The IPA will be available at “The Pit” during the show.
The ultimate combination of brews and blades is back. Gabe Fletcher’s officially sanctioned BLADE Show Beer will once again be flowing at the 2026 BLADE Show in Atlanta, ensuring attendees can toast to the world’s finest custom steel with a craft pour engineered specifically for the knife community.
Fletcher, the founder of the internationally acclaimed Anchorage Brewing Company and an ABS apprentice smith, has spent decades perfecting the art of fermentation. In recent years, he successfully merged his two passions by launching a series of high-profile knife and beer collaborations with master bladesmiths like Neil Kamimura, Mareko Maumasi and Salem Straub.
That cross-industry synergy naturally evolved into the official BLADE Show Beer. Specifically engineered for the marathon weekend at the Cobb Galleria, the custom brew is designed to be a highly crushable, smooth-drinking India Pale Ale. Sitting at an approachable 4.5 percent alcohol by volume, it delivers a crisp, floral profile that provides maximum flavor without weighing down your afternoon on the show floor.
In addition to running the internationally known Anchorage Brewing Company in Anchorage, Alaska, Gabe Fletcher is also an ABS apprentice smith.
For those heading to Atlanta, the custom IPA will be readily available at every bar across the exhibition floor. It will also be stocked heavily at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly host hotel, making it the perfect refreshment for the legendary evening handle-swapping and storytelling sessions inside The Pit.
If you cannot make the trek to Georgia this year, you do not have to miss out on the celebration. Fletcher is partnering with craft beer delivery platform Tavour to ship a limited run of the official 2026 BLADE Show Beer directly to residences across 23 states. Whether you are buying custom steel in Atlanta or admiring your collection from home, grab a can and celebrate the intersection of top-tier brewing and elite bladesmithing.
BLADE Show’s home sharpens up for the event’s 45th Anniversary.
Longtime BLADE Show patrons, get ready for a brand-new venue. Calm your heart palpitations. The world’s largest knife show isn’t picking up stakes from Atlanta when it unsheathes its 45th iteration June 5-7. Simply put, the longtime home of our favorite edgy shindig is undergoing a massive $190 million facelift.
The Cobb Galleria Centre—now officially the Cobb Convention Center—is in the midst of a multi-year renovation to upgrade its facilities and amenities. While the project stretches into early 2027, it will be at its midway point when the BLADE Show doors open this June.
Diehard knifeaholics needn’t worry, the upgrade project won’t derail the aspects of the show you love. Factory knife debuts, the educational instruction of BLADE University (see sidebar) and action-packed demos still await show patrons. The BLADE Magazine 2025 Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards and the custom knife judging competition remain center stage. Furthermore, the American Bladesmith Society (ABS) will still name its latest master and journeyman smiths, and some of the best knives from the ABS, The Knifemakers’ Guild and unaffiliated makers will be on display in all their sharpest glory.
John Horrigan’s majestic fixed blade turned more than a few heads during the 2025 show. (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Additionally, the show floor welcomes more than 900 exhibitors from 35 countries, offering a global masterclass in modern cutlery. From the latest production folders and custom fixed blades to rare handle materials and high-tech shop equipment, the sheer volume of gear is staggering. All of this comes in the brand-new wrapper of the convention center, honing the BLADE Show to a razor’s edge.
The main exhibit hall and the ballroom—better known to the faithful as the Baller Room—are already complete. These renovations will immediately improve the show with new LED lighting, fixed concession outlets, renovated restrooms and an improved PA system. The Baller Room and lobby area also sport new wall coverings, chandeliers and carpet, while the rotunda has an entirely new look. While the show floor is unaffected, attendees will feel some impact. The renovation of the specialty shops and meeting rooms below and across from the main hall will run congruent to the show. This means BLADE University has a new campus. Look for classes in the newly constructed ballrooms just off the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly.
And for those who love the food, libation (lots of that), knife boasting and lie swapping of “The Pit”, that is slated to proceed unchecked. The sunken bar of the Waverly is untouched by hammers, saws or fresh sheetrock. Get your sleep so you can haunt it until cock’s crow.
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.
When the dust finally settles, the Cobb Convention Center will be a major boon. By 2027, showgoers can look forward to more than 50,000 square feet of new meeting rooms, event courtyards and indoor space. As the BLADE Show grows in global reach, its longtime home has the room to grow along with its marquee event.
Edge Of The World
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the BLADE Show in recent years is the global reach of the brothers and sisters of sharps. No one knife-specific event gathers more makers and companies from around the world—including the good ol’ U.S. of A—into one venue.
