It’s only 13 days until the 31st Annual BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com), June 8-10 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. In conjunction with the show and new for 2012 to address the expanding survival market, the former Tactical Gear Show has been enhanced with the latest in survival equipment and renamed the Survival+Tactical Gear Expo.
The STG Expo will be held in the back left corner of the BLADE Show’s main hall. All things tactical and survival related—in addition to knives, duty gear, eyewear, hydration equipment, hearing protection, flashlights/accessories, survival seminars and more—will be presented. BLADE Show ticket holders are admitted free.
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.
The whole world will be cutting at the 35th Annual BLADE Show June 3-5 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. Knifemaker Jens Anso (behind the table) waits on customers at last year’s show.
The whole world will be cutting at the 35th Annual BLADE Show. Question is, will you be among them?
June 3-5 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, the BLADE Show is the event knife enthusiasts point to year round, with many saving their knife “fun” money just for this one show where custom knifemakers, factory knife companies, and knife accessory, material, machine and tool suppliers and more introduce their latest knives and knife-related products.
Whether you’re a veteran of or a newcomer to the “sharp wars,” have your ducks in a row so you will miss as little as possible at the show. (Let’s face it, with almost 1,000 exhibitors spread out over 144,000 square feet and non-stop knife action for most of the three-day event, it’s hard to see it all.) With that in mind, here’s a short list of things to do and see:
•Get a BLADE Show Program: Available for free in the show lobby, the program will have the show’s most-up-to-date exhibitor listings so you will know how to find your favorite knifemaker, knife company, dealer, supplier, purveyor, collection or what have you. Also, check the program for special customer deals, knife giveaways, contests, live demos, silent auctions and other cool offers;
•If you don’t know, ask: Everyone’s knife family at the BLADE Show, so if you don’t know something, ask. And if the person you ask doesn’t know, ask if he knows someone who does. This includes finding out where the hottest knives are. Strike up a conversation with those in the show and ask them what they’ve seen that’s cool. You’ll be surprised at how you can find some really great knives this way;
•Check out the Knife-Of-The-Year Awards display sponsored by Smoky Mountain Knife Works in the show lobby for the entrants in the factory knife awards competition;
•For the complete BLADE University class schedule—including J. Neilson’s class on how the Forged In Fire TV show selects contestants—and the BLADE Show seminar slate, see the signs in the show lobby;
•Be sure to attend the first-ever BLADE Show Women’s World Championship Cutting Competition and the 14th Annual BLADE Show Men’s World Championship Cutting Competition at 4:15 p.m. Saturday in The Courtyard under a new, sprawling tent sponsored by Burr King;
•Check out The Pit, the sunken lounge in the lobby of the host hotel Renaissance-Waverly each evening after the show, including the spillover from The Pit outside the hotel entrance, the perfect place to have fun and compare show notes with your fellow show patrons;
There’s much more, of course, much of which will be up to you and your inquisitiveness in finding it at the world’s most important knife event. See you there!
Legendary Knife Designer of the M16 and M21 knives, Retired Sgt. Major Harold “Kit” Carson is inducted into the Cutlery Hall of Fame at 2012 Blade Show in Atlanta.
BLADE Show ’25 is the author’s 40th BLADE Show—and counting
In the spring of 1985, my fellow U.S. Army lieutenant and knife collector Fletcher Crews told me about the BLADE Show. Having never heard of it, I asked him what it was. His response: “It’s like a gun show but with knives.”
Later in May of that year we took our wives on a road trip from Clarksville, Tennessee, to the Holiday Inn and Convention Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, the show’s former time of year and venue. We allowed ourselves four hours to cover the show. (Don’t get ahead of me; we didn’t know what we were in for.) You have undoubtedly seen TV commercials telling you about someplace in Florida that is the “happiest place on earth.” Those who say this have never been to the BLADE Show!
The highlight of the show for me was meeting BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Jimmy Lile and seeing and handling the Sly II knife he made for the original Rambo movie, First Blood. For those of you who were not fortunate enough to meet Jimmy, he was everything you hear. He was outgoing and friendly, making you feel like he had known you for years. He only made being able to see the knife in person that much better. After all, this is the knife that started me on a path I am still on today.
