- Joined
- May 3, 2002
- Messages
- 6,192
I went to my first custom knife show today here in Denver. I don't know JACK about customs yet save for a few makers like Randall, Snody, Hossom, Dozier, Chris Reeve and a few of the other major ones that a buddy has sent me websites for.
I just GOTTA say that I've been to a hundred GUN shows and 90% of the people behind the tables at GUN shows really couldn't be bothered with talking to you unless you have a $100 bill pinned to the front of your shirt or if they otherwise think you might be spending money with them.
This was NOT the case at the custom knife show! Even when I SAID to someone that they didn't have quite what I was looking for (which was a custom neck knife) they all were STILL personable and totally didn't mind chit-chatting about their knives and others. They didn't mind me picking up (I always asked) their knives and looking them over. Most were happy to talk to someone who found their knives interesting enough to just stop and look at and talk about. I must say, it was a real pleasure.
I was worried about spending money I didn't have - I really just wanted to experience the show; so I didn't bring any cash. This is a GOOD idea to do if you KNOW you can't spend money since NOBODY accepts credit cards!
It's a good thing too, since I found a little Snody knife and a few Doziers that I would have easily whipped out my credit card for.
One ODD thing I did notice was that the prices on many of the customs seemed reasonable or even decent deals for customs, but on the other hand, the prices I saw on productions such as Benchmades or Microtechs were WAY overpriced; sometimes more than the MSRP! What's up with that?
Maybe it was that it was the non-knifemaker tables that were selling the productions - local knife dealers that were looking for max profit while the knife makers themselves have a different philosophy about life and knives? That's the theory I'm going with so far.
(But even the non-knifemakers were friendly. Even the one guy I recognized from the gun shows that's usually abrasive at the gun shows was nice today.)
I introduced myself to Sal Glesser of Spyderco and shook his hand. I'm a big fan and always wanted to meet him so that was a pleasure. I, unfortunately, was a bit intimidated and didn't know much to say to him. Seeing him caught me off guard. Maybe next time I'll be less shy and ask him some questions and talk to him about Spyderco knives some more, but for now it was nice just to meet him. He's a super nice guy.
Once, a guy was trying to sell me on a neck knife from a maker I didn't know and was asking me if I knew this or that maker and I didn't know any of them. (I only knew the Snody knife on his table. I'm new at customs.) He kind of rolled his eyes and looked at another guy like, "Can you BELIEVE he doesn't know these guys." But he was still cool and not arrogant. I guess they are used to some newbies at custom knives too.
I met a REALLY nice Knifemaker from Santa Fe, NM who was exceptionally nice to talk to and he totally didn't care that I wasn't buying and we just stood around and talked for a while. He had a few little folders that were really nice and a small hunting cleaver that was about half the size of the hunting cleavers you usually see that I was rather impressed with. I wish I could remember his name. I'd like to look him up again.
Over all, it was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon. I totally enjoyed looking at all the indredible work even though I couldn't afford it. It was really a pleasure to talk to a bunch of REALLY nice people without all the grumpiness and political raving I usually experience at gun shows.
I can't wait until the next knife show. Heck, I may go back tomorrow.
I just GOTTA say that I've been to a hundred GUN shows and 90% of the people behind the tables at GUN shows really couldn't be bothered with talking to you unless you have a $100 bill pinned to the front of your shirt or if they otherwise think you might be spending money with them.
This was NOT the case at the custom knife show! Even when I SAID to someone that they didn't have quite what I was looking for (which was a custom neck knife) they all were STILL personable and totally didn't mind chit-chatting about their knives and others. They didn't mind me picking up (I always asked) their knives and looking them over. Most were happy to talk to someone who found their knives interesting enough to just stop and look at and talk about. I must say, it was a real pleasure.
I was worried about spending money I didn't have - I really just wanted to experience the show; so I didn't bring any cash. This is a GOOD idea to do if you KNOW you can't spend money since NOBODY accepts credit cards!
It's a good thing too, since I found a little Snody knife and a few Doziers that I would have easily whipped out my credit card for.
One ODD thing I did notice was that the prices on many of the customs seemed reasonable or even decent deals for customs, but on the other hand, the prices I saw on productions such as Benchmades or Microtechs were WAY overpriced; sometimes more than the MSRP! What's up with that?
Maybe it was that it was the non-knifemaker tables that were selling the productions - local knife dealers that were looking for max profit while the knife makers themselves have a different philosophy about life and knives? That's the theory I'm going with so far.
(But even the non-knifemakers were friendly. Even the one guy I recognized from the gun shows that's usually abrasive at the gun shows was nice today.)
I introduced myself to Sal Glesser of Spyderco and shook his hand. I'm a big fan and always wanted to meet him so that was a pleasure. I, unfortunately, was a bit intimidated and didn't know much to say to him. Seeing him caught me off guard. Maybe next time I'll be less shy and ask him some questions and talk to him about Spyderco knives some more, but for now it was nice just to meet him. He's a super nice guy.
Once, a guy was trying to sell me on a neck knife from a maker I didn't know and was asking me if I knew this or that maker and I didn't know any of them. (I only knew the Snody knife on his table. I'm new at customs.) He kind of rolled his eyes and looked at another guy like, "Can you BELIEVE he doesn't know these guys." But he was still cool and not arrogant. I guess they are used to some newbies at custom knives too.
I met a REALLY nice Knifemaker from Santa Fe, NM who was exceptionally nice to talk to and he totally didn't care that I wasn't buying and we just stood around and talked for a while. He had a few little folders that were really nice and a small hunting cleaver that was about half the size of the hunting cleavers you usually see that I was rather impressed with. I wish I could remember his name. I'd like to look him up again.
Over all, it was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon. I totally enjoyed looking at all the indredible work even though I couldn't afford it. It was really a pleasure to talk to a bunch of REALLY nice people without all the grumpiness and political raving I usually experience at gun shows.
I can't wait until the next knife show. Heck, I may go back tomorrow.
And I also find it amazing how easy it is to talk to the makers and how willing they are to show you their wares. I mean these guys have thousands of dollars of their stuff on the table in the open for you to look at. I love going to knife shows everybody there seems so friendly. I always have a great time.
Make sure you hold out carfare.