The outstanding international makers include: the CAS Brothers, Mauricio Daletzky and Javier Vogt (Argentina); Bertie Rietveld, Theuns Prinsloo, Henning Wilkinson and Neels van den Berg (South Africa); Franco de Souza, Rodrigo Sfreddo, Fabio Barros and Gus Cecchini (Brazil); Bruce Barnett (Australia); Kizer Cutlery, Reate and Ketuo (China); Koji Hara (Japan); Lionsteel, Alfredo Faccipieri, Fox Cutlery, Maniago Knife Makers (MKM) and Maserin (Italy); Damasteel (Sweden); Jens Anso (Denmark); Helle Knives (Norway); Jean-Louis Regel and Veronique Laurent (Belgium); Carlos Queiros (Portugal); Sergey Shirogorov (Russia); and Grace Horne (United Kingdom).
The Baller Room buzzed all three days of the show. The room comes with some notable improvements this year, including new carpet and wall coverings.
Some of the leading American exhibiting makers will be BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® members Bill Ruple, Steve Schwarzer and Harvey Dean; ABS master smiths Mike Quesenberry, Shane Taylor, David Lisch, Jordan LaMothe, Josh and Karis Fisher, and Andrew Meers; slipjoint makers Stanley Buzek, Tom Ploppert, Luke Swenson and Tim Robertson; Allen Elishewitz; Les George; Walter Brend; Strider Knives; Hawk Knives; Vince Evans; factory companies Spyderco, Case, TOPS Knives, Chris Reeve Knives, Spartan Blades, Pro-Tech, Microtech, Kershaw, Squid Industries, KA-BAR and Heretic Knives; and many more.
Knives Of The Year
BLADE Magazine Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards is the factory knife industry’s highest honors, pitting the companies’ sharpest designs again each other. In an effort to keep the awards’ distinguished position and recognize the changing landscape of the industry, BLADE Show added a new category for this year.
New for the 2026 competition is the Best Slip Joint category, breaking off the traditional design from the Best Imported Folder and Best American Made Folder categories. This is the third new category added in as many years, with Best Of The Rest created in 2025 and the Automatic Knife Of The Year sponsored by PVK.com that debuted in 2024.
New knives aren’t the only draw in Atlanta. Antique Randall knives and their collectors were in abundance at the show.
As in the past, the entries are limited to BLADE Show factory booth exhibitors, all of whom received the rules well before the show outlining the new changes. Like last year, the winners will be announced and presented during the BLADE Magazine Awards Reception on Saturday at 8 p.m. in the room on the floor above The Pit. The winners will be listed on BLADE’s blademag.com website after the awards reception, and a list will be posted outside the show entrance Sunday morning.
BLADE University
Get current on the latest knifemaking techniques and other trending sharp subjects during the 13th Annual BLADE University on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. See the sidebar for a complete rundown of classes, days, times and instructors.
Sponsored by Work Sharp, BLADE University has the most extensive schedule of knife, knifemaking and other instruction held at any knife show. For enrollment and other information, visit https://bladeshow.com/show-info/classes.
Custom Knife Awards
Among the most testing custom knife competitions in the nation, the BLADE Show Custom Knife Awards is one of the most coveted honors in knifemaking. In a continuing effort to keep it the premier award in the handmade knives, the competition’s categories have been expanded. Best Slip Joint has been split into Best Single-Blade Slip Joint and Best Multi-Blade Slip Joint categories, allowing more subtlety in judging the nuanced class of knives.
From left, Karen Shook and Daniel Winkler accept their Hall of Fame plaque after Kevin Holland (right) delivered their induction speech.
Leading industry authorities will pick the best custom knives by BLADE Show exhibitors in the annual knife judging competition, with the winners announced during the BLADE Magazine Awards Reception Saturday at 8 p.m.
The categories are: Best of Show; Best Art Knife; Best Bowie; Best Collaboration; Best Collaboration; Best Damascus; Best Fighter; Best Fixed Blade; Best Folder; Best Handle Design; Most Innovative Design; Best Kitchen Knife; Best M.A.C.K.; Best Miniature; Best New Maker; Best Single-Blade Slip Joint; Best Multi-Blade Slip Joint; Best Sword; Best Tactical Folder; Best Utility Hunter; Best of the Rest.
The competition is open to the show’s custom knife exhibitors only. The winners will be announced on BLADE’s blademag.com website after the awards ceremony, and a list will be posted outside the show entrance Sunday morning.
World Championship
The BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competition will be conducted by BladeSports International (BSI) and held in The Courtyard, the parking lot of the host hotel, the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly, Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Attendance is free to BLADE Show ticketholders.
