Blade Show 2019

Will you be at Blade 2019

  • Yes, all days

    Votes: 1 5.6%
  • Yes, one day

    Votes: 2 11.1%
  • Maybe

    Votes: 3 16.7%
  • No

    Votes: 12 66.7%

  • Total voters
    18
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Eastland is very close to the original but with modern materials, and Mike McCarter makes one that is nearly a clone with nicer handles. Both handled the original owned by Ethan Becker.

I probably have the closest clone. Made by McCarter out of materials of the era the Kepharts were manufactured to most closely match the Becker. Sawmill blades turned out to be the same thickness as the original so Mike used one from the late 1800s and some antique walnut I had from furniture of that time. As exact a copy as possible.
 
Definitely cool that you got one of McCarter's and incorporated some of your own materials. Ethan praised his work. I am very comfortable with the modernized Eastland version. I have the BK-62 and wanted something that was perhaps a "bit better". I really like the Becker version also. One of the things I wasn't concerned about was the grind matching the original. Kephart would have liked the new versions, I think.
 
I also really liked that some vendors had booths/tables outside the show doors. Basically, more choices for coffee and such.... Wish I could have met John Shirley, but to my knowledge didn't.

Short, fairly young-looking, looking like your best friend if I'm smiling. Maybe next time. :)
 

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I probably have the closest clone. Made by McCarter out of materials of the era the Kepharts were manufactured to most closely match the Becker. Sawmill blades turned out to be the same thickness as the original so Mike used one from the late 1800s and some antique walnut I had from furniture of that time. As exact a copy as possible.
Any chance on seeing some pictures and dimensions on that one HSO..?
 
My wife says I can go next year! How much time should I budget? Friday 2-close?

Greyling, Depends on what you want to do.

You've got a whole section of custom makers, most have one 8' table, I'd guess about 100 or more.
There's the major manufacturers all around the perimeter. Like Benchmade, Southern Grind, Kershaw, SOG, etc.
Then there are all the tool makers, grinders, belt sanders, kiln's, and engraving equipment.
Then there's all the parts suppliers. People selling various steels, handle material and other materials.
And then there are others. Tactical blade people, swords, holster and sheath makers and retailers, sharpeners (oh Lord, sharpeners).

So how much time do you want to spend with each of these? Want to talk to every custom maker? Want to pass the time talking to the 18' belt sander people to see which one is best? Want to try your hand at engraving? Or maybe your interest is in Japanese swords of which there were at least a dozen, some stateside, some from overseas.

Personally, I stop and chat with Emerson, Sypderco, and Southern Grind folks. Then wander around with my mouth hanging open at all the other vendors. That took me 2 hours this year just to do that much. But I was a bit rushed, family matters, otherwise I'd have stayed about 3 and I'd probably bought a Bad Monkey.

If you're coming from out of town, I'd plan on all Friday afternoon and then go back on Saturday morning to followup with your area of interests.

There are also seminars.
 
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How much time should I budget? Friday 2-close?

Bwahahahah

You have no idea what you're getting into.

Show up Thursday, hang around in The Pit Thursday night (look for me in the most blinding Aloha shirt), get in line for Friday, leave Sunday.

This is a singular event in the world.
 
It's going to be at least me and my wife making the trip, possibly the kids too. We have family in Atlanta so we will stay probably 3 days. (12hr drive to get there) if I take the kids I cannot stay as long. (They won't come to actual blade show though. I'll crack a window in the car for them ;)

I don't really have any interest in holsters, minimal in swords, but I just love knives. I can probably skip benchmade and Kershaw, their wares are everywhere, but I'd love to see the holt spectre, some real shirogorovs, grimsmo, nadeau, burger, boos blades, so many custom makers I have just now started discovering. I'd also like to see the Chinese companies: reate, steel will, we, etc, as well as Lion steel. Nobody carries those locally. I've also heard there are deals to be had. I'm planning on saving my pennies and showing up with cash and be like
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Sounds like a plan. There are manufacturers I never heard of at the show. I'm not talking custom makers, but quantity manufacturers. Even saw a company from Russia. And of course, makers from several of the Asian nations as well as Swiss and Scandinavia. Seminars and I think a butterfly knife contest or demonstration.

And I don't even come close to being a "knife" person, so there's probably a lot I didn't notice or appreciate. Big bummer I just realized I'll be in Alaska next during the show.

One BIG tip. Buy your ticket on-line ahead of time. The will-call line, and wait time, is probably 1/100th or less than the regular ticket line. I got there at 2:30 on Friday, and the ticket line was at least a hundred people long, ran down the stairs and out the door. Will-call had no one waiting and took only 30seconds.
 
Maybe next year. IIRC, I made it to the Blade Show in 2004, with a colleague, in 2005, alone, in 2007, with my son, and in 2016, with my nephew. My son told me we went again, but I cannot remember the exact year.

Our 2016 trip happened during some wild weather, which caused us to arrive two days later than planned, and weather would have been quite significant this year, too, had I/we made the drive. The South is not known for tranquil weather in early June!
 
Blade is always fun and great place to spend a bunch of money for stuff you really don't need especially if you own as many knives as I do.
 
I buy knives all the time if i see one i like,but i have never been to a blade show and bought one.
 
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