Shot show—anyone been?

Abefroman55

Abefroman55

Joined
Sep 14, 2022
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I plan on going to the shot show in Vegas next month. Their website lists a bunch of different types of military/law enforcement/medical equipment and the likes…..but they don’t mention anything about knives. I know there is at least a minimal knife presence because I see YouTube videos with people at shot show.

I’m more of a knife guy than gun guy…. Will I be overly disappointed going there? Has anyone ever been and lend some opinions on how it is in reference to the knife market. Is anything for sale ?

Sorry for the noob question, thank you in advance for any info.
 
Abefroman55 said:
I plan on going to the shot show in Vegas next month. Their website lists a bunch of different types of military/law enforcement/medical equipment and the likes…..but they don’t mention anything about knives. I know there is at least a minimal knife presence because I see YouTube videos with people at shot show.

I’m more of a knife guy than gun guy…. Will I be overly disappointed going there? Has anyone ever been and lend some opinions on how it is in reference to the knife market. Is anything for sale ?

Sorry for the noob question, thank you in advance for any info.
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Unfortunately I don’t meet the requirements to attend. Looks like fun if you’re a gun nut. I know knife companies are there but I was under the impression individual sales don’t happen. It’s a trade show for companies to make connections and get their items in stores more than pitching to the general public.
 
I went many years ago, when they still had it in Orlando on occasion. As mentioned above, it is a trade show, not open to the general public but only those in the industry or media, and it is a place for companies to showcase their products rather than have individual sales.

The knife companies will certainly have a presence there however. It's the Shooting Hunting Outdoor Trade show, and it has everything imaginable under that umbrella. If you are into outdoor gear there is much to see (much more than you can see in a day actually). I was able to go because of a small business I was affiliated with at the time, and I was certainly not disappointed. Felt like a kid in a candy store to tell the truth. YMMV
 
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Lots of knives at SHOT. I haven’t been there in years but it traditionally is an epic show.
 
Last time I was there 6 years ago, there was a good mixture of blades and firearms.

There were a few booths that looked like they were flogging BudK stuff, but the other offerings made up for it.
 
Abefroman55 said:
I plan on going to the shot show in Vegas next month. Their website lists a bunch of different types of military/law enforcement/medical equipment and the likes…..but they don’t mention anything about knives. I know there is at least a minimal knife presence because I see YouTube videos with people at shot show.

I’m more of a knife guy than gun guy…. Will I be overly disappointed going there? Has anyone ever been and lend some opinions on how it is in reference to the knife market. Is anything for sale ?

Sorry for the noob question, thank you in advance for any info.
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You might want to save the trip for Atlanta, Georgia Blade Show.
 
You can look up retailer's coverage of past SHOT shows, Blade HQ and Knifecenter usually do a great job on their YouTube channels. It's typically the time when companies reveal their new catalogs and make sales to distributors.

As others have said, it's not a knife or gun show like Blade Show is. It's not open to the public, you need to be part of the outdoor industry to attend. If you do somehow get in, you won't be able to buy anything and walk out with it that day, and many retailers don't take kindly to looky-loos who waste their time there, since their goal is to set production and distribution contracts for the year.
 
Alright cool, thank you very much for all the responses. I’m excited to check it out….but next year is definitely Blade Show!!!!
 
Worked about 10 SHOT Shows, plenty of knives but one word of advice. If you do get in wear your most comfortable walking shoes, as you will be walking a LONG way all around the show to the various booths you are interested in seeing. You can get a handout, that has a map and booth numbers, so you can look up the makers you want to see and plan how to get to their booths. John
 
Silent H said:
You can look up retailer's coverage of past SHOT shows, Blade HQ and Knifecenter usually do a great job on their YouTube channels. It's typically the time when companies reveal their new catalogs and make sales to distributors.

As others have said, it's not a knife or gun show like Blade Show is. It's not open to the public, you need to be part of the outdoor industry to attend. If you do somehow get in, you won't be able to buy anything and walk out with it that day, and many retailers don't take kindly to looky-loos who waste their time there, since their goal is to set production and distribution contracts for the year.
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Having worked a booth at SHOT for a number of years in the past I can second the part about not being very looky-loo friendly. The show is primarily for the industry to introduce new products and sell to the wholesale market. Actual outdoor retailers come next (Cabela's, LLBeam, Bass Pro, REI etc will be very warmly welcomed). The press is a somewhat distant third with many of the companies. Those just looking for a good time and a free hand out may find a cold shoulder.
 
Abefroman55 said:
I’m more of a knife guy than gun guy…. Will I be overly disappointed going there?
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I visited SHOT many times, last time at 2018. It's the industry show, not everyone can walk in, you will need to meet some requirements and apply in advance, you can pick your pass at the show.
I had Press Pass and was able to take pictures, otherwise not every isle will allow you to shoot pictures.
Every knife company you can think about will be there with own isle, I can't think about modern or traditional knife companies that i didn't see there,
folders or fixed blades, along with some fancy and curio stuff...

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To me the trip worth every penny.
 
