Well, I went to the show on Saturday, but am sorry to say I couldn't find you. I stopped by your table, but you were either busy or gone; and it was crowded enough I sorta had to keep moving. Sorry I missed you. I was there from about 10am-1pm, which is about when my legs gave out. You were at the opposite end from where I started.
That was a huge show! At least by local standards for gun and/or knife shows. It was my first really big knife-only show. It was good to see that many knifenutz under one roof.
And boy were they there! I can't estimate the crowd, but it was a large venue and it was pretty well packed. Saw lots of amazing things, and even a few semi famous people. I learned that in knives as in other things I have very good taste. Whenever something caught my eye I'd look at the price and have to catch my breath!
I had no idea there were so many diverse makers out there, some producing very expensive works of art.
There was very little junk; Very few vendors selling no name stuff or tables full of Chinese tacky-kill liner locks. Saw one Gil Hibben blade, but it was a well made push knife, not a fantasy gadget. There were a few vendors whose names I recognized from Internet dealings. Surprisingly (to me) a lot of knifemakng supplies, and even large animal hides for leather working. I'll have to go back with more money next year.
And what a wide variety of makers! Everything from guys who assemble parts from others to people hand forging everything and weaving their own sheaths. Most were outside my price range (unless I decide to start selling off guns and
really dedicate funds to this hobby, to the tune of $400-up per...), and some outright scary. I can see you really have to learn this biz if you're going to start buying the expensive stuff. I figured there was probably more dollar value in inventory in that building than in a gun show of equal size. Some of these vendors had cases full of knives all priced at > $1K. It was amazing.
I managed to get out relatively unscathed: I picked up a nice handmade obsidian repro knife, and a couple of blanks to try knapping my own blades. I also got a 15 minute "course" on flintknapping from the guy who made my knife, which was worth more than what I paid for the knife and stones combined. I also picked up a sheath, and a couple of other small items. I discovered I really like the Case 254W Wharncliff Trapper, but will probably hold off while I save funds for a custom of some kind.
One final note on this overly long post: Every single person I ran into at this show was just plain old
nice. No macho BS like you see at gun shows or bike swap meets. This was a family event. Kids were attentively looking at the wares, and not in the "ooh-nasty" way, but appreciatively. There were kids manning booths, and even some selling their own wares. The 18 year old woman who brought her handmade Damascus steel has a great future.
I'll have to start making a habit of these. We've got Blade West in Portland in the fall (I think), and this one every spring. Any others?
-- Sam
