BLADE Magazine

Allow the BLADE Show West staff to help you decide why you should attend the 2nd Annual BLADE Show West, Nov. 1-3 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland.

In fact, staff members have been studying ways to inject some Vitamin C—as in C for Cut—into proceedings, and I think they have hit on new attractions that will make your decision whether to attend easy.

1) A New Cutting Competition

First is the chef’s knife cutting competition. Instead of holding it during show hours, we’re going to do it after show hours on Saturday (see details at bladeshowwest.com).

Ethan Becker, who knows chef’s knives quite well from his four decades of writing and editing the world-famous cookbook, Joy of Cooking, and knives in general through Becker Knife & Tool, will oversee the event.

The foodstuffs, they will be a flyin’!

2) Knife Critiques

Second of the new attractions will be the seminar, “Let the Pros Critique Your Knife.” The pros will consist of award-winning knifemakers/show exhibitors Murray Carter, Bill Harsey, David Lisch, Bill Ruple, Brian Tighe and Mike Tyre.

Since critiquing a knife properly takes time, this will be a limited seating event. Attendees may bring one knife only and attendee sign-ups will be held onsite.

If I were a hobbyist knifemaker of even a long-time one, I would love to have one of the makers on our panel point out what I was doing right and what I was doing wrong.

3) See the Real Bowie Knife?

Third of the new attractions will be the seminar, “Bowie’s Bowie: The Best Candidate,” as well as an exhibit of the candidate in question.

Dale M. Larson, author of the book The Knife Behind the Curtain: The True Story of Actor Edwin Forrest, James Bowie, and the Blade that Binds Them, will both exhibit the Edwin Forrest Bowie during the show and also deliver a seminar all about the knife.

Where to Get Tickets & More Information

Everything you need to have fun at BLADE Show West is at bladeshowwest.com.

Add this to the list of ways Portland, Oregon, is a unique American metropolitan: the city is ground zero for the custom and factory knife industry. BLADE Show West, coming Nov. 1-3 to the Oregon Convention Center, showcases why.

Portland’s Best Knifemakers & Knife Companies Will Be There

This knife show isn’t just an extension of the world’s largest annual knife show in Atlanta; it’s an opportunity for the Portland area to support local businesses specializing in centuries-old craftsmanship. Of more than 215 total exhibitors, dozens of Portland’s knifemakers and knife designers will be displaying their creations, from hand-crafted chef’s knives to innovative pocketknives designed to make everyday tasks easier.

BLADE Show West attendees get to connect with those knifemakers, see unique knife collections not available online and pick out their new favorite knife.

“When people ask me why they should attend a knife show for the first time, I like to tell them two things,” said Steve Shackleford, editor of BLADE magazine, the world’s foremost knife publication since 1973. “First, you’re going to be surprised by the creativity and the craftsmanship. It’s like you’ve never seen real knives before.

“Second, these knifemakers are independent businesses. When you buy a knife from someone who spent days or weeks making it by hand, you’re putting a roof over their head and food on their table.”

That rugged spirit and sense of community are what bring people to events like BLADE Show West. It’s also why knifemakers are so eager to share their appreciation for blades. BLADE Show West will host demonstrations, competitions, awards, and even an after party complete with food trucks and beer.

“That it could all happen in Portland, home to so many knifemakers and knife companies, is a terrific thing for the area and the West Coast in general. The entire knife community will be there,” Shackleford said.

More than 215 total exhibitors will be at BLADE Show West. Here’s a lineup of Oregon favorites:

A+M Knives
Benchmade Knife Co.
Big Brown Bear
Carter Cutlery
Cascadia Cutlery LLC
Chuck Cook Knives
CRKT
David Kurt Handmade Knives
Dragonfly Forge
Ferrum Technology
Freeman Outdoor Gear
Gerber Gear
integrity implements
Joe Edson
Kershaw Knives/ Zero Tolerance Knives
Leatherman Tool Group
LinchPin LLC
Matt Cook/PinoyKnife
Navarrete Knives
Nitzan Lilie
Northwest Knives & Collectibles
OOAK Forge
Rogers Kustoms
Spake Handmade Knives
TF Blades LLC
Tuch Knives

Buy Tickets Online & Save Up to $10

To attend, buy tickets online before the event to save up to $10 at bladeshowwest.com.