Windsor knife show review (40+ pics)

[RL]

Kudos to Jim Downie for organizing the second annual Expressions in Steel show in Windsor, Ontario. The show exceeded my expectations and was well worth the near eight hours of driving (four each way from downtown Toronto) that I did today. While a smaller show (15-20 makers), there was certainly no lack of quality, as you will see in a moment.

Show organizer Jim Downie

I especially liked this little hunter

And these damasteel letter openers

Jeff Diotte, who helped get the show off ground last year, had a huge display of knives and supplies. His knives were particularly noteworthy for their finishes…such as this heat blued damasteel blade

I love this pattern too

And the “orange peel” on this tanto in D2 steel (one of my favourite knives of the show)

Table shots of the knives

 

[RL]

And the materials…from tactical

To not so tactical

Here’s Jeff with none other than Normark!

As usual, it was great to see my friend James McGowan…as I have posted recently, his MAK1 and the production version of it have appeared in magazines all over the world (Commando, Excalibur, Blade, G&W for Law Enforcement, Tactical Gear etc.)

Always offering something unique, James had his new Tip Savers, designed to be piggy-backed on your sheath and used for prying tasks…

 

[RL]

He also had a cool pair of Ti chopsticks (chopsTicks?) that matched the Ti ice pick he made for me in March so well that I just had to take them

and a table shot

If you thought Darren Chard made high quality folders, you should see his latest with home brewed Mokume! Darren explained the process he uses to make the mokume…quite fascinating.

This one (with a hidden flipper) was a collaboration with Randy Doucette

 

[RL]

It was nice to see Alain “DESO” Desaulnier in from Quebec…Deso has taken a new direction, moving away from tacticals toward traditional fighters and chute knives. I think this style does a better job of showcasing his talents as this is the best work I have seen from him.

He makes great sheaths too…

Also in from Quebec, Christophe Derringer

Rick Frigault showing the “evolution of the Vortex” with three different variants (middle knives) along with some Shodans…

You would never guess that Steve Vanderkolff makes knives “as a hobby”…in addition to winning a recent “best in show”, he has been featured in numerous magazines as well as the cover of knives 2007!

 

[RL]

And one for pitdogboy…mammoth tooth!

Eric Elson had some cool heat coloured Titanium kiridashis (among other things )

Unfortunately I did not get to talk to all of the makers but here are some more table pics:

Paul Savage (nice axes!)

E.K. Knives

Murray St. Amour

Sorry to Paul Johnston for not getting a pic.

See you next year!

RL

 

[T.K.C.]

Thanks for the great pix and tour!!

 

[RogerP]

Great revioew RL. Paul - I dig those axes bro!

Roger

 

[JADknives]

Good pics. lot of nice stuff.

 

[JTC]

Great Pics! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Keith Montgomery]

Thanks RL. How many makers exhibited at the show?

 

[Keith Montgomery]

Sorry, I missed where you posted that 15-20 maker were there.

 

[Paul Savage]

Great revioew RL. Paul - I dig those axes bro!

Roger

Thanks Roger , I can't get enough of them after seeing what Joe Szilaski brought /and taught at wulff's hammer-in in July. I just finished up my power hammer and it makes pretty short work of the roughing in process and I can't get over how it never gets tired. Thanks for the good review and taking the time to come down RL. Paul

 

[mcgoo7]

Great review and pics RL.
Just resting now after the busy weekend.
Hope everyone enjoyed the show.

James

 

[marty123]

Wow.
Thanks alot, RL.

 

[SVanderkolff]

NIce talking to you. Thanks for the review.
Steve