different categories in the contest at the show, and all three won. If they hadn't limited us to no more than three categories, he might have won them all.

 

[BARRY JONES]

Gus,

Our table was right behind Ron's. Luckily I was able to see what he had before it was all gone. His work is nothing short of AMAZING.

I am still puzzeled by that "Five function folder" of his. He walked me thru all of the ways you could open it but I still have no clue as to how it operates. It seemed like a simple mechanism but looks can be deceiving. I am amazed that he made such a complex folder but squeezed it all into a beautiful, compact package.

Ron also had a Barrel Folder (Best Folder of Show award winner) with 8 blades and ivory scales. It looked rather simple but was anything but. He remarked how difficult it was to make.

There was also a tiny, pearl handled Mustache care folder. It was similar to a tiny Swiss Army Knife. The folder had a small pair of scissors and a mustache combe. The pearl was carved too.

The Bowie Ron had was Awesome too. He even took the time to dismantle it and show me how he did some of the work. There was a uniquely patterned damascus blade with nickel silver furniture and an ivory handle. Extremely beautiful.

What impressed me the most about Ron is that he didn't seem to have an inflated ego at all. You could tell that he was very proud of his work but there was no sign of bragging. Ron was even kind enough to try and teach me a few things about the construction of his knives. He was also nice enough to give me a lesson in the business side of knifemaking.

No wonder the man won the Best of Show award.

 

[Gus Kalanzis]

I don't know why, but I only met Ron this year at Blade. John introduced me to him. Can't decide if I like his knives better than I like him or not. I sure enjoyed meeting him and seeing his work too.

Sava and I hope to go to Arkansas sometime before Blade (hopefully right before the Spring ABS hammer-in) and pester Ron, Tim and John.
We promise not to be as pestering as the "his dudeness" the "oh my god" guy.

 

[tom mayo]

Yes, his work is truly amazing....
I always ask him where Merlin is and if it was hard signing that paper deeding over his soul for all that black magic to make those AMAZING knives!!!
Tim Foster is following close in his footsteps (Merlin's, that is!!)

 

[ShaneB]

Congratulations to Jerry Hossom for winning BEST UTILITY-HUNTER at the show. His knives are superb! The fighter man can win in any category, he is truly talented.
Ron Newton's knives are topnotch and his folders are exquisite!
Derek, Keep calling Wayne, you will get him eventually. His skinners are flawless.

Mike Snody had some incredible new designs at the show. The recurve shown in the other post here was amazing. After seeing the damascus on Snody's knives and the bars of damascus on Mike Norris's table I know this is the only damascus for me.

I too enjoyed visiting with Michelle Snody at the show. She has a winning personality. She has done some great work in helping homeless dogs find homes. She gave us the leads at the Blade Show that led us to adopting our Boxer. My wife and I will be forever grateful to her.
What a compliment to our Snody knife, Mike partner,the Boxer has won us over but your knife is a close second.
The Jones Boys also won an award at the show. I did not catch which knife it was for does anyone know?

 

[Dexter Ewing]

Originally posted by ShaneB
The Jones Boys also won an award at the show. I did not catch which knife it was for does anyone know?

They won Best Fighter. They submitted their Scorpion tactical folder.

 

[ShaneB]

Thanks Dexter. I had been trying to recall which of their knives might have won. I thought it would be one of their fixed blades and had not thought about a folder winning the Fighter category.
I saw some amazingly crafted fixed blades at that show. That was obviously good strategy to enter a folder in that category. Congratulations Jones Boys.

Shane