The Top Twenty Must Do Knife Shows for Knifemakers?

What exactly are you looking for? The best shows to have a table for sales? The best shows to have a table for overall exposure? The best shows to go to just to see makers to see top notch work?

Top twenty shows is a stretch and a half. All of the really good makers only do a handful each year.

If you are ever a table holder at the AKI, then you can tell EVERYONE, that you have indeed paid your dues, and they can shut the hell up for asking ;) :)
 
The Moran Hammer-in , Frederick, MD

You could see some awsome knives there,meet some of the Best of the Best, and sell to some great buyers.
Sadly, the event died with its namesake.

Stacy
 
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There is not 20 top shows, maybe 4 or 5.

The Blade Show would be #1 and the other 3 or 4 would change depending on who you asked.

The internet has taken a big bite out of custom knife shows.
 
The Guild show doesn't really count unless you're a Guild member. Not saying there's anything wrong with it, but it's not going to be a must-do show for anyone who isn't a Guild member.
 
The top show for me is any show that I can get to! Doesn't matter whether I have a table or am just going to it to meet others and talk knives. Any knife show that you're at is a good show. It's better than spending the weekend working in the garden and mowing the lawn!
 
AcridSaint said:
The Guild show doesn't really count unless you're a Guild member. Not saying there's anything wrong with it, but it's not going to be a must-do show for anyone who isn't a Guild member.
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I went to the NC Guild show in 2004 (as a gawker, not a table holder). I thought it was really good. Why aren't you folks doing it anymore?
 
Hey Nathan - I think we were all talking about the Knifemaker's Guild Show. The reason the NC Guild show doesn't go on is because we lost our venue and promoters at the same time. The show was never "ours", although we played a large role in it. It's a huge undertaking that requires a large outlay of cash and time and the folks that were doing it aren't anymore.

It's a shame because every person I talk to asks me why it stopped and when it's starting again. The NC show was one of the best on the East Coast. None of that should be taken to mean it's dead and gone, but at this point no one knows what the future will hold.
 
We are setting up at the Chicago Show this year. Its a long hike from Walla Walla and is the same weekend as BladeWest. Man I hope it pays off but I need to get to the east coast and this is the year.

Josh Smiths Hammer-in is a good one too.

The ABS Expo also. Its in San Antonio this year.
 
Bruce Bump said:
We are setting up at the Chicago Show this year. Its a long hike from Walla Walla and is the same weekend as BladeWest. Man I hope it pays off but I need to get to the east coast and this is the year.

Josh Smiths Hammer-in is a good one too.

The ABS Expo also. Its in San Antonio this year.
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Bruce, What map are you looking at that shows Chicago on the east coast? I'm doing the Wolverine Show the weekend after OKCA. That will be the furthest I go east this year. I've been told the Wolverine Show is the best show on the other side of the Mississippi. :D
 
AcridSaint said:
The Guild show doesn't really count unless you're a Guild member. Not saying there's anything wrong with it, but it's not going to be a must-do show for anyone who isn't a Guild member.
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So... why not join the guild? When I joined in 1979 it was THE organization and many collectors would not deal with a non-member. There were many "outsider" makers then that would flat-out rip off people for large deposits then never deliver. The guild would boot them with a legit complaint and so the membership was known for having higher business standards.

Today I suppose that the forums provide the means to marginalize the shuysters... but the Knifemaker's Guild remains, at least to me, the single most prestigious organization in the business. The question remains... if you're not a member... why not?
 
Hi Tom - I didn't mean to imply that one shouldn't join, I'd like to, want to be one of my four signatures :D ? I just mean that if you're not a guild member, be it because of politics, skills, cost of dues or whatever, you aren't going to be doing the show.
 
Here's a list of 2009 shows

Jan 15-18 SHOT Show - Orlando, FL LINK
Jan 16-18 Las Vegas Invitational Knifemakers Show - Las Vegas, NV LINK
Jan 23-25 Big Buck Classic - Little Rock, AR LINK
Jan 30-Feb 1 Gatory Cutlery Club Show - Lakeland, FL
Feb 14-15 Arkansas Custom Knife Show - Little Rock, AR LINK
Feb 27-Mar 1 East Coast Custom Knife Show - New York, NY LINK
March 13-14 TKCA Central Texas Knife Show - Roundrock, TX
Mar 13-15 NKCA NW GA Knife Show - Dalton, GA LINK
Mar 27-29 Badger Knife Show - Janesville, WI LINK
Mar 28 Plaza Custom Show - Honolulu, Hawaii LINK
Apr 4-5 Wanenmacher's Tulsa Arms Show - Tulsa, OK LINK
Apr 17-19 Santa Barbara Premier Art Showcase - Santa Barbara, CA
April 18 and 19 Oregon Knife Collectors Assoc.
Apr 25-26 Wolverine Knife Show - Novi, MI LINK
May 15-17 NKCA Greater Ohio Knife Show - Ft. Mitchell, KY LINK
May 29-31 Blade Show - Atlanta, GA LINK
Jun ?? Kentucky Cutlery Association Show - Shepherdsville, KY LINK
Jun 11-13 Parker Knife Show - Sevierville, TN LINK
Jun 27-28 Branson Hammer In & Show - Branson, MO
Jul 10-12 Spirit of Steel Show - Grapevine, TX LINK
Jul 24-26 AG Russell Show - Rogers, AR
Aug 21-22 ABS Knife Expo - San Antonio, TX LINK
Sept 11-12 Chicago Knife Expo - Chicago, IL LINK
Sept 11-13 Blade Show West - Portland, OR LINK
Sept 12 Oklahoma Custom Knife Show - Tulsa, OK *Tentative date and location
Sept 17-20 Knifemakers Guild Show - Louisville, KY LINK
Oct 2-4 NKCA KY Fall Knife Show - Louisville, KY LINK
Oct 23-24 Ohio Classic Knife Show - Cambridge, OH LINK
Oct 24 Art Knife Invitational - San Diego, CA LINK
Nov 7-8 NKCA Nashville Knife Show - Nashville, TN LINK
Nov 14-15 Wanenmacher's Tulsa Arms Show - Tulsa, OK LINK
Dec 10-12 Parker Knife Show - Sevierville, TN LINK
Dec 13 Chesapeake Knife Show - Baltimore, MD
Nov ?? New York Custom Knife Show - New York, NY
 
AcridSaint said:
Hi Tom - I didn't mean to imply that one shouldn't join, I'd like to, want to be one of my four signatures :D ? I just mean that if you're not a guild member, be it because of politics, skills, cost of dues or whatever, you aren't going to be doing the show.
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No prob... I've signed a few before. I'll need to see some of your best stuff. Actually... going to the Guild show with some knives is a great place to get your app signed!
 
You know, I never actually considered that. I know mine aren't ready for the Guild, but I will do just as you suggest when they are.
 
I don't think the AKI died with Moran. Bill is missed, but the show is not dead. There are still 25 GREAT makers that are members.
Great show and collectors. This is a first class show.

Oct 24 Art Knife Invitational - San Diego, CA
 
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