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.

BLADE Show: Experience Ed’s Homespun Knife Knowledge

Ed Fowler works on one of his sheep horn handles in his shop.
At the BLADE Show, Ed Fowler will conduct a seminar on knives that survived the frontier.

BLADE® field editor and ABS master smith Ed Fowler will offer another of his seminars as only he can in “Knives That Survived The Frontier” during the 2013 BLADE Show & Living Ready Expo (www.bladeshow.com) May 31-June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.

Ed’s seminar will be show Saturday at 2 p.m. in Room 104.

Ed will discuss an antique Huber bowie, Ames Rifleman Knife and a T-backed wootz knife.

“The Huber bowie made in 1832 looks to have been in combat as evidenced by the cuts in her blade,” he noted. “The Ames Rifleman’s Knife from 1849 was used hard, most probably during the Civil War. Her scabbard was refurbished on the frontier with what was available.

“The T-backed wootz knife collected by a British soldier who traded a carton of cigarettes for her while driving a lorry over the Khyber Pass during World War II is another knife with a great history visible through repairs where few tools and materials were available,” Ed continued.

“Those who attend will be invited to hold, study and discuss what aspects of design and steel made these knives great. These aspects of design remain as hallmarks of the high performance knife of today.”

Author of his “Knife Talk” column in BLADE for over two decades, Ed is well known for his controversial opinions and approaches to not only bladesmithing/knifemaking, but also to knives and their history in general. He also has written Knife Talk I and Knife Talk II—compilations of his Knife Talk columns in BLADE.

 

BLADE Show & Bladesmithing For Kids

From left: Wes Byrd, Selena Giles and Tim Potier enjoy last year's bladesmithing for kids seminar at the BLADE Show.
Wes Byrd (left) and Tim Potier (right) flank young bladesmithing aspirant Selena Giles at the 2012 BLADE Show seminar on bladesmithing for kids.

 

Let some of the world’s top bladesmiths teach your children about the craft in the American Bladesmith Society’s “Bladesmithing For Kids” seminar at the BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) & Living Ready Expo May 31-June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.

 

Join American Bladesmith Society (ABS) master smiths Joe Keeslar and Tim Potier and ABS journeyman smiths Wes Byrd and Larry “The Hammer” Harley of Lords Of War TV fame as they explain the ancient art of bladesmithing. The seminar will be show Saturday at 11:30 a.m. in Room 109.

All four men have extensive experience teaching children about bladesmithing, and all four are great at relating the craft to youngsters in language kids can understand.

Founded in 1976 by Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© members Bill Moran and B.R. Hughes, as well as Don Hastings and Bill Bagwell, the ABS is the world’s oldest and pre-eminent organization of bladesmiths—that is, those who forge the blade steel for their knives by hand or with power hammers. The ABS holds its annual meeting at the BLADE Show, where it selects new master and journeyman smiths, announces its annual awards, elects officers to its board of directors, holds a knife auction and much more.

The ABS also has a long history of instructing children on bladesmithing. It has conducted a number of special kids’ bladesmithing events at such venues as the BLADE Show & Living Ready Expo and also at Smoky Mountain Knife Works (SMKW) in Sevierville, Tennessee. In fact, the ABS Youth Hammer-In will be held just a few weeks after the BLADE Show & Living Ready Expo, June 28-30, at SMKW (visit www.americanbladesmith.com for more information). Mr. Harley has conducted children’s bladesmithing seminars at his forge in Bristol, Tennessee, as well.

 

Tips for Traveling With Knives

An informative article written by Mike Haskew on how traveling with knives presents challenges is posted on the American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI) website.

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. 674b1262ac2f843595177d7c527ebc39_Outdoorseminar3450px

“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.”

Read the full article here. 

BLADE Show: Euro & Asian Sword Seminars

Watch those who know how use a selection of swords to recreate the way they actually were employed in combat in the days of yore in the fast-paced “Historical Swordplay Techniques” by the Reinhardt Legacy Fight Team at the BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) May 31-June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia.

 

The team will present seminars on both European and Asian swordplay techniques. The European rendition will be Saturday, June 1, at 12:30 p.m., and the Asian version will be Sunday at 10 a.m. Both seminars will be conducted in “The Courtyard”—the parking lot of the BLADE Show’s host hotel, the Renaissance Waverly.

 

Led by such team members as Pembroke “Whit” Williams, David Lanyon and others, the Reinhardt Legacy Fight Team is named in honor of Hank Reinhardt, swordplay guru and genius behind Museum Replicas, a long-time sword, armor and accouterments retailer out of Conyers, Georgia. Hank searched the world over for the finest swords and armor for sale in the MR catalog. He was legendary for his ability to spar with swords, and retained much of his quickness and technique well into his later years. His swordplay seminars at the BLADE Show beginning in the early 1990s and up until his death in 2007 were replete with fast action, lavish costumes and the best in sparring swords.

 

Today, the Reinhardt Legacy Fight Team carries on Hank’s legacy, training those interested in historic swordplay techniques and conducting seminars at any number of events, including the BLADE Show. Equipped with the latest in safety equipment, masks and more, members of the team take turns squaring off in spirited sparring sessions, demonstrating the techniques used in days gone by. Some of the sessions get quite frisky and are always entertaining to watch.

 

Get there early to secure a bleacher seat.

 

The BLADE Show will present the Reinhardt Legacy Fight Team's seminar on historic swordplay.
Whit Williams explains historic swordplay to patrons at last year’s BLADE Show.

BLADE Show: You, Your EDC and the Police

The BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) is the place to learn all about knives—including what to say when you are stopped by law enforcement for carrying one.

BLADE seminar: Know what to say and not say to law enforcement when carrying a knife.
In a special BLADE Show seminar, learn how to deal with law enforcement when you are stopped for carrying a knife.

Have you ever been stopped for carrying a knife? What did you say to the officer? Did he ask you why you carried a knife? What was your response? Did he ask to search you? What was your response?

If none of these things have happened to you, that’s a good thing. But what if they do? What would you do?

Chris Conte is a legislative counsel for the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action. He will conduct the seminar “You, Your EDC and The Police” during the BLADE Show & Living Ready Expo May 31-June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. The seminar will be show Saturday at 4 p.m. in Room 109.

According to a spokesperson close to Mr. Conte, “Proper communication and understanding of the culture and expectations of both law enforcement and the law-abiding citizen with a knife is crucial to avoiding unnecessary conflict. During interactions with civilians, law enforcement frequently view knives as the most commonly possessed ‘weapon’ and individuals as ‘armed,’ posing a threat to their personal safety and others.

“Law-abiding citizens, believing their knife is an essential, valuable tool, need to know how to behave and respond to law enforcement to avoid legal problems and what to do to protect their liberties. Mr. Conte will present an overview of the legal and practical dynamics of how such encounters can go well or go poorly based on case law, and based on his work as a certified law enforcement instructor in encounters with civilians carrying handguns.”

All BLADE Show ticket holders are admitted free to the show’s seminars. Seating is limited, so be sure to get there early.

BLADE Show Focus: The Future of Knives

The BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) will embrace the future of knives with the special seminar “SharpKidz: A Cool Knife Club For Kids.”

The BLADE Show will host the seminar "SharpsKidz: A Cool Knief Club For Kids."
The BLADE Show will host a special SharpKidz seminar geared toward teaching young boys and girls the importance of knives and their safe use.

The BLADE Show will be May 31-June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. The SharpKidz seminar will be conducted by Pete Cohan show Sunday, June 2, at 11 a.m. in Room 109 of the Cobb Galleria. The seminar will stress basic knife knowledge, including newsletters and other giveaways, displays of kids’ knife collections, question-and-answer sessions and more, all on a level pre-teen boys and girls can relate to.

Former curator of the National Knife Museum and a long-time board member of the National Knife Collectors Association, Cohan is one of the most respected names in knives. His ability to communicate the importance of knives in today’s society is easily understandable on all levels. If you’re coming to the BLADE Show and bringing the kids, this seminar is a must-see for both you and your children.

Nathans Knife Kit
Another way to get kids into knife enthusiasm is with a CRKT Nathan’s Knife Kit. It’s easy and fun to work together to make a wooden knife. Click the image for purchasing information.

Sponsored by Smoky Mountain Knife Works, SharpKidz teaches young boys and girls how to handle and learn about the history and usefulness of pocketknives, including all about safety tips, how to sharpen, how to maintain and otherwise relate in a responsible way to man’s oldest tool.

It provides a carefully structured and fun-filled opportunity for all youths to experience the joy of having their own knife while becoming conscious of how, why and what a knife is for in today’s fast-paced world. Your kids do not need any batteries, solar or wind power, or an app—just their eyes, hands and imagination.

SharpKidz members receive a bi-monthly newsletter that features historic knife information, safety tips, age-appropriate cartoon presentations, enrollment information and the promotion of special SharpKidz events.

For more free SharpKidz membership info, call 800-251-9306 or e-mail [email protected].

 

See the BLADE Show Japanese Sword Demo

The BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) will welcome the action-packed Japanese sword demonstration of James Williams May 31-June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.

 

Williams will perform his demo at 1:45 p.m. the Saturday of the show in The Courtyard, aka the parking lot of the host hotel, the Renaissance Waverly.

 

Williams will present a number of Japanese sword methods, including the tameshigiri—the cutting of bundles of straw mats, bamboo and other media.

 

Williams uses both one- and two-hand techniques to cut 4- and 5-inch bundles of straw mats. Especially popular are his multiple cuts in rapid succession, including cutting already severed chunks of the mats before they can hit the ground after he cut them the first time.

 

President of Bugei Trading Co., a specialist in Japanese swords and their accouterments, Williams has been conducting his sword demos at the BLADE Show for many years. He has studied the martial arts since 1960 and taught them since 1975. He also teaches close quarters combat to military and law enforcement and his “The System of Strategy” is based on the skill set of ancient warriors. He is known worldwide as a trainer of special ops unit and government agencies, domestic and foreign. He has taught such agencies and their personnel as the Naval Special Warfare Combatives Instructors, Brazilian National Police, U.S. Army Special Operations, U.S. Navy Special Warfare, U.S. Marine Recon and others. He has appeared on such television programs as National Geographic’s Force Recon, Discovery Channel’s The Ten Greatest Weapons and the Outdoor Network’s Shooting Gallery.

He is also a knife designer, designing CRKT’s Hissatsu, Hisshou, Shinbu, Sakimor, and Otanashi Noh. According to Williams the goal of the Hissatsu folder was not to replace the fixed-blade knife but “to offer the best alternative possible when circumstances demand other options.”

 

James Williams cuts the straw mat in his BLADE Show Japanese sword demo.
James Williams will perform his popular Japanese sword demo at the BLADE Show.
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