Short, long, thick, thin—and we’re not talking about the wide variety of knives at BLADE Show. No, we’re talking about facial hair that made men nod and women blush. The beards of BLADE Show impressed all! This collection is only a small representation of what we saw at the show. We don’t care about the ebbs and flows of fashion or laboratory tests on what’s found in beards, which frankly only tell us that bearded men live life to the full extent of their whiskers! Here at BLADE, we only hope the tradition continues.
The beards of BLADE Show impressed all. This example of a full beard is combined with longer hair for a decidedly not-hipster, backwoodsy look.Another Bandholz, only this one with shorter hair, could be seen at the Chris Reeve Knives booth. We also liked the hat adornment. We guess BLADE Show had something to do with knives, but back to beards…Lou Goodman of Abraham & Moses Survival Equipment sports a neat Van Dyke, which is any mustache-beard combo but with cheeks clean-shaven.We liked the gradations of red in this full beard on Larry Roberts, “Alone” Season 2’s runner-up.Ever see a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert? We found this full beard-long hair combination, if we remember correctly, at Zombie Tools.These old-school gentlemen at Al Mar offered two styles of white whiskers and we loved them both!At Rustick Knives we found the warrior tradition expressed in a samurai-esk ponytail and full beard on the owner of Harp Leather.Dave Wenger, owner of Wenger Blades in Hudsonville, Michigan, rolled with a Hollywoodian, which from what we can figure is a trailback that meets up with sideburns. Who cares what they call it; we like it!Dan “Jake” Jaquay of KME Sharpeners chilled out on Sunday at BLADE Show with his flame-red chin tresses.Our photographer went back more than once to try to capture the wildness at White River Knife and Tool, but could never seem to catch Matt C. and Alan N. at the same time. Fortunately, they caught wind of our mission and sent this along. Double-YES!Officially a Van Dyke, the goatee on this show attendee is going as far as it wants.Eli Gautreaux of Jerry Hossom Knives checked out the Knife of the Year Award entries in the lobby.A show-goer seems to be having a good time while we admire his Hollywoodian done to full length.We found that bearded men tended to have bearded friends, so we often got twofers!A barback at Key Bar caresses the whiskers.These two show-goers worked the man buns, ear stretcher and shades.As much as we tried to capture bearded men unaware, they often knew they were being watched.This lucky winner at the Ernest Emerson Custom Knives Lottery almost looks like he is starting a French fork-style of beard. Ernie looked as debonaire as always.Ken Hunt of Attleboro Knives in Idaho sports a salt and pepper Van Dyke.Another lucky winner at the Emerson Knives Lottery, Sevag Tankian, rocks a distinctive full beard.Stephan Fowler of Fowler Blades paired his full beard with a tactikilt one day, but, well, that’s a story for another BLADE Show.This luxurious white Van Dyke was worn well by a gentleman attending the Emerson Custom Knives Lottery on Saturday.We always enjoy talking with new knifemakers…oh, and look, a beard. We hope to see this knifemaker back again next year, along with many others. Like and Follow “Erin at BLADE” on Facebook for guidance on how to get your knife into BLADE Magazine.A righteous beard! If a knife doesn’t catch your eye at BLADE Show, we’re thinking a beard or two might.Be sure to plan for BLADE Show 2018 starting now. You know there will be plenty of knives, and if there’s ever an exhibition of beards, this is the place!
This three-book set will be referred to repeatedly by those both new and established in the knifemaking craft.
Did BLADE Show 2017 get you pumped for knifemaking? This two-paperback, one-e-book set will answer question for those new to the art, while also reaffirming or acting as a review for those more established in their craft. Included are: “How To Make Knives,” “The Wonder of Knifemaking” and “Wayne Goddard’s $50 Knife Shop, Revised.” Normally this trio would cost you $99.97, but you can get it now for $34.99.
Long-time knifemaker and knife-thrower Bobby Branton will demonstrate how to throw knives at the 2013 BLADE Show May 31-June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.
As he has done at the BLADE Show for many years, Branton will bring his knife-throwing target and assortment of his custom Pro-Flyte throwing knives. He also has thrown tomahawks on occasion in his seminars. Word is he might be throwing some new factory hawks at this year’s BLADE Show, too.
Bobby Branton (left) discusses knife throwing with patrons during his seminar at the 2012 BLADE Show.
Branton’s seminars are always casual and impromptu. He chats informally with his audience and encourages questions, comments and other open dialogue. It’s a seminar suitable for the entire family.
In fact, you never can tell who might show up for one of Bobby’s seminars. Past special guests have included Ernest Emerson, among others.
Branton has been active administrating the American Knife Throwers Alliance over the years, and has hosted many knife-throwing events near his shop in Awendaw, South Carolina.
