The world’s largest knife show keen as ever.
Sharp makers and even sharper knives were the order of June 5-7, at the Cobb Convention Center, for the 45th Annual BLADE Show in Atlanta. Creeping up on a half-century, the show continued to prove the defining event of the global knife industry, as makers, edged wares and collectors from all points of the compass crowded the event floor in the year’s keenest cutlery convention. New knife drops, veteran craftsmen at the apex of their trade and new makers sending ripples through the market all kept the marquee event’s edge.
Notable among the usual fare of the show was the renovation and construction of BLADE Show’s home venue. Nearly half of the center (formerly known as the Cobb Galleria Centre) lay in rubble as the improvement project—slated for completion before the 2027 show—reached its midway point. While it created some minor inconveniences for attendees, it didn’t dampen the sharp seekers’ spirits. The general attendance line for the opening day stretched from the lobby entrance, down the street, around the corner and up to nearly the second level of the center’s parking garage. For those who have braved the crowds to find their must-have blade at previous shows, it was par for the course.
BLADE Show 2026 included all the fanfare the knife world has come to expect on the first full weekend of June. BLADE Magazine Knife of the Year® and BLADE Show Custom Knife awards bestowed honors on the newest crop of factory and custom knives. BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of Fame® welcomed seven new and much deserving members at its Saturday breakfast. BLADE University was as bustling with students as ever, as its pupils sharpened up on subjects such as sheath making, knife marketing, knife designing, sharpening, new steels and much more. BladeSports International conducted its annual World Championship Cutting Competition and Blade HQ held the balisong flipping competition, Balicomp 2026. Knifemakers and companies from around the world displayed their work. And the American Bladesmith Society and Knifemakers’ Guild each held important meetings, with a good share of each organizations’ members in one place.
Of course, the business of knives has never been the only draw of the legendary show. Atlanta also plays a backdrop where old industry acquaintances are renewed, new friendship are struck and a little play hard is unleashed after the work hard is over. To that end, the infamous Pit—the notorious sunken lounge of the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly—was in full swing for the entirety of the event and well into the wee hours of each morning. Blurry eyes the next day be damned.
In synopsis, BLADE 45 showed the event is as sharp as ever and will continue to stay that way.
KEEN TIME ON THE FLOOR
The focal point of many knife enthusiasts’ year, BLADE Show was abuzz with activity, particularly the first two days. Most vendors reported their peaks came in the first five hours of Friday and Saturday, with activity ebbing roughly around 3 p.m. As for Sunday, the terse day had its typical average traffic.
Exhibitors, overall, had a positive perception of the show’s attendance gauging it at or above last year. Impressive, given BLADE once again encompassed both the convention center’s main hall and the adjacent “Baller” room. As for sales, most of those looking to move knives across their tables or out of their booths came away happy.
“I had strong sales, so my impression is favorable,” said New Hampshire-based ABS master smith Zack Jonas. “I heard the usual mix of people selling well and selling poorly. Overall, the energy on the floor seemed good—not notably different from other years.”
He continued, “My sense is that the crowd was actually a little better this year. Hard to say from my limited perspective, but it seemed a little more active.”
Jonas conjectured the heightened activity he and some other custom makers enjoyed might have been intensified thanks to the Arts In Metal show presented by BLADE Show that preceded the big event. The small and exclusive custom knife show, run in a ballroom of the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly on June 4, might have attracted some higher-end buyers, who then went on to spend at BLADE Show.
A great many factory booths, too, were hot as ever with knife buyers. White River Knives’ John Cammenga, Sr. estimates he moved 90 percent of the stock his company brought to the show. Jens Anso of Anso’s of Denmark approximates he moved 70 percent of his blades. And Mike Sweeney from Heretic Knives said they moved 100 percent of their knives.
“People were excited and seemed ready to buy,” Sweeney said.
Purveyor of high-end custom knives, Dave Ellis of Exquisite Knives, reported slower sales, saying that of the custom cutlery he brought, he sold two lower-priced chef’s knives. But preshow, he had made a doozy of a deal on an amber-stag Chute crafted by BLADE Magazine Hall of Fame member Bob Loveless, of which he then delivered at the event.
Important as sales are, BLADE Show is also a networking event, giving insiders the chance to make contacts and close deals. The show was, in many respects, a catalyst for the factory-custom collaborations that have become staples of the marketplace. Olive Knives—a first-time exhibitor at the show—especially found this aspect important as it forges forward in the industry.
“Beyond table sales, the show punched above its weight for us on networking,” relayed Etienne Roux, international sales strategy for the South African-American company. “We came specifically to connect with key people in the industry, and we did exactly that. Future conversations are already in motion. For a first outing, that’s a win.”
By and large, the crowd at Atlanta was composed of seasoned buyers and collectors. Exhibitors saw some new faces, but the biggest knife event of the year was dominated by an educated and, to some, familiar base of consumers. As reported, this didn’t make for an overly selective customer base.
As far as trends at the show, no one knife, material or maker seemed to dominate. Jonas mentioned folders remained the hot ticket. And Cammenga felt DLT Trading’s new MK2 was a hit (it’s a Ka-Bar style knife, but with a Micarta handle). And there were plenty of not-to-miss aspects of the BLADE Show, from atmosphere to talent, and makers interacting with customers face to face. His booth situated in the main hall, Anso points to one don’t-miss aspect about the show in particular—the Baller Room.
“‘The second’ room, this has a very different vibe than the main room,” he wrote. “Almost like a show inside the show.”
UNUSUAL CUTS
The new and novel come first to mind when thinking about the BLADE Show. But there are always quieter, but no less moving facets to the show. Perhaps one of the more intriguing features are some of the classic blades that float through the hallowed hall of the event.
In addition to the Loveless Chute Ellis brought with him to Atlanta, he also had one of the icon’s more fascinating creations, the pokey little New York Special. A valuable knife, the custom retailer nevertheless did not find a buyer for it. One of Jonas’ more memorable experiences was bonding with a collector over one of his swords … and, apparently, one of the attendee’s.
“I had a local visitor who was very excited about my sword,” he said. “He identified himself as a collector of Indo-Persian and Southeast Asian swords, and he was eager to chat about my inspiration for [my] piece. He actually came back a second day to show me pieces from his own collection.”
It would also be remiss not to mention one of the fixtures of BLADE Show and BLADE Magazine receiving honors at the BLADE Knife of the Year awards Saturday evening. Hall-of-Famer Steve Shackleford was recognized with the Industry Achievement Award at the ceremony for his 41 years of work on the magazine, having retired as editor-in-chief earlier this year. Likely more so than the trophy, the extended standing ovation the knife scribe received from all those in attendance was a testament to his legacy.
NEXT UP
At 45, BLADE Show remains fresh as ever and will continue so into the future. Looking ahead, there is more edgy fun ahead with BLADE Show West slated for October 9-10 at Salt Lake City’s Salt Place and BLADE Show Texas March 12-13, 2027, at the Fort Worth Convention Center. Of course, the granddaddy of them all, BLADE Show, will return to Atlanta next June 4-6, so keep that weekend clear. Until then, stay sharp.
More On BLADE Show:
- BLADE University: Knife Knowledge Honed
- 7 Join BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame®
- Photo Gallery: BLADE Show 2025 in Pictures
- 2025 BLADE Show Recap: What Happened At The Edge-Stravaganza