Paul DiStefano always produces stunning work, which certainly goes for his 14-inch spiderweb mosaic damascus-bladed dagger, which he brought to the BLADE Show. That’s a carved buffalo horn handle, by the way. (SharpByCoop image)
For a second year in a row the men’s and women’s divisions were won by a husband and wife: Mr. and Mrs. Ben and Sue Ann Propst. The championship results were as follows: Men’s Division: Ben Propst (Niagara Specialty Metals), world champion; 2nd: Donavon Phillips (Spyderco); 3rd: David Moore (Pops Knife Supplies); and 4th: James Clifton (Spyderco). Women’s Division: Sue Ann Propst (Niagara Specialty Metals), world champion; 2nd: Lauren Kalns; 3rd: Sara Maly (Pops Knife Supplies); and 4th: Jo Carothers (Carothers Performance Knives).
Bali Grand Master
Top balisong flippers will vie for the title of “Grand Master” in the 10th Annual Battle for Bali Champion sponsored and conducted by Blade HQ.
BLADE Show ticketholders are invited to watch the competition on the second floor above The Pit of the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel on show Saturday from 12:45 p.m. to 2 p.m. Competitors will start flipping knives at 1 p.m.
When it comes to slip joints, Bubba Crouch is a must-stop at BLADE Show. His skinner, with a 3 1/2-inch copper san mai blade, came complete with a sheath by Will Anderson, with beadwork done by Kelly Faulcorer. (SharpByCoop image)
The top three finishers will receive prizes and all participants will get swag bags. Brycen Nelson flipped his way to the top of the podium in the competition, Steve Ash placed second and Landon Morrison third.
Cutlery Hall Of Fame
The BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall Of Fame® will formally induct its new members at 8 a.m. show Saturday in the Kennesaw Room of the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel. (At press time, the new members had not been determined. For updates, visit blademag.com.) Tickets are required ahead of time for the ceremony, which includes breakfast. Seating is limited. For ticket information, email [email protected].
What’s Next
The final BLADE Show-sponsored event for 2026 will be BLADE Show West, Oct. 9-10 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. For details, visit bladeshowwest.com. BLADE Show Texas 2027 will be March 12-13 at the Fort Worth Convention Center. Visit bladeshowtexas.com for more on it. And, of course, it’s never too late to start thinking about BLADE Show 2027 June 4-6 at the Cobb Convention Center in Atlanta. For details, visit bladeshow.com.
It’s easy to get mesmerized by knives at the BLADE Show, here at the table of Alex Hossom (left).
Editor’s note: Kizer Cutlery is The Pit sponsor. Work Sharp sponsors BLADE University. Nottingham Tactical is the lanyard sponsor. Hogue Knives is the housing sponsor. EKnives is the concessions sponsor. Vosteed is the Wi-Fi sponsor. The other sponsors are Heretic Knives, Reate Knives, Poikilo Blade, McNees Knives, Ketuo/Rike Knife, Artisan Cutlery/CJRB, Reate Knives and HORL Corporation.
Master smiths explore the symmetry, skill and survivalist roots of a classic.
It’s part adventure with a bit of notoriety and a dash of creativity. For the modern custom knifemaker, several styles are brought to life with history in mind. And the push dagger is one of them.
Maybe seldom seen, but always intriguing, push daggers trace their lineage to a bygone era when self-defense at the card table or on the street meant quick deployment from a vest pocket. For sure, that perspective spurs some custom makers to insert the push dagger into their repertoire while the stylized and subtle blend of blade and handle combine for a unique test of shop skill.
“They’re a backup tool,” explained ABS master smith and BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Steve Schwarzer. “They were typically carried in the 1700s and 1800s along with a one-shot pistol. After that shot, the push dagger was the next position. It’s been around for a long time as an extension of your arm with a blade, and it is hard to take away from somebody that is skilled in its use.”
Schwarzer’s featured push dagger with stag handle and evocative faces carved on both ends is 5¾ inches long with a 3¾-inch blade of mosaic damascus steel. He has actually made two push daggers in this style and designed another for Benchmade about 20 years ago. “For me, they’re fun, and that’s why I like to make them,” he commented. “I’ve always had a fascination about them and adapted my martial arts background to training with them. The design traditionally is with a very short blade, and in martial arts, it has to do with the alignment of the hand and arm bones, along with the shape of the blade, which is double-edged traditionally. Everything in nature is curved for an effective cutting surface.”
Harvey Dean Tejas
Why a push dagger? Harvy Dean (inset) puts it succinctly, “They’re just cool.” That certainly holds true for his Tajas push dagger, with an elegant feather damascus blade, 24k gold raised vine work and a fossilized walrus tusk handle. At 16 1/2 inchces in length, Dean gave himself plenty of knife to decorate. (SharpByCoop image)
Legendary master smith and Hall of Famer Harvey Dean enjoys the historical aspect as well. “They’re just cool,” he offered. “A lot of people made them back years ago, and there was the idea of concealing them in the vest. Some were made with nickel-silver scabbards and called lapel knives because they were pinned under the vest or coat lapel.”
