It’s perfect timing considering the thousands of knife manufacturers, purveyors, collectors, dealers, enthusiasts and media professionals traveling to the BLADE Show May 31-June 2, 2013 in Atlanta. Yet the article will remain relevant long after the BLADE Show and into the future.
“Travelers need to be aware of knife laws where they go to make sure they are legal, and, of course, know the policies of the airlines, TSA, or whatever mode of transportation they use” related Jan Billeb, Executive Director of AKTI.
“Some municipal laws may not allow certain knives, or some states may have restrictions on knives at airports.”
As Haskew puts it, “In the post 9-11 era, traveling with knives by air or ground requires a heightened awareness of applicable laws and methods for safe carry and transport to and from the destination. When an airline is involved, the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) enforces strict rules. A knife owner traveling with his or her trusty two-blade trapper is subject to scrutiny and possible confiscation, just as the knife dealer traveling to a show with multiple collectible pieces, or the chef heading home from a culinary event.”
If you attend, a review of the following will pay dividends
The BLADE Show is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. It’s the world’s largest knife show—period. It’s overwhelming, it’s massive and you need to pace yourself.
A major do of the BLADE Show is to enjoy yourself. (Eric Eggly/PointSeven image)
To begin with, inbound traffic is insane driving to the Cobb Galleria, so give yourself plenty of lead time. Wear comfortable shoes—the show hall floor is unforgiving—and also be sure to hydrate or you will cramp up while walking.
Wear comfortable shoes—the show hall floor is unforgiving. (Eric Eggly/PointSeven image)
There are free show programs with floor maps and exhibitor lists in the show lobby. Get two because you will lose one. The lobby also has free copies of the BLADE Show preview issue of BLADE® that you’re reading right now. (Editor’s note: The show program is newer and thus more up to date, so use its maps, lists, schedules, etc., instead of the ones in this issue of BLADE.) Assorted exhibitors and others will have cloth bags inside for free. Get a couple and use them to tote stuff if you don’t bring a small pack. Carry a small pad and a pen—you will see much you will want to return to, so mark down what the knife or accessory is, how much, the table number, etc.
There’s inexpensive food all around close to the show inside the Cobb. Local eats spots are easily Uber’d to, and using Uber, etc., is worth it—drive your car and you won’t have a space when you return.
You must see The Pit, the sunken bar in the lobby of the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly host hotel, at least for a few hours.
Yes, you must see The Pit, the sunken bar in the lobby of the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly host hotel, at least for a few hours. Again, pace yourself there—no one wants to be remembered as the sloppy drunk who dropped a thousand-dollar knife because he was hammered. Pit people are just as great as the show itself—wear your swag and favorite makers’ shirts and meet some new pals.
Cash is king. Bring as much as you can afford. Don’t screw up the mortgage but cash up before you come. The ATMs around the show get smashed fast and have a $300 limit per day anyway.
Take a ton of pictures. No one will believe you back home, and it will be sensory overload, so take photos to remember it all. Cell reception can be bad inside, so use text and times for meet ups. Soak it all in and let yourself enjoy being with thousands of likeminded folks for the weekend. However, there are some details all should know or get refreshed on as attendees, as well as table/booth holders. So, buckle up!
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The people are just as great as the show itself—wear your swag and favorite makers’ shirts and meet some new pals.
When examining an exhibitor’s knife, always be aware of the direction in which you are pointing the blade and avoid causing damage to anyone or anything.
Always ask before touching a knife, as a customer (left) appears to be doing at the table of knifemaker Barry Dawson (right). It’s simple politeness to ask first. (Eric Eggly/PointSeven image)
PATRON ETIQUETTE
An extra swipe of deodorant goes a long way. The show hall will get hot when full and the show lasts all day. Mints are a good idea as well.
Introduce yourself to the maker at each table you visit.
Never, I repeat, never set anything on a maker’s or dealer’s table.
Always ask before touching a knife. Some makers are more intense about it than others, but it’s simple politeness to ask first.
Always ask before touching a knife, as a customer (left) appears to be doing at the table of knifemaker Barry Dawson (right). It’s simple politeness to ask first. (Eric Eggly/PointSeven image)
Remove your super cool large rings before handling knives. They leave marks, and the hand polish on the knife took hours if not days to apply.
Don’t wipe the blade off on your shirt or your own cloth from home. The owner will do it—besides, he doesn’t know what’s on your shirt/cloth.
Keep track of your kids—they should have been told not to touch any knives long beforehand.
Be aware of placement when returning something to a table, and do it slowly and carefully. Don’t toss things back on a table!
Don’t “wrist flick” a side opener—the knife doesn’t need it if it’s made correctly. Besides, it not only annoys the maker, it shows you don’t know what you’re doing.
Same line of thought: don’t shave hair, cut a piece of paper, turn toward others with a live blade or be dumb enough to run your thumb along the edge to test it out. The owner doesn’t want to clean your blood off his knife.
Never block a table to hold a conversation with someone else. Politely move aside.
Never block a table—or an aisle—to hold a conversation with someone. Politely move aside. (Eric Eggly/PointSeven image)
There are more, of course, but these are some of the most important things to learn and know for attendees—and you see it every show.
EXHIBITOR ETIQUETTE
The biggest one is speak to everyone who comes by, even if it’s just
“good morning” or “good afternoon.” Itmatters!
Don’t bring a book to the show and sit and read. That is a sale killer and rude as hell. You will see lots of makers/dealers doing it, then complain endlessly about how the show isn’t good, or the buyers just aren’t buying. As a maker/dealer, you are selling yourself as much as your knives. If your personality is bad, people will move on quickly. Engage, smile, be polite, draw them in, show your work like it’s the greatest thing ever done, explain it, sell it—and make money! Everything else aside, that’s why you really came. You pay for lodging, gas, airline tickets, food, table/booth space, etc.—make the most of it and sell you as much as your work.
At the Chad Nichols Damascus booth, I never sit* and never walk off. I engage every person who gets within five feet of me. The guy in the suit, the couple I know is just looking, the ones who can barely speak English, the guy in overalls with no top teeth—any one of them could walk up and drop a roll of cash that would choke a horse. If I screw that up, it’s not the show, the venue, the economy or the weather—it’s me.
STOP ’n SAY HI!
Enjoy the show and stop by to say hello at the Nichols Damascus Southern Circus booth. The booth looks like a KISS stage from the ’70s with six or seven makers/parts/materials guys all in one spot, including Chad Nichols/Nichols Damascus, knifemaker Steve Kelly/TiConnector Inc., Nottingham Tactical, American Metal Exchange, Matt Diskin, FiberTech-Carbon Fiber and more depending on the day—oh, and me.
See y’all there!
*If you must sit, bring padded stools if possible—it’s a lot less stress on your legs and back to rise from a stool rather than from a camping chair.
Named at this past weekend’s 2012 BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia, the Blade Magazine 2012 Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards went to the finest production knives the world has to offer.
KAI USA and its knife divisions of Kershaw, Zero Tolerance and Shun dominated the awards, taking home four of the honors: Overall, Best Buy, Knife Collaboration and Kitchen Knife. DPx Gear was a first-time winner, and Chris Reeve Knives and William Henry Studio continued their long-term dominance in the respective categories of Manufacturing Quality and Investor/Collector Knife. Other winners included Microtech, Columbia River Knife & Tool, Spyderco and Wicked Edge. Knife Rights and the American Knife & Tool Institute each won Industry Achievement Awards for their diligence in working to have pro-knife legislation passed in a number of states this year.