Branton will throw his knives during his seminar the Saturday of the BLADE Show at 10 a.m. in “The Courtyard”—otherwise known as the parking lot of the host hotel, the Renaissance Waverly. Admission is free to all BLADE Show ticket holders.
Two weeks from tomorrow, the 31st Annual BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com), the world’s most important knife event, will go down June 8-10 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia.
Join the over 900 exhibitors that include knifemakers, knife companies, knife accessory companies, knifemaking suppliers, purveyors, swordsmiths, sheath makers, knifemaking equipment manufacturers—in other words, everything that has to do with stuff that cuts—at the biggest knife party anywhere. Show times will be Friday, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
In many ways the show starts two weeks from today, Thursday, June 7. That is the day many of the exhibitors start arriving to set up in the mammoth Cobb Galleria Centre show hall, and patrons start arriving to meet and greet their fellow knife enthusiasts for the coming three days of non-stop cutlery revelry.
Here’s hoping you’re one of them!
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 American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI) won a Blade Magazine 2012 Industry Achievement Award® for stellar work in the area of pro-knife legislation at the recent BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) in Atlanta.
Another organization receiving a Blade Magazine 2012 Industry Achievement Award was Knife Rights, also for its efforts in protecting Americans’ right to own, use and carry knives.
Accepting the award on behalf of AKTI was AKTI Executive Director Jan Billeb (pictured above). “It was a real pleasure to accept the Industry Achievement Award from BLADE® Magazine on behalf of the AKTI Board of Regents and all members of the American Knife & Tool Institute who have diligently worked since 1998 to ensure that our liberties to make, own or use knives or edged tools have not been further restricted, and to successfully remove knife law restrictions. We are pleased that BLADE Magazine recognizes the achievements of our organization on behalf of the knife industry and all knife owners,” Billeb said. “There is still a lot of work to be done to make reasonable and responsible changes state by state and we appreciate the support of the entire knife community.”
In May, the Louisiana governor signed AKTI-supported legislation that made it clear that a knife with a bias toward closure is not an illegal switchblade. Bias-toward-closure language is a concept that has stood the test of time since AKTI introduced it in California over a decade ago, an AKTI press release reported. Several states, including Texas and Kansas, have since adopted it, as well as it being incorporated into the Federal Switchblade Act. This language clarifies that assisted-opening knives are not classified as “illegal” switchblades or gravity knives. More information about the bias-toward closure-concept and AKTI’s past successes recognized by BLADE is available at www.akti.org
AKTI is working with legislators in South Carolina to pass pre-emption language, Pennsylvania to remove all knife restrictions, Michigan to remove the switchblade prohibition and other restrictions, Alaska to incorporate the bias-toward-closure language, as well as in several other states to remove or lessen knife restrictions.
In an interview after the ceremony AKTI President Bill Raczkowski commented, “Thanks to BLADE Magazine for honoring AKTI with an Industry Achievement Award acknowledging the proactive efforts of our organization. Our members sincerely appreciate the many ways that BLADE Magazine and the BLADE Show help us spread the word about the importance of AKTI’s efforts to keep knives in American lives.”
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/?r+ssfb062812 for more information.
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!
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.
The Zero Tolerance 0888 was the BLADE Magazine 2012 Overall Knife Of The Year®. (Point Seven photo)
The world’s most important knife awards—the BLADE Magazine 2013 Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards—will be named next week at the BLADE Show & Living Ready Expo (www.bladeshow.com).
Set for May 31-June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, the BLADE Show & Living Ready Expo attracts knife manufacturers and knifemakers from all over the world to display and sell their knives.
Companies that rent booths at the show are eligible to enter knives and/or accessories in the Knife-Of-The-Year Awards competition, which includes categories for 10 factory knives, one accessory and two individuals who have furthered the betterment of the knife industry.
The Knife-Of-The-Year categories are: Overall, American Made, Imported, Most Innovative American Design, Most Innovative Imported Design, Manufacturing Quality, Best Buy, Investor/Collector, Kitchen Knife, Knife Collaboration, Accessory, Publisher’s and Industry Achievement. The winners will be announced the Saturday night of the show during the BLADE Magazine Awards Banquet in the Cobb Galleria Centre (tickets required). The winners will be listed outside the BLADE Show office in the Galleria Centre the morning after.
There is a Knife-Of-The-Year Display Area in the BLADE Show hall for entrants to display their knives. New for this year, the display area will be in the back left of the show hall as opposed to the former location in the center of the hall. There, show patrons can look at all the individually displayed knives, many of which will include accompanying information on blade steel, handle materials and more. Entrants may also display their entered knives at their booths, though that is optional. Representatives of each company may stop by the display to examine and vote on the knives for the awards. Voting begins the Friday of the show and ends Saturday.
For more on the awards, stay tuned to www.blademag.com and/or see the November issue of BLADE®, on newsstands Aug. 13.