The BLADE Show has been the Happiest Place on Earth for decades—including here in 2007—and will be this coming June 6-8, too. (Eric Eggly/PointSeven image)
Heading back to Clarksville, I realized that planning had already started for the 1986 BLADE Show. As it turned out, I would make a life-altering decision shortly after returning home. Several weeks later, my wife Kathy and I were having dinner with Fletcher and his wife Karla.
Karla said, “If you did this as a business, you could go to more shows and write off your expenses.” Jerry Seinfeld famously said on his TV show, “You don’t even know what a write-off is.” That was true of me then but I still liked the sound of it. The following week, I went to a CPA and filled out the paperwork to form Robertson’s Custom Cutlery. I realized I had made a tactical error by only allowing four hours for the show. In 1986, I corrected that. I was, in fact, third in line to get in.
The doors opened and hundreds of people rushed into the room, all taking different paths to the hundreds of tables. I went to the first table closest to me and within 15 minutes was out of money. It was at this show that I learned my next vital lesson. As I walked among the rest of the tables and booths, I realized I had set a land speed record for buyer’s remorse. The essential lesson I learned was to have a plan.
Armed with my recently acquired KNIVES ’86, the plan began to take shape. The book has photos and an equally important index of makers’ contact information in the back. It started me on my path to creating what would become my Robertson’s Maker Market Matrix. In the early days, I used the Matrix exclusively to figure out what specific knives I wanted to buy.
The Sly II, aka the original Jimmy Lile First Blood knife, is the knife that got the author started on his career of buying and selling custom knives 41 years ago. The 9-inch sawtooth blade is bead-blasted D2 tool steel. The hollow handle is cord wrapped with an aircraft-grade aluminum buttcap. Overall length: 14 inches. The leather sheath is custom made. The author’s collector value for one of the originals: $4,000-$6,000.
Using KNIVES ’86 and the information within helped me identify what I wanted and implement my purchase plan. Early in 1987, I started to contact knifemakers, asking them what they were bringing to the show or if they could deliver the particular knife I wanted there. The plan was in place and it was implemented to perfection. I received all five knives I had ordered. With the pressure off, I was allowed to move through the Holiday Inn and Convention Center show hall and really enjoy everything the BLADE Show had to offer.
Gil And Bruce
The 1987 show was memorable for more than just the five knives I bought. I was introduced to legendary Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Gil Hibben, who invited me and others to dinner. He was a gracious host with fascinating stories to tell. At that same show, fellow custom knife purveyor Bob Neal (miss you, buddy) introduced me to Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Bruce Voyles, who owned both the BLADE Show and BLADE, and edited the magazine, too. Bruce couldn’t have been nicer. What impressed me most was his encyclopedic knowledge of older factory slipjoints, multi-blade folders and antique bowies.
In 1992, Bruce gave me another of my favorite memories of the BLADE Show—he asked me to judge the custom knife competition. I’ve judged at more shows than I can remember, but there is nothing like seeing all those knives from some of the best makers in the world all in one room. Bruce introduced me to current BLADE editor, Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Steve Shackleford, who, during a conversation at the 2006 BLADE Show, asked me if I would like to write an article for BLADE. Nineteen years later he continues to ask me to write for BLADE. Bruce and Steve were also instrumental in having me—sometimes with Bob Neal—conduct seminars for both custom knife collectors and makers at several BLADE shows.
At the 1988 BLADE Show, I set up for the first time. With the exception of the show in 1990, I had a table at each BLADE Show until 2011. Having a table at the BLADE Show was an incredible learning experience. It taught me that there is always more to learn about custom knives. Also at the show, custom knifemaker Dave Broadwell and I collaborated and came up with the final design for the MLR Sub-Hilt Fighter. Since then, Dave has made well over 100 MLRs for me in different configurations.
At the 1997 BLADE Show, the author talked to RJ Martin about making a few folders for him. RJ went home and came up with a knife he called the Q30. He later modified it and the result would become his signature model, the Q36, an iteration of which appears here. He went on to win the Best Tactical Folder award at the BLADE Show four years in a row. Today, RJ’s order books are closed. (SharpByCoop image)
At a mid-’90s Knifemakers’ Guild Show, I met a talented maker who at the time was making what I considered the finest Japanese tacticals in the world. However, at the 1997 BLADE Show we talked about him making me a few folders. He went home and came up with a knife he called the Q30. He later modified it and the result would become his signature model, the Q36. He went on to win the Best Tactical Folder award at the BLADE Show four years in a row. His name: RJ Martin.
