See the hot blades that took top honors at the 2026 BLADE Show West Custom Knife Awards.
The Salt Palace Convention Center was the epicenter of the custom cutlery on October 9–10 for the fifth-annual BLADE Show West. The two-day gathering in Salt Lake City brought together some of the top smiths and knifemakers for the West’s largest cutlery convention. That is to say, the show’s custom knife competition was as competitive as ever. Makers submitted their top creations across nine categories, with entries evaluated by a panel of industry veterans. Every submission underwent rigorous examination based on design, material selection, execution, innovation and overall finish.
Best In Show & Best Of The Rest: Kelly Vermeer Vella
Best Custom Damscus: William Porto
Best Custom Bowie: Kelly Vermeer Vella
Best Custom Folder: Craig Brosman
Best Custom Hunter: Shayne Carter
Best Custom Kitchen Knife: William Porto
M.A.C.K.: Hog House Knives
Best Custom Slip Joint: Nick Timpson
More On The BLADE Shows:
- 2026 Knife Of The Year® Award Winners
- BLADE SHOW 2026 Custom Knife Award Winners
- BLADE Show 2026 Recap: Sharpest Show On Earth
- 2026 BLADE Show Knife Drops: Hot In Atlanta
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