Reports: 2nd Annual ABS All-Forged Blade Exposition, Reno, NV

[Buddy Thomason]

Were you there? I'll kick this off but jump on in with your comments and images too.
Great show, in my view. Really nice size (50+ tables), good facility (Silver Legacy Resort/Casino), good enthusiastic crowd with cross-traffic from the other groups meeting at the same time (Gun Engravers Assoc. & Safari Club International) and world-class bladesmiths. The atmosphere was comfortable and the makers seemed relaxed and receptive making it easy and fun to just walk up, introduce yourself and have a nice chat. I especially enjoyed Steve Schwarzer's alligator wrestling stories and Larry Fuegen's infectious fascination with unique materials and art-nouveau disigns. The overall quality, table after table after table, was truly remarkable - kind of hard to take it all in. And sales were, as far as I could tell, very brisk. The ABS banquet and auction Friday night was a blast - over $23,000! The bidding war that errupted over a Bill Moran walking-stick with beautiful silver wire inlay drove the winning bid to $3,000! The winnner happened to be seated at the table where my wife and I wound up and it was breath-taking to watch that drama unfold up close and personal.
Our first interesting experience concerning the show happened before we even got on the plane in Denver. We were on a moving walk-way heading toward the security check area looking at some very nice display cases featuring all manner of artistic creations - and were shocked to see a gorgeous damascus quillion dagger in a glass case. Being early, we backtracked and I took the following picture:

That's my wife admiring one of Kirk Rexroat's masterpieces! When we got to the show I talked with Kirk about this brilliant stroke of marketing genius, in an airport no less! More to follow........

[Buddy Thomason]

......So we arrive at the Silver Legacy and the lobby is full of animals - the dead and stuffed variety - very fine taxidermy if you like that kind of thing. This was my favorite one though.....

Yeah, I know, "Let's see some knives!" Not to worry, more later.......

[Buddy Thomason]

There were some interesting presentations too. Terrible picture, I know, but here's Dan Winkler explaining how he created his "Cowboy Bowie" (with period sheath by Karen Shook).

Dan got into talking about the business of being a bladesmith. He explained that, on average, it takes about three years to cultivate a collector that's interested in his work. He's full time and disciplined in his approach to work - wonderfully talented and creative!

[Buddy Thomason]

Forgot to mention that Dan Winkler and Larry Fuegen were commissioned by the ABS to produce two outstanding knives for their raffle. (Anybody know who won? I had to leave before the drawing at noon on Sunday.) Dan and Larry collaborated on this presentation about how they each went about the project. Here's Larry and his exquisite damascus quillion dagger.......

Amazingly, Larry uses very little in the way of power tools, carving and engraving etc. by hand! Incredible........

[Keith Montgomery]

Thanks Buddy, but I want more, much more. Hopefully you got some nice pictures of knives.

[SharpByCoop]

Thanks, Buddy! Any views you share are a treat. Nice insights and pics.

Is that a porcupine??I'm SUCH a city boy that I don't remember that broad of a face. Amazing work, also.

Those knives are ALL top tier. Fill us in with more. I *know* you couldn't have walked away empty-handed.

You're a lucky man to have such an attractive wife. And she's interested in knives?? Man, it don't get any better!

Coop

[hammerdownnow]

In case you don't know Coop, buddy is a good lookin fella Well, you know, as far as guys go and stuff.... (I think he musta kidnapped her.) I had a good looking girl once....yup, yup....but she chewed thru the ropes.

[JossDelage]

Originally posted by Buddy Thomason
Amazingly, Larry uses very little in the way of power tools, carving and engraving etc. by hand! Incredible........

Actually, I asked him last year about his engraving and he said that he uses rotating tools.

[Buddy Thomason]

Here's something we brought home from Reno. It's one of Steve Schwarzer's creations, the sister to one he sold at the AKI Show last November in San Diego. Coop, I bet you photographed that knife! Schwarzer made only these two and said (predictably) that this one was his favorite. Yellow pearl carved handle with rubies and the damascus is so much more beautiful than I can capture so far in an image. Have a look:

It's true, I am lucky, my attractive wife just loves knives and this is her nicest one yet. Steve is friendly, engaging and helpful in many ways - not to mention 4+ entertaining, and he presented a small seminar on making damascus as well. His other knives were outstanding, especially the shark knife. Anybody get a picture of that one? Here are a couple of more views of this lovely knife.

I asked Steve what it was like to work with that yellow pearl and he said, "Nerve-wracking!"

[whv]

nice kick-off, buddy. thanx for the pics and the report.

[RogerP]

Thanks a lot for the report and pics!

Roger

[Buddy Thomason]

Catchin' up here after a busy week!
Coop - Yeah, that's a porcupine alright, the African variety unless I'm mistaken. Quite the odd creature and heckuva snout too! And my wife definitely loves knives (Great for me but bad for our budget!) If I don't get her a new knife every now and then she just takes one of mine! That yellow pearl folder should keep her at bay for a while.
Roc (hammerdownnow) - Sure, I'm about as good lookin' as that porcupine! You probably got some damage to your eyes from all that forging you been doing!
Joss - I stand corrected, thanks. Larry did make the point a couple of times that he doesn't use much in the way of power tools but I didn't specifically ask him what power tools he does use or for what purpose.