At the 2015 BLADE Show I met Steve Randall and his wife, Alison. Steve reminded me a lot of the exceptional maker John White. Steve’s knives were clean, incredibly well made and fairly priced. Today, table 3R is always my first stop to check out his knives.
For me, there are many people I talk to throughout the year but I only get to see them once a year at the BLADE Show, and that makes the show even more special to me. Two of those fellow knife nuts are Jack Alsop and Alan Snow.
At the 1987 BLADE Show the author met Gil Hibben, who promptly invited the author and others to dinner. Hibben’s 50th Anniversary Bowie features mirror-polished 440C stainless steel and macassar ebony. The guard and pommel are brass. Blade and overall lengths: 9.5 and 14.25 inches. Hibben’s price for a similar knife: $1,900. (Robertson’s Custom Cutlery image)
What I appreciate most about the BLADE Show, aside from the knives, is the camaraderie of the people there. They are literally from all over the world. They are willing to share their knowledge that, for many, has taken a lifetime to acquire. Like I said previously, forget that place in Florida. The BLADE Show is the happiest place on earth. See you there!
Top custom makers from around the world showcase rarefied knives at the annual ABS auction.
Each year when the BLADE Show rolls into Atlanta, the American Bladesmith Society (ABS) holds its auction of selected knives forged by ABS master and journeyman smiths. Here is a gander at the knives that crossed the block at the exclusive auction! ABS master smith and instructor Brion Tomberlin serves as a director and secretary of the society, and he handles the ABS auction from start to finish.
“I choose the smiths, mainly from the recent journeyman and master smiths who have gotten their stamps that year,” he explained, “and I also ask other master smiths and journeyman smiths, basically whoever I can get to say yes! The proceeds go to the general fund of the ABS.”
Support for the ongoing educational activities and programs of the ABS is vital to the health and future of the craft. Participants are honored to be involved and have their handiwork sold at auction by ABS director Robert Wilson. For years, Wilson has served as the event’s auctioneer, and Tomberlin said he likes to go with experience. For this year’s auction, several outstanding knives, both by American and international bladesmiths, will be available.
International ABS Journeyman Smith Knife—Jeremy Yelle: Gentleman’s Bowie
Jeremy Yelle, a 22-year-old bladesmith from Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, is excited to be involved and to offer one of two international journeyman smith knife entries. “I truly love the ABS and what it does,” he said, “and I felt like giving it my first-ever journeyman smith piece was the honorable thing to do.
“I personally love the antique and classic look of older knives, which is why I chose to make a coffin-handle bowie. The handle is a coffin shape, which happens to be a partial takedown. It has several lineup pins, my textured and fire etched 416 stainless steel fittings and a 416 textured spacer.”
Jeremy has been making knives for about five years, and his mosaic damascus blade was inspired by the process he learned from ABS master smith David Lisch. The handle of Jeremy’s gentleman’s bowie is particularly noteworthy with Canadian maple burl from Maritime Knife Supply that he stabilized and dyed. The knife is completed by a protective case.
International ABS Journeyman Smith Knife Maker: Jeremy Yelle Knife name: Gentleman’s Bowie Blade length: 8.625 inches Blade material: Mosaic damascus of 15N20 nickel alloy and 1084 carbon steels Handle material: Canadian maple burl Overall length: 13.5 inches
International ABS Journeyman Smith Knife—Pablo Lanaspa: Bisaurin
The second international journeyman smith knife entry is from Pablo Lanaspa Ubeira from the small town of Berdun in the north of Spain. “I am very grateful to the ABS for bringing me the opportunity to make this knife,” he said. “Special thanks to Brion for his kindness and ability to help in every circumstance.”
Ubeira has been making knives since 2008, and this piece, a bowie-inspired design, comes with a zippered case. “I was already a collector and then started to make my own blades from recycled steel when I made a rudimentary coal forge and a small belt grinder,” he said of his earlier days. His knife features a blade with a hamon that is clay differentiated and hardened. The blade is also slightly recurved with a full sharpened edge on the back, while the wood used for the handle, Australian ringed gidgee, is a gift from Belgian ABS master smith Sam Lurquin.