Dean’s pictured Tejas push dagger is a departure from standard sizing, with an overall length of 16¼ inches, with an 11-inch ladder pattern damascus blade and handle of fossilized walrus ivory. But then, everything is bigger in Texas.
“I’ve always liked [master smith] Larry Fuegen’s push daggers, and his work has had a lot of influence on mine,” Harvey said. “You really make them like any other knife, and I usually do around two or three a year. I like to use ivory and damascus and a stag handle is next up. I don’t do many plain ones, and most of mine are with two-piece handles. As far as marketing is concerned, you’ve got to have that special person who likes them–but they do usually sell quick.”
Hawks Nest Custom Push Talon
Matt Hunter (inset) has always had a thing for concealed carry knives, but admits his mother-of-pearl handled push daggers were his first crack at the style of knife. Angular and wickedly attractive, the Nichols Slither Armor Core stainless damascus daggers were designed as a matching set with his HawkWing knife, also pictured. (SharpByCoop image)
Damascus blade, mother-of-pearl handle and variations on the push dagger theme highlight Matt Hunter’s work at Hawks Nest Customs. He is a huge fan of concealed carry knives and started down the road with a boot dagger, neck knife and then his Push Talon.
“I think any dagger is challenging due to the symmetrical grinds that are required,” he noted. “You’ve really got to nail each and every one of them or the entire build needs to be scrapped. These push daggers are made with Nichols Slither Armor Core stainless damascus and mother-of-pearl on Westinghouse black canvas Micarta liners. “Believe it or not, these were my first push daggers,” Matt added. “These were originally made for a customer to match the HawkWing, which is also in this photo. I told him I was planning on doing a pair of matching push daggers, and he asked if we could do the mother of pearl to match his knife. So, I obliged.”
Zack Jonas Totem
A study in starkness, Zack Jonas’ Totem push dagger grabs the eye with its clean lines and depth of damascus. That’s a san mai steel with laddered W’s and faces in a 1,000-layer laminate with pure nickel. Adding to its Spartan charm are its gold handle accents. (SharpByCoop image)
The Zack Jonas push dagger featured is his Totem model with a blade length of 4 inches and an overall length of 6½ inches. Its gold handle accents complement a san mai steel with laddered W’s and faces in a 1,000-layer laminate with pure nickel.
“The push dagger is one of the few knives that is actually designed to be folded into a tightly closed fist,” the master smith explained. “That means you have to make sure the handle comfortably conforms to the shape of the human hand in that unusual position. A push dagger is not a particularly functional tool outside the very limited frame of hand-to-hand combat; if you don’t have a secure grip when you need it, you’ve got a real problem.
“There are few makers that come to mind as design influences,” Jonas concluded. “[Master smith] J.D. Smith’s early influence on my career is never far from my hand or eye. I also think of Peter Johnsson’s work as I’m designing. He has never done a push dagger that I’m aware of, but I like to try and channel the way he conducts tension through his lines. Peter and [master smith] Kevin Cashen both come to mind when I think of the functionality in any dagger.”
Andrew Meers Rose Of Sharon
A bold mix of materials, Andrew Meers utilizes carbon fiber, stainless steel, gold and a splintered mosaic damascus to bring-together this 9-inch push dagger. The centerpiece of the knife is its elegant Rose of Sharron engraving with the gold backing. (SharpByCoop image)
Andrew Meers included a push dagger in his ABS master smith set, which was complete with forged trout iron texture engraved with pangolins. “Push daggers have a place in my childhood memory,” he related. “I remember seeing one at a museum and being fascinated. In retrospect, I think having mostly seen conventionally handled pieces in media and collections, the manner in which the hand engages the handle is what is attractive to me.”
Meers’ featured push dagger is his first with a carbon fiber handle and a groove in the blade. Its 7-inch damascus blade is framed in stainless steel, and the engraving depicts the Rose of Sharon with a gold-plated relief background. The entire push dagger is 9 inches long. Andrew produced his first push dagger in 2014 and has made several since. His longest measured between 23 and 24 inches.
Jean Potvin Romanesque
Since push daggers are illegal in Jean Pierre Potvin’s homeland of Canada, he had to come up with a clever trick to get his his Romanesque push dagger past airport security and to a buyer at a show in Las Vegas. His solution, remove the illicit handle and replace it with a toilet plunger handle. (SharpbyCoop image)
“This push dagger is Roman in style,” remarked Jean Pierre Potvin. “It came about quite by chance. I rarely design in advance when I create. I prefer to let my imagination run free and follow new ideas that present themselves during the making process. During the making, I saw that it had a somewhat Roman style, and I continued in that direction with this result.”
