Recommendation? What makes Bladeshow worth it to you / me?

[2thless]

Hi,

Just recently got into the knife hobby and I kind of went nuts. Started with the Spyderco pm2 in m390 which blossomed into a collection of 15 more in a month since.

A friend of mine suggested that I should go to Bladeshow West in Portland this year. I thought it would be a interesting thing to look into, so that's why I'm writing this post.

I came across this great video by ESB:

It talks about what to expect when you go to bladeshow to buy knives. It was quite informative, but also brought up some good points.

Personally, I'm still looking to get some of the production models that seem to be sold out everywhere (Kapara, Smock, etc) and have not looked into customs since they all seem to be $700+ which I'm not ready to spend on a single knife yet.

Are the main reasons people go to bladeshow to get in on super expensive, custom knives? Seems like?

Otherwise what are the other benefits to spending around $1000 on travel / accomodations to get there that make it worth?


Thank you!

P.S. arethere problems bringing large amounts of cash when travelling via air? with TSA and such? can only imagine them x-raying carry on's and like.. WHOA but i imagine it happens quite a bit.

 

[unwisefool]

Hi,

Just recently got into the knife hobby and I kind of went nuts. Started with the Spyderco pm2 in m390 which blossomed into a collection of 15 more in a month since.

A friend of mine suggested that I should go to Bladeshow West in Portland this year. I thought it would be a interesting thing to look into, so that's why I'm writing this post.

I came across this great video by ESB:

It talks about what to expect when you go to bladeshow to buy knives. It was quite informative, but also brought up some good points.

Personally, I'm still looking to get some of the production models that seem to be sold out everywhere (Kapara, Smock, etc) and have not looked into customs since they all seem to be $700+ which I'm not ready to spend on a single knife yet.

Are the main reasons people go to bladeshow to get in on super expensive, custom knives? Seems like?

Otherwise what are the other benefits to spending around $1000 on travel / accomodations to get there that make it worth?


Thank you!

P.S. arethere problems bringing large amounts of cash when travelling via air? with TSA and such? can only imagine them x-raying carry on's and like.. WHOA but i imagine it happens quite a bit.

You get exposed to a lot of designs and makers you probably have never heard of. You get to actually handle a bunch of different knives you most likely would not have the chance to. It's fun. You meet new friends if you aren't a weirdo. Also lots of knives.

Instead of taking cash, call your bank and ask them to up the withdrawal limit on your atm card. Then go to an atm near the show and take out cash.

 

[dirc]

yeah, don't get caught driving with any significant cash on you, it will be confiscated by the (usually) state troopers... (it's a travesty that happens waay too often)

they get away with it because all they have to do is 'suspect' the cash is proceeds of fishy business, and they don't have to prove any wrongdoing on your part... you must pay a lawyer to prove your cash was legit in court.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_forfeiture_in_the_United_States#Traffic_stops

 

[ScooterG]

yeah, don't get caught driving with any significant cash on you, it will be confiscated by the (usually) state troopers... (it's a travesty that happens waay too often)

they get away with it because all they have to do is 'suspect' the cash is proceeds of fishy business, and they don't have to prove any wrongdoing on your part... you must pay a lawyer to prove your cash was legit in court.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_forfeiture_in_the_United_States#Traffic_stops

John Oliver miiiiight not be the best source of information...

 

[LX_Emergency]

John Oliver miiiiight not be the best source of information...

Do you have a good reason to assume that in this case his information is suspect? On this topic I mean? I get that he is a biased source on certain subjects. But he's a LOT of subjects often well researched. So is there a reason to assume John Oliver is wrong on civil forfeiture?

 

[22-rimfire]

Never been to Blade Show West, but I have been going to Blade in Atlanta for years now. Why do I go and what are my thoughts before attending the show? I like the frenzy of the show. I enjoy seeing the makers I'm interested in and handling a lot of knives. I usually buy a couple which brings me to the "thoughts before the show" topic. I generally won't attend if I am low on disposable funds as I generally end up spending up to $1000 at the show every time I go. So, I know that going in.... and if the money isn't there, I skip attending. I will generally make a point of attending the following year however.

There is a small knife show in Dalton GA that has been held in March and I really enjoy this little show for the slippies. Since it is in March and Blade is in June, sometimes I "shoot my wad" before June and hesitate to attend Blade.

But I love to visit Blade. I generally spend one day there and it's usually Friday. This allows me a better chance at seeing the harder to get stuff that I might be interested in. Been going to Blade since 1990 (long time). Yes, I recommend attending if nothing else than for the experience. Bring money! Credit and debit cards work too these days. Dealers have learned that most only bring so much cash and if they want the sales, they have to accept plastic.

Added: You can buy factory made knives also at Blade. I assume the the Oregon show is the same. The price is not necessarily full retail, but a street price generally at Blade. You do need to have some idea of what a specific factory made knife is selling for likely going to sell for. As always at shows, you're on your own.

The one thing that has always bugged me about the Blade show is the absence of coffee mugs commemorating that particular Blade Show. They could sell a ton of them even at inflated prices.

I suspect that the Blade West would be dominated by makers who are from the west overall plus of course the usual manufacturers. As a maker, you'd have to make a ton of money to justify a 1000 mile trip to Blade West unless they are simply looking for as much exposure as possible. Tables are not cheap.

 

[eisman]

To me, and I'll admit I'm biased from 30+ years of Trade Shows, Blade is more like an "industry" show than a "gun" show. True trade shows (like Shot or IWA) are not open to the public (although some always get in); they are dominated by manufacturers and those associated with whatever "trade" the show concentrates on. So at a trade show you can talk to the companies that produce the items you're interested in, and, unless you really know the trade, you'll probably find other sources that you didn't know about. Normal gun shows tend to run the other way; it's rare to find a major manufacturer, and unusual to find anyone exhibiting who's traveled more than 400-500 miles.

Trade shows are for business; my sales staff had a goal at the ones we exhibited in to write 20% of the years sales before we left; that's the only way we could justify the expenses. That's also why we hated the public guys who walked in, because when you're talking to a guy who's doing $500,000 a year with you it's a PIA to have some troll who shouldn't be there take up a half an hour talking about how he wants to spend $100.

Blade, when it was just one show, did it's best to accommodate the industry, and was open to the public. Best of both worlds, but seriously constrained by location more than anything. The show hall is too small for everyone (if you could get them all to show), Atlanta is not the best travel hub (although it's not bad), and there always seems to be some kind of sporting event in conflict with the show and that effects lodging and costs. That's why Blade West came into existence. Then attendance died out, it folded, and now it's being revived.

Blade West will have to survive 5+ years before it gets taken seriously, and that's hard. Plus, the competition on the west coast is fairly heavy, with shows in California covering several more specific venues (art knives, custom knives, locals, etc).

The biggest show (prior to Blade West) on the west coast is the annual Oregon Knife Collectors show. This is a 400 table show with several major manufacturers attending on an annual basis. It's held in Eugene every April.

In my opinion Blade West would do better to base in the Seattle area. More facilities, easier transportation for those coming from anywhere east of the Mississippi, and lest competition with the OKCA and Rose City shows. But nobody asked me...

I had to work last year when Blade West hit. I had plans to attend but that failed. That being said, a show like that (or the OKCA) is a great way to learn more about the hobby, meet fellow knife nuts, and actually talk to guys who make sharp pointy things. Even if you don't buy anything, the expenses of attending are going to be worth it.

Disclaimer: I've been to Blade, SHOT, IWA, and a lot more shows as both an exhibitor and as an individual.