Ok awesome. I’m super pumped now. I secured the registration and ticket so I’m good there. I will be a lookey-loo for sure, but I’m sure I’ll have fun. I just wish I could buy some knives there to memorialize the trip.

Thank you for all the info.
 
Abefroman55 said:
I plan on going to the shot show in Vegas next month. Their website lists a bunch of different types of military/law enforcement/medical equipment and the likes…..but they don’t mention anything about knives. I know there is at least a minimal knife presence because I see YouTube videos with people at shot show.

I’m more of a knife guy than gun guy…. Will I be overly disappointed going there? Has anyone ever been and lend some opinions on how it is in reference to the knife market. Is anything for sale ?

Sorry for the noob question, thank you in advance for any info.
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No doors are closed to the sausage king of Chicago.
 
Plenty of knives there. One of my old acquaintances was the VP of sales at Gerber. I stayed with him during the 2018 SHOT show. I had some drinks with guys from Benchmade as well.
 
I've worked 10 consecutive SHOT shows as a vendor for (2) different companies and last time was 2020. I'll be there again in 2023. As others have mentioned its mainly an industry show (B2B (think Distributors and dealers / resellers) and a little bit of Busn to End User (LEO/Mil) . The show isn't setup for Busn to commercial consumer. They locked down their resale policy so it will be very difficult to purchase product there and vendors can get booted from the show if they are caught selling.

Some tips:
Use the website / app and make a plan for each day
- The show is MASSIVE and last time I checked, if you wanted to visit EVERY booth, on all levels you would have to walk 10+ miles and stop at each booth for less than 30 seconds.
-- This was before they expanded the show into (2) different areas when it use to be in just the Sands Expo. (Expanded it in 2022)
--- Wear COMFROTABLE walking shoes, bring your own snacks, and water.
----Tradeshow food is REALLLY expensive. (Think concert or movie theater pricing, and multiply that by a 2.5 and you get vegas/ show pricing)
----- Bring an extra check in or carry on bag as you will gather a TON of swag/catalogs etc. (Pro tip: Dont gather paper catalogs...they are HEAVY )
------The last day of the show is always the slowest as the main "B2B" busn is usually done and its other vendors who now get to wander the show and look at stuff.
------Logistics, stay somewhere on the strip that is within walking distance as there are often "industry" parties you can attend if you happen to get a ticket. Depending on how you got into the show/ your credentials / who you know.

When at vendors booth
-Use common courtesy and be polite
-- The staff manning the booth see all sorts of type of people at the show and answer all types of questions, often same questions OVER and OVER.
---Ask the staff if its ok to handle something and if its ok to take pictures
****Bonus**** Booth staff often have leway on giving away free SWAG and if you're cool to them they often appreciate it and give you goodies.

Definitely save your pennies for Blade Show in Atlanta. That is THE KNIFE show to go to and is a consumer show, so you can buy as much as your wallet/cc/mortgage will allow.

Anymore more questions feel free to ask away.
 
Been going for over 20 years; I agree with many of the comments on this thread and some are important enough to repeat.

1. Bring comfortable walking shoes - it's a lot of walking.
2. Bring comfortable walking shoes - it's a lot of walking.
3. Bring a small backpack for swag as the free tote bags don't cut it after a while and can be forgotten at a booth.
4. I typically go for three days and it's a task to see it all. Vendor lists and floor plans are available in advance and at the show - hit the booths you really want to see - even if it involves zig-zagging and doubling back. Then, if time allows, do a systematic aisle by aisle pattern.
5. It's not a retail/ELU show, it's an industry show. Selling is forbidden but, sometimes, on the last hours of the last day ... oh, nevermind. ;)
6. Bring comfortable walking shoes - it's a lot of walking.

Unfortunately for you, not all of the knife companies are in the same area but there is a higher concentration of them on the side of the main hall opposite Military and LE; but they are scattered hither and yond. CRK is downstairs, Ka-Bar and Al Mar are on the end closer to Military and LE, Emerson doesn't go anymore, Cold Steel didn't because (reportedly) they wouldn't let Lynn have swords - who knows now with GSM and some other knife companies are, as I said, hither and yond.
 
In years past, the SHOT Show was scheduled during the same week as a porn industry convention in Vegas.
 
Pack LOTS of hand sanitizer! You handle lots of things and shake lots of hands. Lots of people get sick after attending. I had a lingering cough for 6 weeks after I got back.

Tony.
 
Abefroman55 said:
I just wish I could buy some knives there to memorialize the trip.

Thank you for all the info.
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Technically, you can't buy anything. In reality, they are some reps or dealers, that are buying the showroom items wholesale before the show.
Some companies will have small things for sale, I purchased nice D2 folder, branded for Double Star.

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Others, like DD are simply giving away amazing models, you just have to be lucky to be at the right place in the right time:
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If you approach the reps about some model, they might give you business card so you can contact them after the show and they may help you to obtain or order the knife in question...
I find it to be more friendly than restricted environment, with some exceptions of course...
Another advantage of going to the SHOT is that you can meet all the big names in the gun/knife industries, they are usually very approachable.
 
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