Very Excited About San Antonio 2012

joshsmith

joshsmith

Joined
Mar 31, 2005
Messages
646
I just got back from the San Antonio show and had a great time. It was good to see everyone again.

I wanted to share some info about the 2012 show. It is going to be awesome!

The ABS Board approved a motion to now have ABS Mastersmith and Journeyman Smith testing at Atlanta AND San Antonio. In 2012 for the first time makers can present their 5 knives for judging in San Antonio at the ABS Expo. This is history making stuff and hopefully the makers eligible to test will jump at the chance to be the first to pass at the Expo and the home of the Alamo.

Secondly the Expo is expanding to 100 tables or more. It will vary depending on the number of testers we have. The great thing about this is that we are looking to get as many ABS members that want a table involved. This will provide a great selection of knives for the collectors attending.

The Expo will also go to a 3 day format instead of two. With the number of tables and collectors expected this will give everyone time to see each other.

The last big change is the fact that the Expo will be held on January 27, 28, and 29 2012. This should be an awesome time for all of us to get out of the winter doldrums and go see sun and 70 degrees! I have a feeling collectors living in the northern half of the country won't have to hard a time talking their wives into coming!

We have some more surprises in the works and when they become official I will pass them along. Mark your calendar now!
 
It was great to see you again Josh, and thanks for the post!!! :)

I'm excited for the show changes as well (eh...hem... well... maybe not the 3 day part :foot:) ;)

How are they going to handle things like the George Peck and BR Hughes awards? Will they be given at both Blade and the Expo? Or just one or the other?

I agree per our conversation that having testing in San Antonio reinforces the fact that all of us in the ABS REALLY want to see the Expo solidify as a premier show. :)
 
It was great seeing you too Nick. The 3 day part many of the makers probably are not going to be excited about but its something the board wanted and with the table increase the collectors may like it. We will make sure Sunday isn't a marathon though, maybe 10-2 or something like that.

As far as the awards go I don't think that's been hashed out. I'm not on the board and that's something they'll have to deal with. I think the best way is to probably give one out at both shows and just designate it on the website as George Peck-Blade Show or George Peck-ABS Expo. Not sure there's any other way.

I agree that this really shows that the ABS is SERIOUS about this show and that it's only going to get bigger and better. Now we just need makers to sign up and get on board.

Glad your in Nick.
 
Sounds good, Josh. I have a question. My understanding is that originally, this show was intended for guys with MS or JS behind there name only. Has that changed beyond allowing the JS candidates who are testing to display? Just wondering because as you know, there are a number of incredibly talented smiths who are valuable members of the ABS who have chosen, for whatever reason, not to submit to the testing process. Is the intention here to eventually make this THE ABS show?
 
Joe-

You're right, that's how things started out, but when the Expo was set for the first year in Reno, the tables were not filled when it was open to Ms makers only... then it was opened up for Js... and then there were a few spots they allowed apprentice makers to hold. There was actually a handful of us then.

Once it was established as a quality show, I actually had a couple emails from people telling me I should give up my spot to Ms makers. Fortunately the show committee gave me first rights on my table and I kept it.

I am not the board, committee, or anything close, but I do know that the general consensus seemed to be that for 2012 it will be made a little larger than past years, and is open to all ABS makers to help diversify the offerings and have more for attendees to see, handle, and enjoy. :)
 
Thanks Nick. My initial thought about the change is that while some may argue that doing a show right after Christmas is kind of tough, the cost of getting there in January will probably be less than in the summer. It is very hard these days to stage a show without bumping up pretty close to another one, in this case, the Arkansas show which appears to have become very popular with ABS folks and the two New York area shows. With that said, January may not be quite as jammed up as the summer with both knife and non-knife events/obligations and the current date is already running up pretty hard against Blade and the Guild show. The other questions that I have about this show and the proposed changes are not ones that I would want to post on an open forum at this time and perhaps ones that have not been fully answered anyway.
 
This show is open to all ABS makers regardless of their level. It's been this way since the second year in Reno. On year 1 they tried all Masters and it didn't fill up. Since then it has been open to ALL ABS members.

As a show we NEED diversity for the collectors. We hope to have makers of all levels involved in Expo. In fact guys like Owen Wood and Rick Eaton are apprentices. I think it would be a mistake to limit it. In my opinion not all collectors are looking for $3000 knives. We need variety to put on a solid show.
 
I felt like August was a tough time. Our show was after, ECCKS, Solvang, Oregon, Blade, Big Sky, A.G. Russell, and the same time as PKA, MKA, and close to the Guild. In addition collectors are saving and looking forward to Boston and the AKI.

January gives us a two or three month buffer from AKI. The only other major show I know of is Milan on Thanksgiving. From Thanksgiving to the end of Jan. there are only a couple small shows that don't affect our membership greatly.

As stated there is never a perfect time. However we thought is would be nice to be the first big show of the year. Throw in the great weather and it seems to work well.

The response so far from some of our collectors is very positive.

I'd love to the following makers get involved.

Bruce Bump
Howard Clark
Kevin Cashen
Dave Ellis
Jerry Fisk
Don Fogg
Burt Foster
Don Hanson
Kevin and Heather Harvey
Rob Hudson
Joe Keeslar
Bob Kramer
Ron Newton
Steve Schwartzer
Rodrigo Sfreddo
JD Smith
Michael Vagnino
Dan Winkler
Matt Diskin
Dan Erickson
Owen Wood
Kai Embrestson
Rick Eaton

That's just the makers I know personally that don't currently attend. If we can get those makers plus the great number of talented Journeyman smiths and apprentices involved then we'll have one heck of a show.

BTW, these are MY opinions. I don't want to speak for the committee or the board.
 
Josh,

Karen and I would certainly like to attend in 2012. The only conflict is with my "other" knife business, I now have to go to the SHOT Show also in January. However it may still be possible because I would have completely different knives at the ABS Show.

I'll email you and the other Show committee members with a few questions and see if we can work it out.

By the way, how was the Show? I saw the pictures that were posted and it looks like a really good selection was available.


Daniel
 
Josh, this is good news for the show. August is just no good, January may not be perfect, but is much better. Also, a larger show will do nothing but improve the Expo. More collectors will travel to see more makers.

Thanks for including me in the makers you want there.
 
Hey Don III, how about me including you in the makers I WILL SEE at the ABS Expo 2012? All you have to do is sign up to make that come true.:D;)

Paul
 
Josh, you are talking about the Expo increasing to 100+ tables which seems to be the size range of what most of the "major" shows other than Blade come in at. How many tables have you had in the past?
As for me, I might actually be able to make something that some gullible people would actually want to purchase by January of 2012 so put me on the prospective table holder list.:D
 
Josh,
Thanks for naming me too. Write me down if you will or let me know who has the official list. It does sound like it will indeed be one to attend for makers and collectors. Will they let me bring a Loveless lookalike?
 
Sounds great guys. We would love to have you involved. Winkler, feel free to call or email me with any questions.

Joe, Bruce and whoever else might be interested please email us at knifeexpo@gmail.com requesting a table. That way you don't get lost in the shuffle. I'm fairly organized with those emails and requests. Thanks guys.
 
Bruce Bump said:
Josh,
Thanks for naming me too. Write me down if you will or let me know who has the official list. It does sound like it will indeed be one to attend for makers and collectors. Will they let me bring a Loveless lookalike?
Click to expand...

If it's forged Bruce! :D

I look forward to seeing it.
 
DWinkler said:
Josh,


By the way, how was the Show? I saw the pictures that were posted and it looks like a really good selection was available.


Daniel
Click to expand...

Dan,

The show was o.k. Not killer sales but not dead either. Some had very good sales, others not so much. I had a good show. I think the heat in August played a large role and the fact that so many others shows were going on close to this show. I know the people that came had a blast. The customers that were there had very good things to say.

I think Jan. will be a good move.
 
The AK show has been getting bigger over the years with the help of a lot of ABS members. I know more than a few makers will have trouble making both the AK and ABS show so close together for time, money and product reasons. Seems sad the ABS want to shaft their brothers in AK. You'd expect it from a "for-profit" group but hope the "not-for-profit build the industry people" would have more sensitivity for another not-for-profit group's show that helps a lot of ABS members.
 
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