International ABS Journeyman Smith Knife Maker: Pablo Lanaspa Ubeira Knife name: Bisaurin Blade length: 12 inches Blade material: W2 steel with hamon Handle material: Australian ringed gidgee wood Overall length: 17 inches
U.S. ABS Journeyman Smith Knife—Joshua States: Stylized Quillon Dagger
Can you think of a better name for a maker of a United States journeyman smith knife than Joshua States? Of New River, Arizona, Joshua fashioned his U.S. JS model as a stylized version of a quillon dagger. “The coffin-frame handle is a complex build, and the blade is flat ground on the bevels with a central fuller,” he explained. “I took my first class with Tim Hancock, and that was a game changer. Previous to that I had spent about a year trying to do things without any training or reference material.”
According to States, his JS knife was originally undertaken as a commission. “A customer had seen a similar dagger I had made in 2014 and wanted a copy of that knife,” he recalled. “Unfortunately, he passed away soon after I had made the blade, and I hadn’t started making any of the other parts. So, I was now free to redesign the handle/guard/finial.”
Joshua also made the leather sheath with minor decorative tooling and a multi-color dye job. The leather is 5/16-inch thick in a heavy oak tanned sole bend.
U.S. ABS Journeyman Smith Knife Maker: Joshua States Knife pattern: Stylized quillon dagger Blade length: 11 inches Blade material: Pattern-welded 1095 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels, and nickel Handle material: Pattern-welded frame/desert ironwood scales Overall length: 16.3 inches Sheath: Hand-tooled-and-stitched leather
U.S. ABS Master Smith Folder—Bill Burke: Lanny’s Clip
One of two U.S. master smith knives to be auctioned is a folder from Bill Burke of the Boise, Idaho, area. A custom knifemaker for 25 years, Bill pays homage to the late Tony Bose, BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® slipjoint making wizard, with a Lanny’s Clip pocketknife in a shark’s tooth damascus blade and mammoth ivory scales. “A lockbar and spacer of damascus are included,” Bill said, “with integral liners and bolsters.” The liners are fileworked and the knife comes with a zippered case.
U.S. ABS Master Smith Folder Maker: Bill Burke Knife name: Lanny’s Clip Blade length: 3.25 inches Blade material: Shark’s tooth damascus of 15N20 nickel-alloy and 1080 carbon steels Handle material: Mammoth ivory Lock mechanism: Lockback Closed length: 4.1875 inches
U.S. Master Smith Knife—Nick Rossi: Hybrid European Chef
Nick Rossi of Vassalboro, Maine, contributed an integral European hybrid chef’s knife with a 50-layer twist damascus blade and curly koa handle as the second U.S. master smith knife. Both blade and handle are fashioned in the 25-year-veteran smith’s signature styles. The blade is flat ground with a subtle convex edge, and the handle features a bronze domed pin and a G-10 spacer. “This is my favorite type of knife to make,” he said. “It features an integral bolster, which makes it stronger and gives it better balance. It was inspired by European chef’s knives with a little Japanese flavor.” The knife comes complete with a padded case.
U.S. Master Smith Knife Maker: Nick Rossi Knife name: Hybrid European Chef Blade length: 7.5 inches Blade material: A twist damascus of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels Handle material: Curly koa Overall length: 12 inches
T.O.M.B. Knife—Steve Culver: Fighter
This year’s T.O.M.B. (The Order of the Mystic Brotherhood) Knife is by ABS master smith Steve Culver of Meriden, Kansas. Culver has been an active knifemaker for 36 years, and his fighter was inspired by “all the cool recurve bowies that I’ve seen others make.”
In fact, the knife is Steve’s first venture into the recurve blade style. The blade is 220-layer ladder-pattern damascus, while the handle is Arizona desert ironwood with guard and spacer materials of anodized titanium and stainless steel. Steve also made the lined sheath, which sports lizard skin inlay.
