The Bowies of BladeShow - 2009

RogerP

RogerP

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Feb 28, 2002
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This edition will be fairly brief. As I mentioned in STeven's "News from Blade" thread, I was only there for the half day Friday of showtime. Most of these pics were snapped quickly before the show opened on Saturday morning - and not everyone was set up that early.

Overall show impressions are probably best left to those who were there for the whole thing, but I can say that I had a great time, saw some terrific knives and got to spend some time with some really good people.

Some awards:

Best Tactical: R.J. Martin

Best Sword: Vince Evans

Most Innovative: Dan Winkler

Best Hunter: J.R. Cook

Best Art Knife: Tim Hancock

Best Fixed Blade: Jerry Fisk

Best Fighter: Harvey Dean

Best Damascus: Jimmy Chin

Best Bowie: Mike Ruth

Peck Award: Kyle Royer

Hughes Award: Rodrigo Sfreddo

Moran Award: Kyle Royer

The usual caveat applies with respect to the photos - poor lighting, simple camera and shaky hands do not make for great pics. To say these photos do not do the knives justice would be an understatment.

Karl Andersen

A really solid table with some very cool takedown pieces. Karl's passion for the craft is evident in his work. The two middle pieces were my favs - I really like the pearl inlayed blackwood handle.

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And here are the project knives - all with 5160 blades, wrought iron guards and bakelite handles. Lin's piece on top, Karl's in the middle then my piece on the bottom. Chuck Ward will shoot the trio, which is a shame for me because my piece looks best blurry. :o I was very honoured and to have my knife on display with these two fine makers and thank Karl again for including me.

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Bailey Bradshaw

A trio in ivory and damascus. The Persian Star in the middle will be making its way to Coop, and then to me. :) Bailey also had a really nice trio of walnut and carbon steel hunters, some with a very light touch of engraving, that were both beautiful and very attractively priced.

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Bill Buxton

I like the man and I like his work and I know he will climb that mountain next time around. Any one of this trio would put a smile on the face of a bowie fan.

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Ed Caffrey

Som really hot damascus pieces on Ed's table. The hunter on the bottom kept jumping up off the table and into my hand. I wonder how Ed taught it to do that?

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Jimmy Chin

I'm happy to hear that Coop will be shooting Jimmy's MS pieces - you will then be able to see why this dagger won the "Best Damascus" award at the show. Congrats to Jimmy on his MS stamp - well done!

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Adam DesRosiers

Adam may have been the happiest guy at the show and it was not hard to see why. And it had nothing to do with knives. ;) But the knives did make me smile - particularly the forge textured fighter in the middle.

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Dan Farr

Always one of my favourite tables at the show - and this year was one of my all-time favourites. There wasn't a single knife I wouldn't have been happy to own, and a couple that I now do. :) Like the sign says, the bulk of Dan's knives feature the new Crucible forging steel - CruForge V - some REALLY good news for forged blade fans. What not a lot of people know is that Dan has been highly involved throughout the process of bringing this new steel from concept to reality. Dan's carbon fiber-reinforced walnut burl generated a lot of interest - and looks really cool to boot.

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Burt Foster

As much as I liked - no, loved - that subhilt fighter, Thor's upswept piece was a show favourite for me.

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Tommy Gann

I've long had a thing for long, slim, fast fighters and Tommy absolutely nailed that genre with the middle piece.

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Don Hanson

A name that has must mean "total awesomeness" in Hillbilly talk. :p There's a reason why Don has the most entries in every BF Best Bowie thread. Here are three reasons:

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Jason Knight

You don't need me to tell you that Jason rocks. What you do need me to tell you - 'cause the photo doesn't - is that piece of ivory on ths bowie is as nice as ivory gets.

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Joe Mandt

I very much enjoyed meeting Joe and seeing his knives. If you are a sucker for stag (and really, who isn't?), this was a table for you. Keep up the good work Joe. :thumbup:

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Don McIntosh

Don's knives have always been good and each year I see his work they get better. Some really nice stuff here.

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J. Neilson

A really stong lineup with a good mix of large and small, damascus and carbon, fancy and plain. The little gold lip pearl damascus utility / desk knife was really calling to me.

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John Perry

Such a perfect gentleman and such a talented maker. This curvy stag bowie was a very impressive piece.

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Lin Rhea

Congrats to the new Master Smith! The dagger was just beautifully executed and I have become a real fan of his G3 competition cutter.

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Mike Ruth

This piece didn't just impress me, it impressed the heck out of the BladeShow judges who awarded it "Best Bowie" honours.

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John White

While seeing Paul's first entry in John White's Legacy Series was the showstopper piece, there was much more to delight the bowie fan. The samascus pattern on that top piece really blew me away.

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And that's all folks.

Any others with additional pics or show impressions please do share!

Roger
 
Roger, thanks for the trouble. There are some really nice knives in these pics.

Marcel
 
WOW I dont know where to start a unbelievable line up each and everyone truly awesome. This page will get a lot of looks! Thanks Roger for taking the time to share the pics. And i would like to congratulate Lin Rhen on his MS !:thumbup::D Way to go sir!!!!!!
 
Great bowie review, Roger! :thumbup:

Those of us that didn't make it to the show this year may be able to endure through the wait for Coop's images to appear on these pages, now. Always appreciated!

- Joe
 
I remember the Blade Magazine Article with pictures of Lin, Karl and Yourself holding the raw materials for the build-off. All of you folks did a fine job.
Great looking knives.....inspiration for fellows like me

Thanks a Bunch Roger!!!
 
Roger, thanks for the pics and the comments.

They mean a great deal to those of us who could not go.
 
Thanks Roger - that allows me to get a good feel for the show. Clearly, knife designs and executions keep on improving.

I want to single out Bailey Bradshaw for the original design of his dagger. Bailey is a maker who's always willing and ready to take on a challenge.
 
Roger,
Thanks for letting me in on what I've missed... I'm as close this year as I was last, but family issues are keeping me up here in NC - couldn't take the time off to make it down for day this time.. But your pictorial has really made up for it!!!!:thumbup:
 
Thanks gents - I wish I had more to show you. I too will be waiting eagerly for Coop's show pics.

Keith - yes, that blade is black powder coated, as is the guard.

Roger
 
Thanks Roger. Some very impressive knives in there. It seems Jimmy Chin is firing on all cylinders. Any pics of the Sfreddo knives??
 
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