- Joined
- Feb 27, 2003
- Messages
- 2,369
Here are a few impressions of the East Coast Custom Knife Show.
The "Spring" Show is far superior, in every regard, to the "Fall" Show.
The venue at the Crown Plaza is excellent. The large well lit room is filled with an oustanding collection of international makers and dealers (about 100 tables). Here is a link to the list of exhibitors: http://www.ecckshow.com/exhibitors.html
The show is heavily oriented towards high end folders. If this is your primary interest, this show is hard to beat, especially if you are looking for the top european makers. In standard NYC style, the crowd and action was fast and almost furious as soon as the doors opened at 1PM. There was no shortage of buyers with cash in hand. There was also a second surge around 4PM, as people started arriving after work.
The ABS had a small but excellent contingent, consisting of Master Smiths, Harvey Dean, Steve Dunn, and Larry Fuegen. All of them had several first rate examples of their work and appeared to be doing well. I was able to fondle Harvey's Sam Bell Bowie and as expected it is right off the scale. Steve appeared to have cornered the market in amber dyed stag and shimmering Damascus. Larry had a 7" carbon fighter that was simply perfect (imho).
JS, Don Hanson III, had a mixture of folders and fixed blades that were simply stunning. It may be hard to believe, but all three of his Bowies, which are pictured on another thread, were even better in person. Mike Johnson, a new face on the ABS scene, had some nice original designs that were well executed and well priced.
On the stock removal front, S. R. Johnson sold out of a half dozen knives in very short order. John Young had eight knives that were sold by means of a heavily oversubscibed lottery, of particular interest were a few examples of a new 3" symetrical boot dagger, which were just spectacular. Unfortunately my name was not drawn, so I just bit the bullet and added my name to John's growing wait list (4 years and counting). FWIW, I enjoyed a long conversation with John and ordered a matched pair of slightly larger boot daggers with stag handles. R. J. Martin had a table filled with outstanding fixed blades and folders, as usual.
A couple of forum regulars, Riad N. and John T., made some absolutely stunning acquisiitions, which I hope that they will share with us. Every single knife that they bought, was absolutely la creme de la creme, imho.
I must admit that I felt a bit out of it, Riad beat me to the punch, on what I would consider to be the finest Damascus & Stag hunter that Steve Dunn, MS OR ANYONE ELSE, may have ever made.
Don Hanson III, JS almost did me in with one of his spectacular Bowies, but I have an large S guard Bowie inbound shortly from Burt Foster, MS who will probably want to be paid, so I had to resist incredible temptation.
I did manage to firm up a few goodies for delivery at Blade 2006. :thumbup:
The "Spring" Show is far superior, in every regard, to the "Fall" Show.
The venue at the Crown Plaza is excellent. The large well lit room is filled with an oustanding collection of international makers and dealers (about 100 tables). Here is a link to the list of exhibitors: http://www.ecckshow.com/exhibitors.html
The show is heavily oriented towards high end folders. If this is your primary interest, this show is hard to beat, especially if you are looking for the top european makers. In standard NYC style, the crowd and action was fast and almost furious as soon as the doors opened at 1PM. There was no shortage of buyers with cash in hand. There was also a second surge around 4PM, as people started arriving after work.
The ABS had a small but excellent contingent, consisting of Master Smiths, Harvey Dean, Steve Dunn, and Larry Fuegen. All of them had several first rate examples of their work and appeared to be doing well. I was able to fondle Harvey's Sam Bell Bowie and as expected it is right off the scale. Steve appeared to have cornered the market in amber dyed stag and shimmering Damascus. Larry had a 7" carbon fighter that was simply perfect (imho).
JS, Don Hanson III, had a mixture of folders and fixed blades that were simply stunning. It may be hard to believe, but all three of his Bowies, which are pictured on another thread, were even better in person. Mike Johnson, a new face on the ABS scene, had some nice original designs that were well executed and well priced.
On the stock removal front, S. R. Johnson sold out of a half dozen knives in very short order. John Young had eight knives that were sold by means of a heavily oversubscibed lottery, of particular interest were a few examples of a new 3" symetrical boot dagger, which were just spectacular. Unfortunately my name was not drawn, so I just bit the bullet and added my name to John's growing wait list (4 years and counting). FWIW, I enjoyed a long conversation with John and ordered a matched pair of slightly larger boot daggers with stag handles. R. J. Martin had a table filled with outstanding fixed blades and folders, as usual.
A couple of forum regulars, Riad N. and John T., made some absolutely stunning acquisiitions, which I hope that they will share with us. Every single knife that they bought, was absolutely la creme de la creme, imho.
I must admit that I felt a bit out of it, Riad beat me to the punch, on what I would consider to be the finest Damascus & Stag hunter that Steve Dunn, MS OR ANYONE ELSE, may have ever made.
Don Hanson III, JS almost did me in with one of his spectacular Bowies, but I have an large S guard Bowie inbound shortly from Burt Foster, MS who will probably want to be paid, so I had to resist incredible temptation. I did manage to firm up a few goodies for delivery at Blade 2006. :thumbup:
