The death of knife shows

[jbmonkey]

I can't speak for those specific shows, but I can say that if they're anything like the gunshows here in Central Florida; all the knife guys are either:

1. selling nothing but flea market junk (S&W and Mtech abound)
2. selling name brand knives at or above msrp (What? No. That's why we have the internet)
3. selling nothing but really battered old military knives at vastly above any sane price (Not my lane)

There's a reason why I don't buy knives at shows, and if these issues are prevalent at your shows, it might be why they're folding.

Yep that about sums it up. It's so bad I don't even buy guns at gun shows anymore. In fact I don't go at all. Better deals and selection to be had online and my local ffls stores for better prices. Didn't used to be like that but times change.......

 

[jerrymoen]

I can speak for the Knifemakers Guild and American Bladesmith show it will happen in Kansas City, Mo. Sept. 18th thru 20th 2015, they have came together and the show name will be "International Custom Knife Expo" which will be a great gathering of the best makers in the world.
Director KMG
Jerry Moen

 

[EChoil]

So what IS the overall outlook for the brick and mortar (i.e. knife shows) slice of the biz, Jerry?

 

[glocker199]

The knife shows around here are:

50% Case slip joints (grumpy old dudes are happy)
49% No name Chinese junk balisongs, flea market katanas and blow guns (12-16 year old nerds are thrilled)
1% quality modern knives at 20% over MSRP (I'm like )

 

[Akapennypincher]

We need some knife shows in Arizona. The knife laws are some of the best in the county and no shows at all are meaningfully advertised. Being so close to California and Nevada, you'd think someone would come to the obvious conclusion that a yearly knife show would be a good idea.

There is an Annual Knife Show, at the Shriners Temple on 40th St. In January. Just off the 202 Freeway.

 

[John_0917]

Yep that about sums it up. It's so bad I don't even buy guns at gun shows anymore. In fact I don't go at all. Better deals and selection to be had online and my local ffls stores for better prices. Didn't used to be like that but times change.......

My thoughts concur with your statements, I haven't been to a gun show in almost a year. I deal with 3 trusted DFW area FFLs (one a big box store, one a LE centric supplier, the last specializing in Class III items). Especially since Dec 2012, the crowd at gun shows I have encountered largely has gone from right wing to extremist nut job; last show I went to, there was an FFL (seriously) selling shirts and stickers with a reticle over Obama's face with the word "Infidel" under it...that's a good way to get a hard look from some humorless gentlemen with a certain 3 letter agency.

Knife shopping at gun shows is basically pointless, lots of junk, old relics I don't care about and some quality knives at prices that are way higher than I can get them for online. I really don't care if you're a brick and mortar store, I want the best deal for a specific product I can; it's called capitalism, deal with it.

 

[arrowhd]

I've been to the A.G. Russell knife show twice in Rogers, AR. I can promise you it was far from the standard "gun" show experience many of you are describing. Hundreds of top class knife makers. They didn't have a show this year though for some reason.

 

[skyhorse]

I recently heard from a supplier that the San Antonio ABS knife show is cancelled

Likely because San Antonio has some really strict knife laws. Can't blame them.Not a very knife friendly city.

 

[A. G. Russell]

Every year we had bigger crowds and fewer knifemakers. The makers all said that it was the best run show and more fun than any other, but, it seemed that the end of July was hard to make it to a show.

A. G.

I've been to the A.G. Russell knife show twice in Rogers, AR. I can promise you it was far from the standard "gun" show experience many of you are describing. Hundreds of top class knife makers. They didn't have a show this year though for some reason.

 

[K.O.D.]

There are no knife shows in the Chicago area as far as I know. Quite sad.

 

[John_0917]

There are no knife shows in the Chicago area as far as I know. Quite sad.

That would be like having one in NYC, nothing good would come of it...by "good" I mean good for enthusiasts like us, but good for the local PDs arrest stats and DA's conviction rates it certainly would be.