Where were the knives at the Dixie Gun & Knife Show?

Happy Camper

Happy Camper

Joined
Jan 8, 2000
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311
I just got back from a very disappointing Gun & Knife show. It was much smaller than I am used to, and not nearly as diverse.

More to the point, it was heavy in junk bayonetts and chinese rip-off knives, but very light in custom knives. In fact, I only saw two custom knife makers from NC, and one from TN. That's it!

So where does everybody go to look at knives and custom knives in NC? The annual custom knife show perhaps?

I should have gone to VA to the gun & knife show there; at least I could have seen Barry Jones at that show.... Live and learn.
 
HC, the sad fact is that in many places,Custom makers don't do well at gun and knife shows.Just a different group of customers.Obviously there will be exceptions but I think most makers prefer knife only shows.I know guy's who will spend $1000.00 on a shotgun, but buy knives at Wallyworld.If your a maker who has had good luck at gun and knife shows consider yourself fortunate, because I know a bunch who will never do it again.IMHO,Dave.
 
Originally posted by DC KNIVES
HC, the sad fact is that in many places,Custom makers don't do well at gun and knife shows.
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Sad but true.

I had a table at the Smokie Mountain Gun and Knife show. Most of the products were what you describe above. People thought I was crazy for having knives on my table that cost $300+. I kept getting comments like "I bought this one for $10" as they showed me a chinese rip off that another dealer was selling. Needless to say, I wont go back to that show.
 
Originally posted by shootist16


I had a table at the Smokie Mountain Gun and Knife show. Most of the products were what you describe above. People thought I was crazy for having knives on my table that cost $300+. I kept getting comments like "I bought this one for $10" as they showed me a chinese rip off that another dealer was selling. Needless to say, I wont go back to that show.
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Un-edge-ucated redneck bumkins :D

About a year or so ago I went to the Dixie Gun Show (I believe this is the one, held in Raliegh at the Jim Graham Building?) At that time there were a few knife dealers that were there. Just your usual gun show variety - good name brand stuff like BM, Spydie, MT, Buck, etc and then there were the typical junk crap. This show was the first time I've ever seen a dealer carry the full line of Sure Fire lights and accessories :eek: I think the knife content of shows vary. The gun shows here in W-S are inconsistent in terms of knife content. One show could be good and the next one a few months later could suck like crazy. Though, the Charlotte shows are more consistent because of a few knife dealers and custom makers from around the area.

Happy Camper - the best places to look for knives here in NC that I know of are Beck's Cutlery in Cary, and for custom stuff - the SouthEastern Custom Knife Show. The trip to Beck's is worth it with all that they carry in inventory. Plus, there is Horwitz's Deli right next door that's got great food.
 
That's pretty much what I guessed; Custom knife makers who may have tried in the past probably learned to pass on the gun & knife flea market it was.

Perhaps it was because I went on Sunday, but many of the vendors had bad attitudes as well. I stopped at one table that was selling binoculars, but the guy was so unfriendly I decided not to persue my probable puchase. Another table with nice flasks and cigar holders had a rude woman who chose to cuddle her Pomeranian and ignore the customers...

On the positive side, I met a nice custom knife maker from TN who had an interesting Bowie with extensive filework on the spine. It was my first time holding a custom Bowie, and it truly is amazing how light and lively they can be in the hand compared to factory stuff.

(I can't wait until my Primos custom is done!)

I won't be returning the the Dixie gun show. Too bad; I love a good gun show.

Sounds like I need to stop by at Becks!
 
Originally posted by Happy Camper


I won't be returning the the Dixie gun show. Too bad; I love a good gun show.

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Charlotte is coming up next month. Email me and I'll track down the exact dates for you. A bunch of us NC guys will be going. Please join us if you can!
 
I do think however that trying a few local gun shows might be good experience for newer makers. They usually have cheaper table prices and if local don't require motel rooms.Its a good way to see what its like on the other side of the table,which can be a very important lesson.Dave :)
 
Originally posted by Happy Camper
I should have gone to VA to the gun & knife show there; at least I could have seen Barry Jones at that show.... Live and learn.
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The Roanoke Valley Gun Show wasn't much either, although it's always good to see the Jones brothers.
 
The first reply that DC KNIVES made hit the nail on the head. The crowd at most gun shows is different than at a knife show.

The people are rather knowledgable about guns but have no clue as to what makes a great knife. I don't know how many times we heard "What makes this knife worth $300" over the past 2 days. Some of these same people had just paid $1400 for handguns.

Phillip and I have been doing this particular show for the past few years and have a little bit of a following in the area. It took TIME to attain this following and at times it was very frustrating. It is starting to pay off though. I will add that we do not do other gun shows because of the reasons mentioned above and by others here.


Happy Camper and the rest of you,
If you want to see lot's of custom knives in NC just come on down to the next meeting of the NC Custom Knifemakers Guild. It will be next saturday (the 26th) at Montgomery Community College in Troy, NC. There will be knifemakers, knifemaking demos, and plenty of knives. A regular knifeknuts paradise. You are all welcome to attend.

BTW, The Roanoke area was hit with a couple inches of snow and ice this weekend. Driving there on saturday was a little rough.
 
I went to the one here in Greenville a while ago. There were only two knife dealers there, neither one had a very good selection. One of the dealers was mostly custom stuff, but way out of my price range. The other one had some basic Spydercos and Benchmades, nothing really high end...all of the knives he had were also messed up somehow...poor lockup, blade play, not centered, etc. The only dealer that was any good quit coming to the shows a year or so ago due to poor sales. I end up buying knives that I really don't want due to the poor selection. I'm just going to start going to Beck's cutlery and forget about the shows. However, it is my understanding that a knife only show will be held in Greenville within the next few months.
 
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