There was so much interesting stuff going on at the ABS show in addition to all the great knives. I'll mention a few things randomly and then post a couple of pics before hittin' the sack.

One amazing thing that happened was that the photographer hired by the ABS to be at the show didn't show up!!! I better not mention any names but apparently they thought the show was a week later than it was. There was a bit of a panic there for a while until somebody got the photographer who was doing the gun engraver's show downstairs at the Silver Legacy to agree to do some overtime work for the ABS. Sheesh!

Apparently some folks from ESPN are now actively talking with the ABS about doing a short segment that will fit in between some of their major programs! That's really good news because this relatively small high-end knife world needs to grow and specifically grow a secondary market so collectors can move/sell knives and make room for buying mo' betta' knives from all these incredible makers!

I overheard two very well-established and successful luminaries in the ABS saying that it was "scary" to see how truly accomplished many of the young makers had become in such a short time. They were not really being negative about it because they understood that this situation is the direct (and desired) outcome of the ABS's educational mission.

For the first time I saw a maker use a laptop to his advantage at a show. Jason Howell, JS, of Lake Jackson, TX had an informative 'slideshow' running on his table next to all his great knives and it got my attention from all the way across the room. I asked him about it and he explained that he'd noticed that he and many other makers had been in the habit of putting a photo album out on their tables at shows to help educate people about the different knives they make, awards they'd won, pictures of their shop etc. AND that typically most show attendees never really stopped to bend over and look through the album. He figured a laptop slideshow with the same images and info would do the trick and I think he's way right. Jason very generously donated one of his knives to the ABS for auction and I got such a kick out of his use of the computer that I determined to win that knife at the auction, and I did! I'll post a picture of it soon - it's based on his "deer head mosaic damascus." There's something else to admire about Jason too: Many will remember that he suffered a terrible and life-threatening laceration to his leg while testing the edge of one of his knives (rope-cutting) in preparation for his JS test, then subsequently had the guts to 'go public' and talk about how and why it happened. In doing this he provided a great service to everybody who deals with blades!

Well, even though my "attractive wife" shot our wad on that pretty yellow pearl knife, I had a need! You know how it is guys, I had a NEED, can I get a wittness, I'm talkin' 'bout I had a need for what I call a "BFB." That's right, a big f---in' bowie! Yes sir, and I was not going to be denied!!! I knew I had to see a certain man about my need - and that man was Mastersmith Mike Williams. Mike's business card says he's from Broken Bow, OK but he explained he actually lives outside of a little town near Broken Bow. That little town has a name that I can't even pronounce and Mike told me the name means "Starving Place" which we agreed was appropriate for the home of a real knife-maker. Mike is a driving force behind the ABS's cutting competitions and I've seen how dedicated and hard-working he is in support of the ABS and I respect him for that. Best of all he is a terrific and talented bladesmith. His work is super clean and his designs are ellegantly understated. I wish these photos were better but I didn't want to delay because I know you guys have your needs too - especially YOU, Keith! The blade is forged using what Mike calls his "River" pattern damascus.

[RogerP]

OUTSTANDING bowie!!

Roger

[Buddy Thomason]

Thanks Roger! Of course credit goes to Mike Williams, MS. (BTW -Sheath by Kenny Rowe)
One frustration that all collectors must feel at times is about the inability to purchase even a fraction of what he or she would like. I experienced this with regard to a beautiful all damascus folder by CKD's own Ed Caffrey, MS.
I'd love to lure Ed over here from his great CKD workshop forum to comment more about this knife (and his experience at the Reno show) and post a photo if possible. I really lingered over the knife, went back for a second look, etc. Of course it was beautiful and the fit/finish and general execution were outstanding. We only had a brief conversation but if I remember correctly (and hopefully Ed will correct me if I am mistaken) he commented that in lieu of the more common "jewels and filework" treatment, he used really cool little purple annodized titanium balls for thumb-studs and very nice texturing along the back-bar/spacer. This knife, and his work in general, sure got my attention!
One other random observation: Many collectors want to take something home for family when they go away to a big show like this one. Some makers address this need (and the need for folks to be able to purchase less expensive versions of their work) by bringing knives priced to fly off the table. Two examples come to mind - Mark Sentz, MS, noted for his fancy Moran-style folders, offers what he terms a "field grade" folder. It has all the quality and expertise he puts into his more expensive high-end folders but without the pricey materials, damascus and other bells and whistles. This is a good thing. Steve Schwarzer MS had three simple fixed blade knives for sale at $300 each - very nice and also a good thing from my view as a collector.
Taking this a step further, some makers offered very inexpensive non-knife hand-made stuff that really makes it easy for the collector to assuage guilt by taking something home for the spouse or kid(s). Audra Draper, MS (the first female MS by the way) nailed this issue with cool damascus pendants and cuff-style bracelets. Everything was priced well below $100 and we brought home one of each. I'll post pictures of these and some other stuff later.

[Tim Adlam]

Buddy,

This is one of the best show reports I've ever seen!
Hats off to you for sharing this and I'm looking forward to more!

...A side note...I thought I was alone with having a spouse who is an acknowledged knife-aholic...
We should get together about organizing a support group for victims like us!...

Tim