Potvin’s push dagger measures 8 inches overall with a 4½-inch blade of damascus in 15N20 and 1084 carbon steel. The handle is fashioned from stabilized walnut burl and brass furniture. He had previously made only one push dagger. That was in 2022, and it was much smaller. “I had a buyer at the Nashville knife show,” he remembered, “and I had packed it in my luggage to take there. But when I got to the Montreal airport, it was confiscated by airport security.”
Since push daggers are illegal in Canada, that experience inspired Jean Pierre to remove the actual handle and replace it with a toilet plunger handle the next time he traveled with a push dagger. He made it to Las Vegas that second time and reattached the original handle after arrival. “It’s really funny because it’s the same dagger, but having a cross handle makes it illegal,” he smiled. “Sometimes you have to use tricks to get what you want.”
Somehow, the push dagger and its adventurous history seem to fit right in with Potvin’s novel experience.
Check Out More Cool Customs:
Cool Custom: Tony Lewis’ Tribute Knife To Steve Dunn
Cool Customs: Rocco Nawrocki’s Knife For Sergeant Bunker
Celebrating its 30th birthday, the Kit Carson-designed M16 has an economical crossbar lock option.
It might seem surprising, but CRKT produced one of the most popular military knives of modern times. Here, we aren’t talking about issued blades, but working EDC options, typically purchased at a soldier’s local PX.
Aptly named, the M16 was the wire stripper, rope cutter, lid prier and snack slicer of choice for many a military man and woman from Kandahar to Kubal and Baghdad to Balad, and everywhere in between. And the unexpected warhorse is celebrating its 30th birthday this year.
CRKT isn’t allowing this momentous occasion to slip by, with the Kit Carson-designed folder having a pair of new models added to the series. The black M16-10XK and tan M16-10XD hues aren’t the eye-catching aspect of the new knives, nor are the models’ crossbar lock—it’s available on a few other models. Instead, the M16 model’s price tag should get fans of the folder excited.
Both models come in with a very affordable $48 MSRP, making them among the most reasonably priced options in the family of knives. This is particularly true of the crossbar lock models, which start at $75.
Enthusiasts or veterans looking to replace the blade they lost in the “sandbox” get a solid build out of the new M16s. Both models are outfitted with 3.03-inch 8Cr14MoV modified tanto blades, with titanium nitride finishes and sporting Veff serrations near the heel. The final aspect is wicked, giving the blade a highly aggressive cutting ability.
The blade deploys quickly, thanks to IKBS ball bearings and opens via thumbstuds or with a flick of the wrist, with the crossbar lock actuated. Note, the locking system is ambidextrous, rock solid and allows for single-handed manipulation. The handle is fiber-glass reinforced nylon, keeping the knife’s weight a very manageable 2.1 ounces.
CRKT has shown plenty of dedication to the M16 design and evolving it over the years. Early this year, the company dropped a balisong version of the knife, possibly the most unique riff of the time-tested design. In all, there are now 36 variations of the storied M16.
A couple of notes on the knife and its legacy. It was included on BLADE® Magazine’s top 10 tactical knives of the past decade in the early 2000s. Further, CRKT has created a video series on the knife’s design and military pedigree, with veterans and experts looking back on their time with the knife.
Forty-five shows in, the edge-travaganz’s remains the beating heart of the knife world.
Each year, the BLADE Show draws thousands as the knife industry’s perennially premier event. Now celebrating its 45th anniversary, BLADE Show has grown from humble beginnings at the Drawbridge Motor Inn in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, in 1982 to a hub that stirs enthusiasm, sparks lively discourse, facilitates buying and selling and energizes the world of cutlery like no other.
Knife enthusiasts and aficionados of all types, makers, purveyors, factory representatives and collectors have crowded the floor of the show regularly, from the greater Cincinnati, Ohio, area to the World Trade Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, to its present home in Atlanta. Memories have been made, deals struck and a rising tide has lifted all.
“We originally said we were going to do one show a year,” remembered Bruce Voyles, BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame® member and longtime publisher of BLADE® Magazine. “The goal was to make it more than a show. We loved the original venue in the Cincinnati area, but we outgrew it in two years, moving to 70,000 square feet in Knoxville by 1985 or so, with 700 tables, and then to Atlanta, where there is an airline hub and more international people were able to attend.
From the right, Bob Loveless, J.W. Denton and Myra and Durvyn Howard enjoy a dinner after a day on the BLADE Show floor. The show is as much a social gathering as it is an industry event. (John Denton image)
“Nobody had gotten such an incredible group of people together in one room before, and from it some amazing things happened,” Voyles reflected. “Sal Glesser of Spyderco came up with the idea for collaborations, and that really began at the BLADE Show as manufacturing people wandered into the handmade area–and it happened! We built the show on borrowing ideas from others and adapted it for all we could, trying to minimize mistakes we had seen in other shows.”
Through the years, the BLADE Show has been characterized by its exchange of ideas, vigorous commerce, displays of remarkable collections, professional demonstrations, honors for the industry greats and much more. Voyles smiled, “It just went gangbusters!”
And so, while the BLADE Show is in its 45th year, many have made the annual pilgrimage time and again. They acknowledge the impact the event has had on the knife industry and reflect on their memories and its true significance. The show has evolved, experienced growing pains and reached new heights of influence–but its dynamic energy has never waned, even in these days of the internet and instant access to information.
Knife Family Reunion
From the start, BLADE Show was red hot. Documenting the first show at the Drawdridge Motor Inn near Cincinnati, Ohio, the article from the July/August 1982 American BLADE estimates more than 7,000 knife enthusiasts showed up.
“The early BLADE Shows were run by Bruce,” commented ABS master smith and custom purveyor Dave Ellis. “Over the years, ownership has changed and the crowds have grown. Now there are two rooms to hold all of the table holders. The lines to attend start days in advance and eager folks flood in to be first to their tables of choice. The seminars have grown, and celebrities, musicians and folks from all walks of life attend with the expectation of purchasing that special piece they have saved all year for.”
During his active days as a bladesmith, Ellis attended shows with greats like Hall of Fame legend Bill Moran and master smith Jerry Fisk. He remembers sitting in “the Pit” at Atlanta’s Waverly Hotel, where friendships were forged and discussion flourished.
Hall of Famers Daniel Winkler and Karen Shook were attendees in the 1980s, and their first impressions were lasting. “It was overwhelming to know there were that many people making knives and to see the diversity,” Karen recalled. “The most striking memory is the sense of community and camaraderie. We did not know who the legends were at the time, but when we got to know them, we learned of a group of great talents with great passion for knives and the knife community.”
Among the aspects that set BLADE Show apart from other knife shows is the inclusion of factory knives. This has become an important part of the industry, as companies vie for the coveted Knife Of The Year award. Spartan Blade nabbed the honor in 2024 with its wicked Clandestina.
Karen fondly remembers sitting in the Pit. “It was like a family reunion. Almost every face became familiar. The show and the promotion of the same have attracted interested parties and given makers the opportunity to meet people and educate attendees as to why custom knives cost more than your typical hardware store hunting knife.”
Magic Of Knives In Person
When UK-based custom scissor maker Grace Horn attended her first BLADE Show in 2003, she was expecting her second child. “That child was conceived with the knowledge that I had to attend and not be too pregnant to do the transatlantic flight,” she laughed. “I have been attending every year since, and the changes have been fascinating. The fluxes of the industry are so much easier to see in a microcosm at a show … a snapshot of the industry at a point in time. Even in this world of increased social media engagement, nothing replaces the actual interaction between people. I love the sense of community that comes with the BLADE Show.”
Collector Chris Schluter agrees. “These days, so much of knife collecting takes place via social media,” he said. “It’s been great for sure–online sales, frequent interaction with makers and collectors. There’s still not a substitute, though, for meeting people in person and handling knives in person. For collectors, this is seeing your favorite makers in person and also walking by that table with a maker you’ve never heard of and stopping because something caught your eye. It’s not just meeting people during the show. It’s also after hours in “The Pit” and nearby restaurants and bars where people have time to chat. The BLADE Show is always something I look forward to, and I think many makers and collectors see the show as a sort of annual ritual that they really try to go to each year.”
From top, knives from Hall of Famer Bill Scagel, CAS and Hall memeber Bill Moran. Imagine seeing so many great creations in one case. Through the years, it’s become commonplace at BLADE Show. (Dave Ellis image)
That pervasive energy, the smiles and the renewal of each acquaintance team up with the latest across the knife world to make the BLADE Show even more relevant in today’s environment. “The BLADE Show has made the careers of custom makers,” declared renowned knife innovator Ernest Emerson. “Before the internet, how could you find out about custom makers and their knives? BLADE Magazine was it, and the readers of BLADE Magazine would go to that show. Still, there is no motivation like seeing what the other guys are making.”
Emerson’s following is proof positive that the BLADE Show complements a career. The throng that gathers at each show to purchase his knives and those of other makers gave rise to the lotteries that are commonplace these days.