T.O.M.B. Knife Maker: Steve Culver Knife pattern: Fighter Blade length: 8 inches Blade material: Ladder-pattern damascus of 15N20 nickel-alloy and 1084 carbon steels Handle material: Desert ironwood Overall length: 13.125 inches Sheath: Lined and features lizard-skin inlay
Goldie became the first female member of the Hall two years ago and, in the process, joined husband A.G. as the Hall’s only husband-and-wife team. A.G. is one of the few living founding members of The Knifemakers’ Guild and a treasure trove of information on the history of modern cutlery. Goldie basically runs operations at A.G. Russell Knives now and plays an active role in supporting the American Knife & Tool Institute and its goal of protecting the rights of all knife enthusiasts.
Want information on the history of knives in general? Knife industry legends Adams and Voyles can regale you with vintage tales of the knife industry, both domestic and international. Speaking of knife industry legends, Onion may be the world’s most famous custom knifemaker and has designed any number of knives for CRKT and other knife companies. A card-carrying member of knife industry legends, Holder has made knives since the 1970s and served as president of the Guild for a number of years and has worked closely with AKTI.
Glesser’s Spyderco has set sporting knife industry standards in introducing and/or popularizing such knife features as the hole in the blade for easy opening, pocket clips and serrated edges. Sal also has worked closely with AKTI.
Knife industry legends abound at the BLADE Show. Ernest Emerson not only is famous for his CQC-6 and CQC-7 folders but also for teaching self-defense courses to military and law enforcement officials worldwide.
Stop by and see J. Neilson of Forged In Fire for the latest on television’s hottest show on knifemaking. Visit with knifemaker Steve Johnson, who worked in the shop of the legendary Bob Loveless for several years and is now one of the world’s leading custom knifemakers. Talk to Al Pendray, the “Wizard of Wootz,” who rediscovered the method of making the centuries-old steel.
KNIFE INDUSTRY LEGENDS: Tony Bose, the world’s leading maker of custom slip joints and multi-blades. (Kerry Hampton image)
See the knives of Tony Bose, the world’s leading maker of custom slip joints and multi-blades. Talk to BLADE® Magazine field editors Kim Breed, Joe Szilaski and Ed Fowler. Hang out at the booths of CRKT, Spartan Blades, Spyderco, Kershaw and hundreds of others.
You never know what knife industry legends might stop by to visit with them—and much, much more, all at the 35th Annual BLADE Show.
See who took home the hardware from the 2023 Custom Knife Awards at BLADE Show.
As usual, the Custom Knife Of The Year® Awards at the June 2-4 BLADE Show at the Cobb County Gallery gather together some of the best examples of bladesmithing in the knife world. The difficulty was choosing which would rise to the top.
In a highly competitive field, a panel of expert judges sorted out the top knives in XX categories for the best of the best. Below are the winners, including the coveted Hugh Bartrug Best In Show.
Hugh Bartrug Best In Show & Fixed Blade: Vince Evans
Photo: Jocelyn Frasier
Best Fighter: Samuel Lurquin
Photo: Jocelyn Frasier
Best Kitchen Knife: Lucas Gumbiner
Photo: Jocelyn Frasier
Best Folder: Owen Wood
Photo: Jocelyn Frasier
Best Tactical Folder: Thomas Gony (Grind Tactical Knives)
Photo: Jocelyn Frasier
Best Handle: Fabio Barros
Photo: Jocelyn Frasier
Best Utility Hunter: Oliver Goldschmidt
Photo: Jocelyn Frasier
Best Slipjoint: Luke Swenson
Photo: Jocelyn Frasier
Best Damascus: CAS Knives (Sobral Brothers)
Photo: Jocelyn Frasier
Best M.A.C.K.: Shirogorov Knives
Photo: Jocelyn Frasier
Best Collaboration: Raul Sartorial Filho (Engraver) & Fabio Barros (Bladesmith)
Photo: Jocelyn Frasier
Best Art Knife: Mauricio Daletzky
Photo: Jocelyn Frasier
Best Bowie: Dionatam Franco
Photo: Jocelyn Frasier
Best Sword: Vince Evans
Photo: Jocelyn Frasier
Best Miniature: Chuck Gedraitis
Photo: Jocelyn Frasier
Most Innovative: GTC Knives
Photo: Jocelyn Frasier
Best of The Rest: Will Stelter
Photo: Jocelyn Frasier
Best New Maker: Zane Dvorak
Photo: Jocelyn Frasier
See Past 2023 Factory Knife Of The Year® Awards Winners:
