Everything at BLADE Show Texas just keeps getting bigger
More exhibitors—a whopping 100 more, north of 400 in all, plus an additional 28,000 square feet of space over last year—displaying the finest knives, knife accessories and all that cuts promise to make the burgeoning BLADE Show Texas the best rendition yet.
Mike Quesenberry takedown dogbone bowie features a 10-inch blade of a Turkish twist damascus and an ancient walrus ivory handle with 18k-gold buttons and escutcheon plates. (SharpByCoop knife image)
Set for Feb. 23-24 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas, the show will host exhibitors from around the world, including those from Australia, Brazil, China, Italy, Russia, Sweden and elsewhere. Exhibitors will include top American custom knifemakers, ABS master smiths, returning winners of BLADE Show Texas ’23 custom knife judging awards and BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® members, and some of the world’s leading factory knife companies, including many current and past winners of BLADE Magazine Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards and returning winners of BLADE Show Texas ’23 factory knife judging honors.
BLADE Show Texas will be the first of three BLADE Show sponsored events for 2024, the other two being the grandaddy of them all, the 43rd Annual BLADE Show June 7-9 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, and BLADE Show West 2024 at the Salt Palace Convention Center Oct. 4-5 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
But first things first in Fort Worth, where knife enthusiasts will enjoy the complete gamut of custom and factory knives and accessories, including art, utility, bowies, EDC, slip joints, automatics, balisongs, kukris, daggers, tactical, tomahawks, swords, sharpeners and more, from low end to high end, stock removal to forged, fixed blade to folder. And if the exhibiting makers don’t have what you’re looking for, the exhibiting custom knife purveyors and factory retailers probably will—and if they don’t, they can put you in touch with someone who does.
For knife hobbyists and novice and veteran makers alike, the show’s diverse selection of knifemaking supplies and suppliers will have the materials, tools and equipment you need to make the knife of your dreams. From the latest steels, handle materials, hardware, sheath materials to most every knife part extant, the show’s suppliers should have it.
BLADE SHOW TEXAS AWARDS
TOPS Knives will display its extensive array of outdoor knives, including the Camp Creek Fire Edition in CPM S35VN stainless steel and a comfortably contoured handle of red/black G-10. Country of origin: USA. MSRP: $280.
There will be some changes in both the show’s custom and factory knife judging.
The change in the custom segment is small with the simple addition of a Best of the Rest category to provide an avenue for tomahawks, swords, innovative designs and other “specialty pieces” to win an award. Best of the Rest joins the existing stable of custom awards that also includes Best Art, Best Bowie, Best Damascus, Best EDC, Best Fighter, Best Folding Knife, Best Hunting Knife, Best Kitchen Knife, Best Slip Joint, Best M.A.C.K. (Machine Assisted Custom Knife) and Best in Show.
Returning to defend their custom knife award winning titles from last year’s show will be ABS master smiths (from left, with awards in parentheses): Josh Fisher (Best Bowie), Karis Fisher (Best Hunting Knife and Best Fighter), and John Horrigan (Best Damascus).
The shakeup in the factory categories includes eliminating Best Tactical and adding Best American Made, Best Imported and Best of the Rest. The addition of the former two addresses the top knives made both domestically and offshore, while the latter does the same for the factory segment that it does for the custom one.
The custom and factory knife judging is reserved exclusively for show exhibitors, all of whom received packets with complete details on category descriptions, judging rules and more prior to checking into the show.
Final Cut
BLADE Show Texas seems to be growing exponentially, as are the show’s exhibitors and fans. Go exponential your own self and join the party in February!
Discover the winners of the 2025 BLADE Show West Custom Knife Awards—nine categories of world-class craftsmanship.
Salt Lake City once again became the hub of the knife world as the 2025 BLADE Show West took over the Salt Palace Convention Center October 10-11. Now in its fourthyear in Utah, the event drew an impressive mix of custom knifemakers, manufacturers, and collectors from across the country and abroad.
At the heart of the weekend stood the Custom Knife Awards—always one of the most anticipated moments of the show. Makers went head-to-head across nine categories, putting their best work forward for consideration. Judged by a panel of anonymous experts, the entries were measured on design, originality, choice of materials, functionality, and overall execution.
The results reflected the diversity and skill of today’s custom knife community. With a crowded field and no shortage of standout pieces, the 2025 competition underscored why BLADE Show West continues to be a must-attend event for knife enthusiasts everywhere.
Best Custom Hunting Knife And Overall Best In Show: James Rodebaugh
Everything is bigger in Texas. That includes knife competitions. BLADE Show Texas’ first year in the Fort Worth Convention Center March 18-19, 2022, the BLADE Show Texas Awards turned out a host of excellent entrants in 11 factory and custom knife categories. The knives were judged by a panel of top knifemakers from across the industry, who evaluated each for superior utility, design, creativity, materials, aesthetics, and feel, among other traits.
Knives and knife people go wall-to-wall at BLADE Show ’24.
Wall-to-wall attendance, dynamite knife sales, sensational award knives and much more made BLADE Show 2024 June 7-9 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta one for the record books. However, it took custom knife purveyor Dave Ellis of exquisiteknives.com to put things into proper perspective.
The long-time BLADE Show exhibitor of Vista, California, sold out of knives and had yet another whiz-bang show, but he said it’s the intangibles that make the BLADE Show the dynamic event it is year in and year out.
“It was a great show and the sales were fantastic, but the main thing about the BLADE Show is the camaraderie, the old friends you see and talk to that make the show so special,” he said. “It’s really rewarding, and though the sales are great, the people are better.”
Argentina’s Javier Vogt and Belgium’s Veronique Laurent represented two of the 35 countries providing exhibitors for BLADE Show ’24. The knife is one of Veronique’s art daggers.
Speaking of people, ABS master smith Harvey Dean said it was one of the best if not the best attended BLADE Shows he’s ever seen. “At past shows there would be dead times when the crowd would thin out a little bit before increasing again,” he noted. “This show seemed crowded the whole time.”
The factory section enjoyed heavy traffic as well and patrons seemed to be buying knives.
“The BLADE Show was fantastic,” said Curtis Iovito of Spartan Blades, whose company won its first-ever BLADE Magazine Overall Knife Of The Year® with the Bill-Harsey-designed Clandestina. “Sales were the highest we have ever seen.”
Charlie Ellis (left foreground) was one of the guest makers providing BLADE University instruction in the AmeriBrade grinding seminar.
As usual, Saturday was the busiest day, though Friday was very good for three members of the South Texas Slipjoint Cartel in particular, with Luke Swenson selling out in the first hour and Toby Hill, who brought nine knives, selling out in the first two hours. Another Cartel alum, Enrique Pena, sold out as well. Along with Javier Garcia and Jared Oeser, Enrique also won Best Collaboration in the custom knife judging competition.
Brazilian ABS master smith Dionatam Franco de Souza said the show was very good for him, as he brought four knives and sold three, all in the high-dollar range. He also won Best Utility Hunter in the custom knife judging competition.
As with all shows, other reviews were mixed. One purveyor said some exhibitors said the crowd seemed down this year. On a scale of one to 10, ABS master smith Jordan LaMothe gave show attendance a five. He brought 14 knives and sold only three, all in the three and low-four-figure range, with two going to regular clients and one going to a new one. He said 20 percent of those who visited his table seemed to be buyers. Meanwhile, Jordan won yet another custom knife judging award, this time for Best Kitchen Knife.
Makers entered their knives in the custom knife judging competition Friday afternoon.
If sales were down for some, part of the reason may be what one purveyor said is a slowdown in the sale of damascus knives. He attributed the slowdown to a “burning out” of demand due to a glut of the pattern-welded knives. While many current examples of damascus are outstanding, there’s just too many knives made from it and supply is outpacing demand, the purveyor observed. Replacing the damascus knives in demand are straight carbon steel knives with nice hamons, he added. How long the trend will last is anybody’s guess.
BLADE Show 2024 Highlights
To kick things off, a stout soul replete in Scottish kilt and playing the bagpipes led an energetic throng of patrons into the show hall Friday morning. Thousands of patrons were about to descend on the almost 1,000 exhibitors from 35 countries in the main show hall and Baller Room in the coming three days.
Meanwhile, BLADE University classes, which started the day before at 4 p.m. and earlier Friday morning, continued throughout the day and into Saturday. Friday afternoon witnessed the custom knife judging competition, with winners selected in 16 categories. The Knifemakers’ Guild announced its best knives of the BLADE Show and also named BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member and BLADE editor Steve Shackleford winner of the Nate Posner Memorial Award in recognition of outstanding service in the promotion of handcrafted cutlery. The American Bladesmith Society held its awards ceremony after show closing Friday, including presenting Fabio Barros with his ABS master smith stamp and announcing 14 new journeyman smith awardees (for the names of all the new smiths, visit americanbladesmith.org, click on ABS News and Events and scroll to Congratulations to Our New Rated Smiths).
South African ABS master smith Neels van den Berg presented his BLADE University class, Symmetrical Quillon Dagger 101.
Saturday started early with the BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame breakfast/induction ceremony, with Ted Dowell, Don Fogg and Bill Harsey being formally inducted in the Kennesaw Room of the Renaissance Waverly Hotel. The 8th Annual Battle for Bali-Champion conducted by Blade HQ commenced at noon in a new venue—the second floor of the Renaissance—before a packed house, with Steven Ash taking the title followed by Corbin Lovins in second place and Seiji Brown in third.
Capping off Saturday was the BLADE Magazine Awards Presentation. Held at 8 p.m. in a new venue—also on the second floor of the Renaissance—the ceremony officially recognized the BLADE Magazine 2024 Knife-of-the-Year Awards® and the BLADE Show custom knife judging award winners.
On Sunday morning, the winners of the knife collection display judging were named. Gene Merritt won Best in Show for his David Yellowhorse First 25 Years display. Judges Awards went to Dale Eichberg for his display, Preproduction Buck Knives, and Brian Hugh for Buck Tactical Knives. The Youth Award went to Caleb Lindsey for Custom Knives by David Yellowhorse.
Upcoming Shows
Next up on the BLADE Show calendar is BLADE Show West, Oct. 4-5 in Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information, visit bladeshowwest.com. After that will be BLADE Show Texas, March 7-8, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas (bladeshowtexas.com).
Patrons enjoy the 8th Annual Battle for Bali-Champion conducted by Blade HQ in the event’s new venue on the second floor of the Renaissance Waverly Hotel.
As for next year’s BLADE Show, it returns to the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta June 6-8. See you there!
Get a look at the new knives released at BLADE Show, the world’s largest knife show.
More than simply the foremost industry event and knife axis mundi, BLADE Show is also the preferred venue to launch knives. Makes sense, when for three days straight, Atlanta’s Cobb Convention Center sees a steady stream of thousands of knife fanatics. We’ll have more down the road, but here is some of what was dropped at the world’s largest knife show.
Bradford Knives Guardian 3.5XL
RARE BREED GUARDIAN—Bradford Knives’ fan asked for it and at BLADE Show they’ll get the shot to own the Guardian 3.5XL with a 4-inch MagnaCut blade. This limited run comes with a new sheath design, offering both vertical and horizontal carry options. Overall Length: 8.25 inches. Blade Profile: Sabre. Weight: 4.7 ounces. MSRP: TBD. Available: June
Ansø of Denmark Mudtrack Exoframe
FRAME JOB—Stripped down in material, the Toko features Ansø of Denmark’s skeletonized black titanium Mudtrack Exoframe, stripping the flipper’s weight to a scant 2.86 ounces. Outfitted with a do-all drop-point blade of RWL34 steel, the build had versatile built in. Lock: Button. Blade Length: 3.35 inches. MSRP: $995. Available: June
McNees Knives Mini Dixon
MIGHTY MITE—A scaled-down version of a McNees classic, the Mini Dixon boasts a compact 3.35-inch MagnaCut blade matted to a Grade 5 titanium handle. The modified clip point has a hollow grind and comes in a very svelte 4.5 ounces. Lock: Framelock. Overall Length: 7.75 inches. MSRP: $549. Available: June
UG Tools EKM Fighting Knife Set
DOUBLE TROUBLE—The UG Tools EKM Fighting Knife Set was developed Special Mission Units and is already being supplied to a German Tier 1 unit. The set comes with a 2.4-inch blade dagger and 4.7-inch blade drop point, highly modular sheath, attachment system and full contact training knives. Blade Material: CPM MagnaCut. Weight: Dagger 1.6 ounces, Drop Point 4.6 ounces. Country of Origin: German. MSRP: ~$1,000 Available: Autumn 2026
Spartan Blades Pandia
MOONLIT PRECISION—Named for the Greek goddess of the full moon, the Spartan Blades Pandia features a 3.25-inch CPM MagnaCut spear-point blade optimized via a proprietary double deep cryogenic treatment. The 8.25-inch Curtis Iovito design utilizes an IKBS bearing system for fluid flipper deployment. Handle Material: Titanium. Clip: Titanium. Weight: 4 ounces. Country of Origin: USA. MSRP: $495. Available: Now
Maserin Outback
BUILT FOR THE BUSH—Featuring a Böhler N690 steel blade and paired with an ergonomic G10 handle, the Maserin Outback is available in three colours: black, gray, and orange. It comes with a black Italian cordura sheath, and a sharpener and a survival saw. Blade Length: 5.51 inches. Overall Length: 10.9 inches. Country of Origin: Italy. MSRP: $239. Available: Now
Scorpion 6 Jörmungandr
SHARP LEVIATHAN—Named for a sea serpent of Norse mythology, the Jörmungandr from Scorpion 6 is made completely without any CNC machining and features 5.3-inch a double hollow grind freehanded by Shane Magnussen. Blade Steel: CPM S90V. Overall Length: 8.82 inches. Clip: Titanium. Internals: Delrin Caged Ceramic Bearings. MSRP: Starts at $1,500. Available: Now
QSP Badger
BRIDGING OVER—The QSP Badger gives a reason for righties and lefties to cheer with the company’s Bridgelock. Essentially a crossbar lock, it features a saddle that runs on the back of the handle for an oversized and ambidextrous release. Blade Pattern: Wharncliff. Blade Steel: Nitro V. Handle Material: G10. Blade Length: 3.35 inches. MSRP: TBD. Available: September
Opinel No. 8 Horizon
MODERNIZED CLASSIC—Designed to brave the outdoors, Opinel’s No. 8 Horizon features several element-resistant features, including a stainless steel Yatagan blade, fiberglass-reinforced polymer handle and a light 2.2-ounce weight. Blade Length: 3.15 inches. Lock: Friction, Virobloc Safety Ring. Grind: Convex. MSRP: $40. Available: June.
Buck Knives Heritage Slim Elite 110
CLIPPING CALL—A refined evolution of Buck Knives’ classic 110 Folding Hunter, the Heritage Slim Elite is nearly .25-inch slimmer, 3-ounces lighter and featuring a deep carry pocket clip and BOS heat-treated MagnaCut steel blade. Blade Pattern: Clip Point. Blade Length: 3.75 inches. Scale: Ebony. MSRP: $250. Available: May
Crescent Edges Celestial Entity
STAR STRUCK—A 3.5-inch tanto blade of MagnaCut steel, milled titanium scale, satin DLC blade finish and a solid frame lock, the Crescent Edges Celestial Entity is an otherworldly EDC option. Overall Length: 8.23 inches. Weight: 4.5 ounces. Country of Origin: China. MSRP: $375 Available: Now
CRKT Grvitic Flip
FIDGET FACTOR—Not your typical OTF, the CRKT Garvitic Flip utilizes a vintage-inspired flip-insert mechanism to deploy its 3.18-inch blade. Once out, tabs on the blade insert into recesses to keep the blade in place. Blade Steel: 5Cr13MoV. Blade Pattern: Spearpoint. Overall Length: 7.5 inches. MSRP: $50. Available: Now
Lionsteel Emmet
INTREPID INTEGRAL—Gentlemanly in appearance, the 2.83-inch LionSteel Emmet features a solid integral handle in either titanium or aluminum. The titanium model comes with carbon fiber inlayed scale, the aluminum with a hammertone texture. Blade Material: MagnaCut. Blade Pattern: Drop Point. Overall Length: 6.73 inches. Country of Origin: Italy. MSRP: Ti $225; Al: $130. Available: Now
NortoriousEDC Dirty Deed Pry Bar
DOWN AND DIRTY—Constructed from Grade 5 titanium and a solid 3.5 inches in length, the NotoriousEDC Dirty Deed Pry Bar is ready every day for jimmying chores. The tool ships with a deep carry clip installed and includes an optional filler tab. Thickness: 3/16 inch. Width: 5/8 inch. Finish: Stonewashed. MSRP: $75. Available: Now
Vero Engineering Slip Joint
UNKNOWN SOLIDER—Vero Engineering’s new Wharncliffe is so recent that at writing it was yet have a name. What is known is that the slip joint will have a 2.75-inch MagnaMax blade, with the Vero trademark rectangular milling serving as the nail nick. Overall Length: 6 inches. Weight: 2.6 ounces. Handle Material: Titanium. Country of Origin: U.S.A. MSRP: $198. Available: June
GiantMouse ACE Pontius
HARPOONS AWAY—Designed with input from Chris Pontius, the GiantMouse ACE Pontius features a 3.2-inch harpoon-inspired clip point blade and titanium scale. The linerlock will also be available in Green G10 or Black Canvas Micarta. Blade Steel: Elmax. Overall Length: 7.7 inches. Liners: Hardened 420 Stainless Steel. MSRP: $325. Available: June
Shirogorov F95 Ursus
BEAR OF THE NORTH—The Shirogorov F95 Ursus offers a rugged, work-oriented take on the refined F95 pattern, featuring a 3.74-inch Elmax stainless steel blade with a 5/6ths grind. This iteration utilizes a Multi-Row Bearing System (MRBS) for smooth deployment and a dependable liner lock. Scale: Micarta. Overall Length: 8.66 inches. Weight: 4.69 ounces. MSRP: $650–$700. Available: June
StraightLine EDC Bigger Digger
GOLDEN DIGGER—The StraightLine EDC Bigger Digger is a purpose-built fixed blade designed for daily carry, featuring a 3.74-inch drop-point blade of 14C28N stainless steel. Ensuring a secure grip in all conditions, the 7.52-inch profile is outfitted with green canvas Micarta scales and a flat grind for efficient slicing. Weight: 3.17 ounces. Grind: Flat. Sheath: Kydex. MSRP: $80. Available: June.
Rothman Knives Fabricator Series Gentlemen’s Trapper
BLUE-COLLAR GENTLEMAN—The Rothman Knives Fabricator Series Gentlemen’s Trapper is a modern, lightweight take on the classic slip joint, weighing in at just 1.6 ounces. The 2 7/8-inch Nitro-V stainless steel blade features a deep 14-inch hollow grind for exceptional slicing geometry. Overall Length: 7 inches. Scale: Carbon Fiber. MSRP: $400. Available: June
Browning Stormy Pass Trapper
STORM A BREWIN’—The Browning Stormy Pass Trapper is a traditional slip joint built with an emphasis on longevity and classic aesthetics. It features a 3-inch damascus steel blade with a hollow grind, paired with stainless steel liners and wood scales. Overall Length: 6.25 inches. Weight: 2.4 ounces. Blade Pattern: Trapper. MSRP: $100. Available: September
Bestech IKA Dagger
FRANKISH FLARE—Bestech’s IKA Dagger is the first integral handle design from French designer Tashi Bharucha. This folder features a 3.9-inch M390 stainless steel blade and ceramic ball bearings for fluid deployment. Overall Length: 8.85. Frame Material: Titanium. Blade Pattern: Dagger. Blade Thickness: 0.16 inch. Closed Length: 4.95 inches. MSRP: $580. Available: June
The 2026 BLADE Magazine Knife of the Year® Awards proved tougher—and tighter—than ever.
