Blade Show 2010
Once again the annual Blade Show as held in the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta, GA June 4-6, 2010. I had a table at the show this year so I did not have the opportunity to shoot many pictures except for the cutting competition for my review that will be published in Blade Magazine.
Attendance and sales were off again for the second year in a row and for the first time that I can remember the show was not sold out. Perhaps the heyday for the Blade Show, and maybe knife show in general, has passed.
My table
Cliff Fendley
One of my favorite
knifemakers, Ronald Best
The world Cutting
Championship was again held in the courtyard. It was a great competition. See my
review in an upcoming issue of Blade Magazine. Here, Dan Keffeler attacks a
vertical 2x4.
The cutting competition is
an International event. Here are Ed de Pauw from Holland (left) and Ian Allen
Rowlandson from the U.K. (right)
The 2010 World Cutting Champion was Ted Ott
In the evenings the party
moves to the "pit", the bar area of the Waverly Renaissance Hotel. Those who
want to enjoy a cigarette or cigar move outside. After all, NOBODY wants to be
around smoke (yeah, right)
Legendary knifemaker Ed
Fowler holds court
Everyone seemed impressed
when I pulled up in my Lamborghini (not)
As usual, it was a fun show. All of the knifemakers only get together once or twice a year so It's always great to see old friends and make new friends. It is a shame the the show attendance and sales have dropped off. Several knifemakers told me they would not return next year. I will probably go but I won't have a table next year. I think there are just too many good local shows these days to justify the travel and expense of the traditional big shows. Times, they are a changin'.