BLADE Show

Hosted in Atlanta, Georgia in May or June every year, the BLADE Show truly is the World’s Largest Knife Show. It features the most diverse array of knives from manufacturers, knifemakers, collectors, dealers and purveyors, all under one roof. The BLADE Show plays host to the Blade Magazine Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards, the Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame© induction ceremony, seminars, demonstrations and much more.

Visit BladeShow.com for tickets, travel information, exhibitor registration and sponsorship opportunities.

Free BLADE Show Seminars Educate, Entertain

The federal ivory ban, the 12th Annual BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competition, how to make a cut ‘n shoot and much more will highlight the free seminars of the 33rd Annual BLADE Show June 6-8 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.

Free BLADE Show seminars will include the BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competition. (PointSeven photo)
Dan Keffeler shows his championship form in the BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competition, one of several free BLADE Show seminars. (PointSeven photo)

The seminars are free to all BLADE Show ticket holders only.

Knifemaker Jim Hammond has made knives with assorted ivory handle materials for decades, and Sandra Brady has scrimmed ivory handles for many years as well. She also has been on the front lines of the debate over the federal ivory ban. Both will discuss the ban, its effect on knives, how to identify the many different ivories and much more in their free seminar, “Ivory: Past, Present and Future.”

Knifemaker Dan Keffeler will return to defend his title in the 12th Annual BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competition, conducted by BladeSports International (BSI). Others who will participate in the competition that pits big cutters in such regimens as the 2-inch free-hanging rope cut, 2×4 chop and more will include past champion Ted Ott, BSI Executive Director Donavon Phillips, Jim Cottingham and others.

ABS master smith Steve Culver won “Best of the Rest” in the 2013 BLADE Show’s custom knife judging competition with his “Laffite’s Revenge” cut ‘n shoot knife/pistol—which also will serve as the cover knife for the July BLADE® (on many newsstands beginning April 22)—and will show you how he made it in his special seminar. Other free seminar topics will include: Sharpening On a Stick, with knifemaker Jared Williams; How To Use Bushcraft Knives, with knife writer/designer Abe Elias; Surviving Inside the Kill Zone, with  knifemaker Ernest Emerson; Tactical & Handforged Knives: What To Look For, with purveyor Les Robertson; Estate Planning and Your Knife Collection, with BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Bruce Voyles; and much more.

For the latest knives, knife news, trends and more, stay tuned to www.blademag.com.

BLADE Show Announces New Knife-Of-Year Award

The BLADE Show will have a new Knife Of The Year Award at this year's show, June 6-8 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. This is the BLADE Magazine 2013 Collaboration Of The Year between Microtech and Mick Strider, the D.O.C. (PointSeven photo)
The 2014 BLADE Show will have a new Knife Of The Year Award: the People’s Choice Award. Last year’s Collaboration Of The Year was between Microtech and Mick Strider for the Microtech D.O.C. (PointSeven photo)

The BLADE Show is proud to announce a BLADE Magazine Knife-Of-The-Year® award new for 2014: the People’s Choice Award.

It, along with the other Knife-Of-The-Year Awards—all sponsored by New Graham Knives—will be chosen during the 33rd Annual BLADE Show June 6-8 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.

Designed as a way to get the rank-and-file of knife enthusiasts everywhere involved in the selection of one of the industry’s most coveted factory knife honors, the People’s Choice Award will be determined by a vote of knife enthusiasts via the BLADE website, www.blademag.com. Stay tuned to the site for more details on how you can participate.

Only factory knife and factory knife accessory companies with booths at the BLADE Show are eligible to enter the competition for the BLADE Magazine Knife-Of-The-Year Awards.

The 13 other awards are voted on by BLADE Show booth exhibitors, with the exception of the Publisher’s Award and the Industry Achievement Award, which are named by the staff of BLADE® Magazine.

KNIFE-OF-YEAR DISPLAY DEADLINE MOVED UP!

Entries for the Knife-Of-The-Year Awards are exhibited in the Knife-Of-The-Year Display area in the show hall of the Cobb Galleria Centre for all show patrons to see. The deadline for factory booth exhibitors to have their Knife-Of-The-Year entries on display in the area has been moved up to show Friday at noon this year from the 4 p.m. Friday of previous years. The change is due to the People’s Choice Award, which will require the BLADE Show staff to photograph ALL of the entries and post those images on blademag.com for knife enthusiasts to study before placing their vote for the award.

For the latest knives, knife news, trends and more, stay tuned to www.blademag.com.

BLADE University: A Fresh Approach to Knife Education

Learn knives as only the legends and masters can teach them at the new BLADE University at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. BLADE U. will begin a day before the June 6-8 BLADE Show and end June 7.

Learn wire inlay from ABS master smith Joe Keeslar at BLADE University
ABS master smith Joe Keeslar will teach wire inlay at BLADE University.

A whole new approach to the knife show seminar concept, BLADE University consists of a series of classes under separate headings that are guaranteed to entertain, enlighten and educate you on your favorite subject.

Let industry knifemaking gurus Chris Reeve, Jerry Fisk, Jerry Busse, Tony Bose and Bill Harsey show you how they approach the knife design process in five separate classes under the heading of “Knife Designs of The Masters.” Learn how to inlay wire in knife handles and sheaths from ABS master smith Joe Keeslar in a two-part segment of “Knives The ABS Way” that also will include classes on the design concept of “Line and Flow,” and a demonstration of how applicants test for ABS journeyman and master smith—and how they are judged in the process.

Are you into collecting the knives of such legends as Bob Loveless, Bill Moran, Bo Randall and Jim Schmidt but don’t know what to look for or how? Purveyors Gary Clinton, Dave Ellis and Maj. Louis Chow will show you the way in three separate classes under the heading of “Collecting the Knives of The Legends.”

Engraving is a technique more and more knifemakers are learning to embellish their work and enable them to offer a sole-authorship product. It’s also a great way to embellish your knives in your spare time at home. Learn how the pros do it in “GRS Engraving Instruction,” a complete classroom experience that covers design, art work elements, scribing lines, using engraving tools and understanding how they work, and more.

Finally learn how to do the Japanese handle wrap, all about sword fittings and temper lines, what to look for when buying a Japanese sword and proper sword care/maintenance from two of the world’s leading Japanese sword makers, Wally Hayes and Wally Hostetter, in three separate classes all under the heading of “All About Japanese Swords.”

For  more information visit http://www.bladeshow.com/ehome/bladeshow.com/bladeuniversity/?&&

2014 BLADE Show Website Now Available

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The completely updated 2014 BLADE Show website is up, running and conveniently ready to take your booth or table order as an exhibitor at the show; for you to purchase your three-day or one-day ticket to the show, and thus beat the crowds, or add on the Friday Early-Bird option;image-1.php make hotel reservations at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel or one of the BLADE Show partner hotels; to see sharp seminars and view a seminar schedule; or see updated lists of exhibitors who will be displaying their wares at the World’s Greatest Knife Show.

The BLADE Show is June 6-8, 2014, at the Cobb Galleria Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Don’t miss out. Get your ticket to the World’s Greatest  Knife Show now! See you there!

Share Your Knife Memories of Rob Simonich

If you knew knifemaker Rob Simonich, share your memories of him with us on www.blademag.com.

BLADE® field editor Dexter Ewing has written the story, “Heart and Soul,” in the February BLADE  which remembers Rob on the 10th anniversary of the death of one of knifemaking’s favorite sons. Killed tragically in a truck accident, Rob was loved by many, and his award-winning knives were among the best of their time—and they still hold up today.

Did you know Rob Simonich? If so, share your memories of him on www.blademag.com. (Shelby Chan photo)
Share your memories of Rob Simonich with www.blademag.com readers. (Shelby Chan photo)

Ten years is a long time, and a lot of people have come into the knife industry since Rob’s passing that do not know of the kind of person he was. If you knew Rob, you can help them know what kind of person he was by sharing some of your favorite memories of him.

Though Rob was taken away far too soon, he left an indelible mark on the knife industry, and, of course, his wife Christine and daughter Megan. Rob loved to break new ground in terms of knives, especially with blade materials such as Talonite® and CPM S30V. His knives won a number of awards, including his Urban Raven taking home the BLADE Magazine 2003 American-Made Knife Of The Year®.

As good as his knives were—and they were extremely well thought of and accepted by knife enthusiasts—it was Rob’s warm smile and sincere manner that helped him win over many friends. He loved people and he loved the outdoors, and it showed in most everything he did.

He also loved the BLADE Show and made it a point to attend every one he could. It was there that he made many friends in the industry.

How about it? Care to share any memories? We’d love to hear them—as would those who both knew him and those who want to know more about him.

For the latest knives, knife trends, knife news and more, stay tuned to www.blademag.com.

How To Reserve Your Hotel Room For the BLADE Show

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If you're struggling to make hotel reservations for the 2014 BLADE Show, here's how.
Here’s how to reserve your hotel room for the world’s biggest knife show, the 2014 BLADE Show.

It’s that time of year again—when people start tearing their hair out trying to reserve their hotel rooms for the following year’s BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com).

Of course, the fact people are already lining up for their lodging seven months before it starts is testimony to just how important the show has become worldwide. And, needless to say, we love it!

Slated for June 6-8, 2014, at the spacious Cobb Galleria Centre just outside Atlanta, the show is the world’s largest and assembles more exhibitors, knives, seminars and assorted cutlery events than any other. As such, all knife enthusiasts want to attend and the rush for hotel rooms starts earlier every year.

Many folks have been calling the show’s host hotel, the Renaissance Waverly, and the Sheraton located across the street from the Galleria, requesting hotel rooms with the the special BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) discounted rate—and they have been told by both hotels’ reservation officials that they cannot call the applicable hotels direct to reserve a room for the show.

Those hotel reservation officials are, of course, correct.

There are two ways to reserve a room for the show: either visit

https://aws.passkey.com/event/10704610/owner/2698962/home or call 855-547-8429. The website is now live and the phone number is for our special call center.

By the way, this is NOT a new hotel reservation system for the show. It’s the same format as it has been for the past three years. Again, do NOT contact the hotels direct to make reservations for the weekend of the world’s largest knife show.

For the latest knives, knife news and more, stay with www.blademag.com (www.blademag.com).

 

Cutlery Hall Of Fame: Buster Warenski

Any discussion of the greatest custom knifemakers of the modern era must include the late Buster Warenski, a member of the BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame.

While best known for his reproduction of the King Tut Dagger in the late 1980s, Warenski’s influence on custom knives, knifemakers and the Knifemakers’ Guild was immense and, in many ways, continues to this day. One of the early Guild voting members, he was considered among the best custom makers from the get-go. He excelled not only by the example of his workmanship but also by his leadership, serving on the Guild’s board of directors for a number of terms, including as president (1977-79).

No mention of the greatest knifemakers is complete without mention of Buster Warenski. (SharpByCoop.com photo)
A member of the BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall Of Fame, Buster Warenski was one of the greatest knifemakers ever. (SharpByCoop.com photo)

The workmanship of his knives pretty much spoke for itself. He could make just about any fixed blade, folder or sword, and make it extremely well, though it is his art daggers for which he is most remembered. He taught himself how to engrave and although he may not have been the best engraver, the early examples of his engraving held up among other knives of the time.

But then it always seemed that Buster found a way to make his knives the best—and one way was marrying Julie, who learned how to engrave and became one of the best, lending her talents to Buster’s knives and making them even more fabulous. (Julie Warenski-Erickson continues to engrave today and is married to knifemaker Curt Erickson.)

Perhaps the greatest tribute to any knifemaker is one from one of his peers who also happens to be one of the world’s best makers—in this instance, Steve Johnson. As Steve noted, “Putting myself in even the same sentence as a ‘fellow knifemaker’ with Buster makes me uncomfortable. No one will ever attain the skill and ability as a knifemaker as this great man did.”

For the latest knives, knife news and much more, stay tuned to www.blademag.com.

 

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