The winners by category:
Blade Magazine 2012 Overall Knife Of The Year®: ZT 0888 by Zero Tolerance/KAI USA (pictured at top)
Blade Magazine 2012 American-Made Knife Of The Year®: Socom Delta by Microtech
Blade Magazine 2012 Imported Knife Of The Year®: Onion Foresight by Columbia River Knife & Tool
Blade Magazine 2012 Most Innovative American Design®: Autonomy by Spyderco
Blade Magazine 2012 Most Innovative Imported Design®: DPx HEST T3
Blade Magazine 2012 Manufacturing Quality Award: Chris Reeve Knives
Blade Magazine 2012 Best Buy Of The Year®: Cryo by Kershaw/KAI USA
Blade Magazine 2012 Knife Collaboration Of The Year®: ZT 0600, a collaboration between Zero Tolerance/KAI USA and R.J. Martin
Blade Magazine 2012 Investor/Collector Knife Of The Year®: B12 Freedom by William Henry Studio
Blade Magazine 2012 Kitchen Knife Of The Year®: Taiyo by Shun/KAI USA
Blade Magazine 2012 Accessory Of The Year®: Precision Sharpener Pro-Dash II by Wicked Edge
Blade Magazine 2012 Industry Achievement Awards®: Knife Rights and American Knife & Tool Institute
For the complete story on the winners and the knives, see the November BLADE®.
Read About Previous Winners in BLADE Magazine Back Issue Bundle
Read all about previous Knife-Of-The-Year® winners in the History of BLADE Magazine bundle. It contains DVD-ROMs for your computer to read all BLADE issues from 1973 to 2008.
To understand why the Delavan Family and Plaza Cutlery won the BLADE Magazine 2016 Industry Achievement Award at this year’s BLADE Show, join us in a trip down memory lane.
The Delavan Family and Plaza Cutlery are the winners of the BLADE Magazine 2016 Industry Achievement Award. From left: Lois, Dan and Pam Delavan inside Plaza Cutlery in 2007.
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It was over 42 years ago that Del and Lois Delavan, along with their son Dan, fresh out of the Army, opened Plaza Cutlery, a brick-and-mortar retail knife store in what is today the South Coast Plaza Shopping Resort in Costa Mesa, California.
A few years later Dan married Pam, and Pam took to knives as only a Delavan can. One of the keys to Plaza Cutlery’s remarkable longevity is that Dan and Pam have a passion for knives that is genuine—and the people who buy their knives and the vendors who work with Plaza Cutlery know it. It is a passion Dan and Pam come by honestly, a passion shared by Dan’s dad, Del, who became a Case salesman in 1959, and Dan’s mom, Lois. After Del passed away, it was Lois who took up the torch and became one of if not the first female traveling sales reps for Case. She helped run Plaza Cutlery until she, too, passed away just a few years ago.
It is retail knife stores such as Plaza Cutlery supporting both custom makers and knife companies over the decades that have helped make the knife industry the dynamic entity it is today. Whether selling knives to customers face to face or via their well-stocked and constantly changing website, the Delavans—in addition to Dan and Pam, their son Andrew, their son Bryan’s wife, Yuko, and Dan’s brother Russ—are known throughout the cutlery industry not just for their vast knowledge of knives, but also their reputation as straight shooters when it comes to providing the best in knives and customer service. It’s hard enough to maintain such a knowledge and reputation for just one year—it’s a monumental achievement to do it for 42.
the expansion to the new John A. Williams Ballroom
the reduction in additional exhibitor badges sold to exhibitors
Let’s examine both.
Expansion
A record number of exhibitors—950+—required an expansion of the show to the adjoining John A. Williams Ballroom, which was abuzz with activity much of show weekend.
With the number of exhibitors growing to a record 950+ this year, the show hall simply ran out of space. Expansion was the most viable option, thus the move to add exhibitors in the adjoining John A. Williams Ballroom. While a number of exhibitors complained about the move due to it separating them from the show hall and how it required more walking for patrons to get to the exhibitors’ tables and booths, the ballroom was extremely busy most of the weekend. Whether it was a real success or not will have to wait between now and next year’s show to see if the ballroom fills up with exhibitors again. The bet here is it will.
Exhibitor Badges
Exhibitors buy additional exhibitor badges to get their helpers that assist them in assembling their booth and table displays, etc., into the exhibitor areas early on Thursday and early Friday morning and early afternoon before the show opens to the general public. Such helpers are crucial to the exhibitors to get their displays ready for the show.
Of course, the exhibitors setting up in the exhibitor areas have their display knives with them. Meanwhile, there is a large number of knife enthusiasts that are not helpers who, one way or another, obtain some of the additional exhibitor badges, get into the exhibitor areas early, and try and buy the best knives before the show opens to the public.
Combined with historically long patron lines, an excess of exhibitor badge holders almost resulted in a delayed opening of BLADE Show 2017.
When the BLADE Show first started selling additional exhibitor badges to exhibitors years ago, not that many exhibitors and others tried to obtain so many of them—particularly not in the numbers in recent years. It was only a matter of time before the buying of the additional exhibitor badges became a problem, and that threshold was reached at BLADE Show 2017.
It was then that so many holders of additional exhibitor badges were in the show hall immediately prior to the show opening to the public that we—by “we” I mean BLADE Show officials—were notified we would have to delay the show opening. Why? Because the hall was so full of people already that the Cobb Galleria Centre fire marshal said to admit the historically long lines of patrons that were waiting to get in would create a fire hazard. In other words, if there were to be some kind of emergency requiring the show hall to be emptied promptly, too many people in the aisles trying to get out could result in injury to them—or worse.
To delay the show opening would cost exhibitors many thousands of dollars in sales and cause a major inconvenience to show patrons that had traveled from all over the world to attend. Luckily, show officials were able to alleviate the situation to where the fire marshal granted permission to open the show on time.
As a result of the near fiasco, show officials had no choice but to reduce the number of people in the show hall—many of whom were holders of the additional exhibitor badges—before the show opens. And the best way to do that was to reduce the number of additional exhibitor badges available for sale for BLADE Show 2018, which we did. The result was the number of people in the show hall was reduced enough so that opening the show on time this year was not an issue.
Does the reduction impair some exhibitors’ ability to set up their displays? Undoubtedly. However, the alternative of having the show opening delayed or the show possibly cancelled altogether would be much worse.
Looking Ahead
Though the changes may seem questionable initially, we believe they will be best for the future growth of the BLADE Show. With the continued growth of the show come new challenges. However, we will continue to strive to make this the best show ever for exhibitors, patrons and knife enthusiasts everywhere.
Get a look at everything that went down at the world’s largest knife show.
The 44th Annual BLADE Show in Atlanta was yet another in a historic line of three-day edge-stravaganzas of the present, past and future of an international knife industry that seems to advance daily by leaps and bounds.
The latest and best knives, knifemakers and related accessories the planet has to offer, the pioneers that laid the groundwork for what the knife community is today, the new, up-and-coming knifemakers and knife companies that hold such great promise for tomorrow, and so much more all showed their sharpest stuff June 6-8 in the Cobb Galleria Centre.
Jason Yount displays his damascus pizza cutter under the watchful eye of BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Steve Schwarzer. Steve called it the best BLADE Show in a few years.
It was about what you would expect from the world’s largest, most important international knife event.
BLADE University provided a full slate of topics, including knife and sheath making, how to sharpen, fundamentals of blade grinding, how to etch damascus and many more. BladeSports International conducted the annual BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competition and Blade HQ held Balicomp 2025.
Custom knifemakers and bladesmiths from around the globe displayed their wares, including members of the American Bladesmith Society, Knifemakers’ Guild and unaffiliated makers from everywhere. Meanwhile, various knife collector groups, knife rights organizations and other outfits met and discussed their favorite topic as only they can each year during the BLADE Show.
Through it all, knife enthusiasts of all stripes renewed old acquaintances, made new ones, and otherwise immersed themselves in the world’s keenest three-day weekend, capped off each night with food and beverages in The Pit, the legendary sunken lobby lounge of the host hotel, the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly.
It was knife heaven on steroids.
BLADE Show Sales
The BLADE Show has always been unlike any other knife event and this year’s rendition was no exception. Attendance ebbed and flowed Friday and Saturday, and Sunday was its usual slow-to-middling self. While some exhibitors raved about the attendance and sales, some said both seemed off from last year.
Jordan Berthelot discusses next-level damascus etching while Greyson Weltyk shows a student a result of the process during one of many BLADE University classes.
One reason for the differences in observations may have to do with the sheer size of the show hall as opposed to the smaller size of the adjoining Baller Room. The show hall is so large that waves of attendees seemed to gravitate like flocks of birds from one side to the other, constantly in search of the latest, coolest knives. As a result, one area that was flooded with patrons for a while might be somewhat devoid of them minutes later. By contrast, the smaller Baller Room seemed to have fairly steady traffic throughout.
Another factor has to do with the exhibitors themselves. As with any business, those who are constantly on the go, looking to make deals or offering giveaways are usually the ones who experience the most success. Smiling faces and engaging, upbeat demeanors sell knives. Those who stand or, worse yet, sit behind their tables with their arms folded waiting for something to happen usually have a long if not endless wait.
Custom knife purveyor Michael Donato was constantly on the move, talking and probing for those who wanted to buy and/or sell knives. He said his company, KnifePurveyor.com, had its best show ever in 24 years of BLADE Shows.
John Horrigan’s 16.5-inch Kings Dagger features Gorgon flower damascus, petersite, a red agate, and 24k-gold engraving with a ruby, diamond, sapphire and emerald inset in the crown. John’s price for a similar knife: $14,500. (Jocelyn Frasier image)
“Many of my colleagues shared with me how well they had done at the show as well,” he noted.
Matt Bando of Demko Knives was stoked about Demko’s performance.
“We brought the largest number of knives we have ever brought to a show and sold out faster than any other,” he noted. “All of our USA models were sold by 2 p.m. Friday. There seemed to be a lot of people at the show and every year it seems to grow.”
Demko is one of those exhibitors who employs giveaways to drive sales and create enthusiasm.
“We had a large turnout for our giveaway on Saturday. We gave away five different packages. For the main giveaway, we gave a USA-made titanium AD20 in 3V. A young man entered his younger brother into the raffle and ended up winning his first Demko knife. Great story. “We were blown away and pumped.”
Two blade enthusiasts try out/talk knives at the McNees Knives booth.
Custom knifemaker Rhidian Gatrill not only won for Best Miniature in the custom knife judging competition but, along with Jeremy Yelle, also captured Best Collaboration. “Rhid” exhibited 13 knives, two of which were miniatures, and sold all but one.
“Most sold within the first few hours on Friday but the others sold slowly through Saturday and my minis within the last hours of the show Sunday,” he wrote. Still, he said he thought the buying was slower than last year, which was his first year exhibiting at the BLADE Show.
Vince Evans specializes in high-end historical swords and knives. He brought four swords and sold two, both on Friday.
“Most of my clientele are interested in historical pieces,” he stated. “Swords are a more limited field as some collectors don’t have the room to collect and/or display larger pieces.” Vince indicated the show seemed slower than last year and that a few regular local attendees did not come. “Friday and Saturday seemed fairly busy,” he wrote, adding that on a scale of 1 to 10, Friday and Saturday were “about a 7” and Sunday “about a 2.”
The VK-Zame—aka Shark—in M398 stainless steel and titanium was among the knives Poikilo Blade debuted at the BLADE Show. MSRP: $580-$600. Available to the public: August/September. (Poikilo Blade image)
Gregarious Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Steve Schwarzer was pleased. “I had a great show, sold most of my carved pieces and took several orders,” he commented. “It was the best show in a few years. It was very busy.”
As usual, the South Texas Slipjoint Cartel boys all seemed to do well, including sellouts by Tanner Couch and Toby Hill, the latter who sold all 11 of the knives he displayed. Bobby House only brought three knives but sold them all by early Friday afternoon. He indicated his most-sought-after knife was a high-end Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Bill-Ruple-design Ax Handle with wasp nest damascus bolsters and shield that went for $2,800 to a French buyer. The other two buyers were Americans, the latter being Arizona Custom Knives.
The Baller Room buzzed all three days.
“I thought attendance was up on Friday and Saturday,” he wrote, giving Friday a 7 rating. “Friday attendance was the people wanting to buy custom knives. They are there to get the first shot at our custom builds. Saturday attendance is more for entertainment purposes. They want to look and see all types of knives, but they have funds to buy also.”
He gave the Saturday attendance an 8, concluding, “Overall, it was one of the best shows that I have been involved in. Great job by the BLADE Show crew!”
BLADE Show Treasures
A highlight of all BLADE Shows is you never know what unusual old knife or sword, new knife introduction, mechanism or material, or other notable hidden treasure may turn up.
“I always enjoy seeing what the antique dealers bring to the show,” Evans wrote. “I purchased an antique quillon dagger for research and a future replication project.”
It’s easy to get mesmerized by knives at the BLADE Show, here at the table of Alex Hossom (left).
An antique also caught the eye of knifemaker David Kramp, who sold 10 of 12 knives and won Best New Maker in the custom knife judging.
“There was a French knife from the 1830s that was very intriguing,” he wrote. “I’m very much looking forward to that potential build with a fellow maker.”
Winner of Best Damascus in the custom knife judging, Gabe Fletcher came across a product that piqued his interest. “The Gator Skin Blade Coating from Baker Forge seems very interesting,” he wrote. “I picked some up to try on my damascus.”
Both Kramp and knifemaker Jared Oeser were gobsmacked by Gatrill’s lockback whittler automatic that won Best Collaboration in the show’s custom knife judging competition.
Conducted by Blade HQ, Balicomp 2025 drew a packed house on show Saturday.
“I’m not ready to make something like it yet but that auto slipjoint was impressive,” Kramp observed. Oeser, who brought 14 knives and sold out by Saturday afternoon, chimed in, “One thing that stood out to me was Rhidian’s automatic lockback whittler. I’m gonna have to try [making one like] that.”
Next Up: BLADE Show West
It was indeed another BLADE Show for the ages. Speaking of which, next year’s show will return to the Cobb Galleria June 5-7. For more information, visit bladeshow.com. Meanwhile, it’s not too late to make plans to attend BLADE Show West Oct. 10-11 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah (bladeshowwest.com). See you there!
Knife Rights, one of America’s premier organizations defending the right to own and use knives and edged tools, was presented with one of two Blade Magazine 2012 Industry Achievement Awards® at the annual Blade Magazine Knife-Of-The-Year Awards Banquet at the BLADE Show in Atlanta, Georgia.
Also receiving a Blade Magazine 2012 Industry Achievement Award was the American Knife & Tool Institute, also for its efforts in protecting Americans’ right to own, use and carry knives.
Knife Rights was recognized for its “diligence in working to have pro-knife legislation passed in a number of states this year,” said BLADE® Magazine editor, Steve Shackleford. Managing Editor Joe Joe Kertzman noted, “the legislative offensive mounted… this year has been nothing short of historic.”
The annual awards by BLADE Magazine at the BLADE Show are recognized as the pinnacle of achievement in the knife industry. The BLADE Show is the largest cutlery show in the world held every year in Atlanta. Georgia represented one of Knife Rights’ successes this year with Knife Law Preemption set to become law on July 1, protecting BLADE Show attendees from certain onerous restrictive knife regulations.
Doug Ritter, Knife Rights chairman, said, “Knife Rights is honored to be recognized for our achievements in defending knife owners’ rights. We sincerely appreciate the support from individuals and industry that has allowed us to make great strides this year. ”
Knife Rights’ legislative successes this year to date include the Knife Law Preemption bill in Georgia, clarification of the switchblade law that legalized assisted-opening knives and the manufacture of assisted-opening and switchblade knives in Washington and the passage of a bill repealing Missouri’s switchblade ban, currently awaiting the governor’s signature.
In addition, Knife Rights made real progress on bills in Alaska, Indiana and Kansas that passed by super majorities in one house of the legislature and which would have been on track to pass into law except for election year and redistricting politics. Knife Rights expects to be back in these states next year to finish the job. In addition, Knife Rights has switchblade ban repeal and preemption legislation pending in Pennsylvania, as well as efforts in additional states.
Ritter said, “This is a long term effort. Our rights weren’t lost overnight and they won’t be restored overnight. Knife Rights is committed to passing pro-knife legislation in all 50 states.
For more on the latest knives, knife legislation, knifemaking instruction, knife trends, knifemakers, what knives to buy and where and much more, subscribe to BLADE® Magazine, the World’s No. 1 Knife Publication. Click on http://www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us for more information.
