The ABS 'Reno' Show: A Few Pictures

HTMD

HTMD

Joined
Feb 15, 2002
Messages
1,705
Heck, I'd attend this show just to see the taxidermy in the lobby of the Silver Legacy!

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Here's a scene from the show - and what an awesome show it was (and is, year after year). I didn't ask every bladesmith, but the ones I did ask agreed this is their favorite show. Front to back, on the left: Red St. Cyr, Larry Fuegen, Jerry Fisk (from behind) and Steve Dunn. Note the tall tables this year - a significant and popular upgrade!

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Here's some bidding action by Randy "Kick Yur Ass" Morgan and Steven "I Disagree" Garsson at the banquet/auction Friday night. Pretty much everybody dressed appropriately except Randy & Steve. ;)*

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And finally, at least for now, check this out: Mike Williams had an incredible deal going. You buy this little origami elephant for $425 and get the knife for free!

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* I know you guys can take a little ribbin'. You are knowledgable, experienced collectors and you both taught me some stuff I didn't know. Thanks!
 
Ah, I had not seen a pic of Steven before. I do think I've seen him somewhere...
 
Morgan & Garsson, such great taste in knives :thumbup:, such awful taste in clothes! :thumbdn:
 
I love those two shirts! Lots of personality there. To wear something like that you have to be really brave :).

Thanks for the pics Buddy ;).

Matt
 
ptgdvc said:
Morgan & Garrson, such great taste in knives :thumbup:, such awful taste in clothes! :thumbdn:
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And yet both of us are quite capable of kickin' yer ass, Mr. Gill!! Besides which, this is supposed to be a relaxed show for the buyer, not the maker. You can't tell, but I did actually put on pants for this show!

You mispelled my name, I hope that I shipped your Farr to the right address?;)

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
You mispelled my name, I hope that I shipped your Farr to the right address?;)

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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I am old and my finger got stuck on the rrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. ;)

Best,

P
 
Look at the fangs on this thing. With the shortage of good ivory handle material, I'm surprised this big guy still had them attached to his head after the show.:D

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Thanks for the pics Buddy! It was great seeing you at the show! :D

As per Mr. Walrus...

I ripped one of them off and left him in a position to hear "nice tooth," for the rest of his days. However, I was highly dissapointed when I found it to be carved and laquered styrofoam!!! :mad:
 
Here are a few more from from the Reno Show.

Viewing the donated items prior to the auction.

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Helpers carry each item through the audience during bidding:

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One interesting item was donated by Daniel Winkler and Karen Shook. It was a genuine modern reproduction of an old cutlery set used back in the 1600's.

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The auction was fun. Col. Tim keeps it rolling pretty good:

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The following three knives came home with me. There were many others I really wanted bad but couldn't get this time. Oh well!

A Rik Palm special, "Scrolly":

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A perfect little John Fitch stag and damascus skinner:

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A beautiful Ron Newton folder:

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Great, great, images, Buddy! Very appreciated.

I'm stunned that Dan and Karen would donate that ENTIRE set. Now THAT is someone who believes in the ABS! Wow.

Was there a Mastersmith Collaboration knife auction? details, please....

As usual, you have eclectic taste and good senses. All are fine examples. The Newton pearl handle is ALIVE with texture and irridescence! (Love the gold nugget! ;))

Thanks again. Your reports are always a first click.

Coop
 
Glad folks enjoyed these pics.

Coop - No MS collaboration knife at this show. I think they usually do that for BLADE in June.

The cutlery set above was made in 1985 by a fellow named Rubely (? sp. but pronounced Roo-blee) and retailed in his catalog for $3,800. The original specimens reside in a museum somewhere in Europe, I think, circa 1680 if I'm not mistaken. The maker was one of Daniel's inspirations. It was terrific stuff but 'only' brought $1,000 at the auction. But that's the thing about auctions like this - sometimes great deals are to be had. The Fitch skinner was also donated by John and brought $450, which I was glad to pay as it is a really sweet knife 'in person.'

The Newton folder is a very special piece and though Ron's work commands a well-deserved premium, the value is there in spades, no doubt. Rik Palm can't help but be creative in wonderful ways - I love his style and artistic sensibilities. And as much as I love the things I did get, those things I could not get were just as wonderful.

In fact, at least for me, it can be somewhat painful to talk with certain bladesmiths and look at their work when I know I just can't have it this time around. It may sound crazy but I could only manage quick looks at the work of, for example, John Fitch, Bailey Bradshaw, J.W. Randall, Jerry Fisk, Greg Neely, Burt Foster, Steve Dunn, Mike Williams, Joe Keeslar and a bunch of others - just too painful. And (this is how bad it is for me) - Larry Fuegen - sorry man, I hope you understand - I just couldn't bring myself to go anywhere near your table this time. It's just a good thing for me that most of these folks sell out quickly because one thing I know for sure - they got a lot more knives than I got money - by far!

Nick - I enjoyed our conversations too! Folks should know that Nick had a knife in the 'silent auction' (as distinguished from the banquet auction referenced in this thread) that generated a lot of bidding activity. People just naturally like Nick's work - for obvious reasons.

The demonstrations were excellent as well. I won't go through them all (actually, I will, but that's for the next ABS Journal), however, one thing that stands out in my memory is Joe Sizlaski's contageous enthusiasm for antique presentation hawks and their re-creation. He has to be among the foremost authorities in this area, not to mention his bladesmithing knowledge and skills. He gave a captivating presentation, Hungarian accent and all.

But heck, they're all talented and knowledgeable - each with his or her own take on things. Consider Christoph Derringer - One of the things he's into is not wasting metal and forging as close to final shape as possible. He weighs the steel he starts with and then weighs the finished blade (without handle or other parts of course) and continues to track that number, making it smaller and smaller over time. He's also an 'integral' guy but for him integral gets pretty elaborate, even to the point of complex 'basket-hilt' type stuff etc. Impressive!

I hesitated to mention any names here because I hate to leave anybody out. They're all so very good. My advice is - be there next year - do whatever it takes - save your money etc. Lots of great stuff is not that expensive and if you have the bucks for the best of the best, this is it! Outside of the Art Knife Invitational, I'm not sure it can get any better than the ABS 'Reno Show.'
 
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