“The BLADE Show has pushed the knife world to outer space,” assessed Loveless knives expert and purveyor John Denton. “People keep coming back because it has something to do with the love of custom knives—one on one with makers, dealers, collectors—we all love the same thing. So, it is so much fun to see everyone. It feels like family. We all come back because we have all we need at the BLADE Show. The future is here, and now, so I just hope the magic stays.”
BLADE Show launched during the golden years of custom knives in the 1980s. But don’t think the best years are behind. Contemporary makers, such as Brazilian Dionatam Franco, continue to wow with creations like his 2023 Best of Show dagger.
That magic was indeed, at times, like catching lightning in a bottle. “It was things like [Hall of Famer] Bob Loveless staying with Wayne Clay, and once the show ended for the day, we all went out to eat,” Denton commented. “Then, at the hotel, you just looked around the room, and the knifemakers of the world were all pretty much in the same place. You could listen to Loveless and [Hall of Famer] A.G. Russell discussing things. Over on the couch was [Hall member] George Herron. Then you saw Bill Moran relaxed next to him. It was all bigger than life.”
From Show To Spectacle
Les George was a young knifemaker when he attended his first BLADE Show at age 25. “I don’t know if I can say it’s better now because it’s been amazing from the very first time,” he remarked. “On top of being a trade show for knives, it’s the number one social event for this business. I see some friends only at the BLADE Show, even though I’m in touch with them all the time. The BLADE Show is a huge fixture in my life, and the whole year pivots around the June trip to Atlanta.”
Of course, many others would say the same thing. Like the proverbial sun, the BLADE Show is the center of the knife community’s solar system. Its atmosphere sheds radiant light on the industry. Its gravitational pull is virtually irresistible. Its intensity is nothing short of “white hot”.
A couple of master smiths—Jason Knight (left) and Dave Ellis (right)—rub elbows at the BLADE Show. (Dave Ellis image)
Through change and reinvention, the BLADE Show remains a driving force in its 45th year. And even though the computer screen and cell phone add to the communication milieu, those who know what the BLADE Show is will accept no substitute. Here’s to 45 more years.
Women are leading the rise of knife throwing across the country and the world.
As an accessible and affordable hobby, knife throwing is seeing a surge in development and an astounding cultural impact. Since my first knife-throwing tournament over 30 years ago, the sport has steadily grown. One of the largest gatherings of knife throwers began in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, guided by knife designer and champion thrower Joseph “Brokenfeather” Darrah. Now known as Brokenfeatherpallooza, it has evolved into a top national event.
The Quaker State event isn’t alone in rallying throwers in the spirit of camaraderie and friendly competition. The Columbia City, Indiana-based Dangerfest—led by online knife-throwing sensation Brandon “Danger” Dillon—has become a mainstay on the throwing circuit.
It’s unsurprising these major events have taken root where they have, given throwing’s deep roots in the region. Michigan is among knife throwing’s historic epicenters, thanks in large part to BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame® member Harry K. McEvoy. As a result, the state has long been home to devoted McEvoy and Tru Balance knife enthusiasts. During my time at the helm of the Tru Balance Knife Company, I met countless throwers—many of them members of a group known as the Michigan Blade Throwers. This group held frequent tournaments and became a driving force in the regional throwing community. From this large and passionate collective emerged a group of women who would soon redefine knife throwing in Michigan and beyond.
Among the attractions women have found in knife throwing is empowerment, stress relief and camaraderie, according to the author.
Birth Of A Movement
In 2015, Kelly Grove launched Women With Knives (WWK), igniting the world’s largest women-only knife-throwing league. What began as informal backyard sessions with her husband, Jeff, quickly evolved into a grassroots movement. Long before entering the competitive circuit in 2019, Kelly was already building the sport. In 2018, she organized her first league event, the Gung-Throw, which later became the now-iconic Battle of the Blade Maidens. Kelly’s influence extends even further. A founding member of the Michigan Blade Throwers, she helped establish the state’s first Throwstorm Tournament in 2020. Recognizing the importance of preserving and growing the community she had created, she converted WWK into a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization in 2021.
Kelly officially retired from competitive throwing and league leadership in 2023 but continues to guide WWK as a member of its Board of Directors. Upon stepping down, Kelly appointed Dawn Solomon as Chair and Executive Director of WWK. Under Dawn’s leadership, WWK continues to set record-breaking benchmarks for women’s participation in competitive knife throwing.
Dawn, who entered the sport in 2019, is a dedicated competitor and a member of the Michigan Blade Throwers. Together with her husband, Tim, she operates MBT Range, the largest outdoor throwing range in Michigan. MBT has grown into a hub for seasoned athletes and newcomers alike.
Most women’s knife throwing organizations began as grassroots endeavors. The inspiration of WWK, for instance, came in founder Kelly Grove’s backyard in informal throwing sessions with her husband.
Membership in the WWK is diverse. Teachers, nurses, small business owners, corporate executives, stay-at-home moms, retirees and more fill its ranks. This includes throwers of all ages, ethnicities, fitness levels, abilities and disabilities. All find a place within the league.
The attraction of knife throwing is as distinct as WWK’s members. For some, it’s a release of daily stress; for others, a confidence booster. For practically all, slinging steel is a way to forge lasting friendships. Adding to the escapism knife throwing allows, each member adopts a unique alias. These are proudly displayed on league T-shirts—adding an element of fun, freedom and identity to the experience.
At its core, WWK empowers women by teaching the art of knife throwing while fostering strength, confidence and community. Whether members aspire to compete in sanctioned events or simply want to unleash their inner warrior in a supportive environment, the organization offers a place to belong.
More than holding their own, women have become among the top competitors in all ranks of knife throwing competitions.
Today, WWK continues to thrive under the guidance of a dedicated Board of Directors and leadership team who share Kelly and Dawn’s mission. Together, they travel the country competing, coaching and championing the sport—ensuring knife throwing continues to grow and welcomes new women into the community.
Live Nationwide
Women have also stepped forward to lead major tournaments across the country. One such event is Blades Out Or Bust (BOOBS), founded by Jessica Gold McClain. A longtime supporter and advocate of the sport, Jessica—also known as “Goldi Lox”—sponsors at least two tournaments annually near her home in Bastrop, Texas.
For Jessica, the passion for knife throwing began in her teenage years. She spent countless hours honing her skills in a friend’s backyard before eventually setting up her own target at home. When she began competing, she was often the only or part of a handful of women at most events.
After a five-year hiatus from the sport, the seed was planted for what would become a powerful new community. In 2019, Jessica founded the Bladed Sisterhood with a bold vision: to unite women around the globe who share a passion for blades. This small idea has grown into a thriving international network where women connect, learn and celebrate knife, tomahawk and axe throwing.
Michigan is among the knife throwing epicenters and, as the author points out, is the home to WWK and other women-focused knife throwing organizations. (Felicia Mulder image)
The organization’s dream is ambitious—to see these disciplines recognized worldwide, including as Olympic events. Until then, the Bladed Sisterhood continues building a community that inspires women, celebrates skill and honors tradition.
While women like Kelly and Jessica built strong foundations at home, others were already taking knife throwing onto the world stage.
Throwing Goes Global
One of those women is Melody Emel, a multi-award-winning champion with more than two decades of experience in the sport. After attending stunt school, Melody developed a deep interest in Western arts, which naturally led her to knife throwing.
Far from an American endeavor, knife throwing has become a global phenomenon and has seen a large influx of women throwers worldwide. (Dawn Soloman image)
Following multiple first- and second-place finishes in major tournaments, Melody founded Blade Aces in Las Vegas to serve and grow the local throwing community. In 2015, she traveled to Europe to compete in the Eurothrowers World Championships for the first time, marking a significant milestone in her international career.
Melody’s passion for both throwing and teaching continues to drive her involvement in events around the world. She actively supports competitions that empower women and raise funds for breast cancer awareness and other causes dedicated to uplifting women.
From backyard grassroots to the global stage of professional competition, women have redefined the sport. With a growing international network and a dedicated leadership, the future of female knife throwing is certain.
Remembering a dedicated craftsman of the Fujisaka lineage known for his tactical precision and collaborative artistry.
Keith Derrick Ouye, award-winning knifemaker of Honolulu, Hawaii, passed away on October 5. He was 80.
A stocky, happy guy well-liked by both knife enthusiasts and his knifemaking peers, Keith primarily made tactical knives, though he also built hunting knives to sell at local gun shows. In addition, he made fancy folders, often with fine engraving by Bruce Shaw, C.J. Cai or Lisa Tomlin. Keith exhibited his work at the BLADE Show and other top knife events over the years. Like many Hawaiian knifemakers, he was a student of BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Stanley Fujisaka.
Born in South Hilo, Hawaii, Keith lived in Hawaii Kai on the island of Oahu. “I spend most of my day working on my knives,” he wrote in his mini-bio on the Arizona Custom Knives website. “With assistance and guidance from Stan Fujisaka, I started to make fixed blades in early 2004. By the end of 2004, I also started making folders. I began making knives full-time in 2005.”
Keith was a big believer in sole authorship, noting “except for the screws, dowels, standoffs and pivots, I fabricate the rest of the knife myself.”
Remembering Others The Knife Industry Has Lost:
Betty Dowell, Driving Force Behind Knifemaker Ted Dowell, Passes
B. R. Hughes, Pioneering Writer And Bladesmithing Teacher, Passes Away