As the years go on the BLADE Magazine Knife Of The Year® Awards only get sharper. The 2026 chapter, held during the June 5-7 BLADE Show at the Cobb Convention Center, is a case in point. Hosting another massive field in the factory knife competition, the contest drew roughly the same number of entries as last year (350-400), with hundreds of blades vying for the title of “Best” in their respective categories. Add in the fact that production knives are reaching an unimaginable height in both design and manufacturing quality, and the event was as tight as ever. The winners were selected by a panel of four judges, experts drawn from different backgrounds in the knife industry. Below are their selections of knives that are more than worthy of being called Knife Of The Year®.
BLADE Magazine Overall Knife Of The Year® & PVK Best Automatic Of The Year
Machine Assisted Custom Knives (M.A.C.K.) are at the cutting-edge of custom knife manufacturing.
For many, a knife resides in one of two manufacturing categories—handmade or machine-made. In the world of custom knives, historically there hasn’t been a lot of middle ground between the two and occasional animosity. Understandable, especially for the folks ringing an anvil to wrought a dazzling creation from sweat and steel. However, times are changing.
To that end, Machine Assisted Custom Knives (M.A.C.K.) have grown in popularity from a number of intrepid pioneers who—for lack of a better description—utilize the best of both worlds. Quite simply, knives in this category aren’t completely handmade, nor are they 100-percent machine creations. Combining the two disciplines of the same craft has proven a boon for the knife industry, creating a diverse and wonderful center course—one BLADE® Magazine and BLADE Show celebrate.
Starting at the 2023 BLADE Show Texas, the event expanded its Custom Knife Awards to include M.A.C.K.’s. And again, the Custom Knife Of The Year Awards at the June 2-4 BLADE Show at the Cobb County Convention Center will include this burgeoning category—most likely in all its glory. So, what exactly does it take to qualify a knife in the M.A.C.K. class? Certainly more than taking a production knife and scratching a design on its scale by hand.
We explained the category thusly in custom knife competition rules:
“The knife must be of the folding/locking, non-slip-joint, EDC variety that is first and foremost a cutting tool. It must be functional, beautiful and have great ergonomics, yet still have practical applications and uses. It must consist of both at least one handmade feature—such as hand-ground blades, hand-contoured scales, manually machined parts, etc.—and of automated features such as waterjet-cut liners/scales, CNC’d handles, etc. … The blade should open and close easily and smoothly, and lock open properly and securely. All aspects of quality folder design—line and flow, blade centering and clearance, proper fit and finish, a comfortable handle, etc.—apply as well.”
Of course, given the skill of the craftsmen who enter the competition, it’s potentially difficult for the judges—almost all Master Bladesmiths themselves, mind you—to tell the machined parts from the handmade. Thus, there’s a bit of a twist found in this category, as compared to others.
“Each entry must be accompanied by an informative, to-the-point description of which part/parts is/are handmade and how. For example, “I did the filework by hand with such-and-such type of file.” The description must be 100 words or less so the winner will be judged on the knife and not on his/her writing skills. The judges will assume that the knife’s parts that are not handmade are made through a machine-aided process.”
Already, in one show competition, the entrees have been stunning. At the 2023 Texas show Keanison Knives took home the hardware in the category with a stellar flipper in what proved a competitive field. We expect the pow-wow in Atlanta will produce an equally as hot, if not hotter competition in this class.
If you’re an exhibitor at BLADE Show, and you have a knife that falls in this category, you should bring the best of kinetics, aesthetics and handcraft to the custom knife competition. If you’re a knife aficionado and look to keep your collection at the cutting edge of the industry, keep your eyes peeled for M.A.C.K.’s when you’re walking the floor. The style of the knife is certainly progressing what’s possible in the knife world.
