[Tamara]

...planning on attending the Blade Show in ATL this weekend?

[Wildalaska]

Hmm if I started driving yesterday I might just make it.

WildpedaltothemetalAlaska

[clown714]

that's the first i heard about it.

where is it taking place?

[The-Distinctive-Edge]

We are going to be there and are MAJOR EXCITED! Paul

[hso]

2 Galeria Parkway, Marietta, GA

Fri, Sat, Sun this week (June 13, 14, 15)

http://www.collect.com/interest/article.asp?Pub=BL&id=24

[Tamara]

That's the Galleria/Stouffer Waverly/Convention Center across the street from Dumberland mall for those of you who are Atlanta natives and don't dig the street address. Go west on Roswell Road 'til you hit the Big Chicken, turn left, go past where the big cow (aka "Roland's Bull") used to be... ;) :D

[JShirley]

Darn it, Tam, I'd love to be there. '97 was the last one I attended...

[Don Gwinn]

Paul--you should be! But then, you'll probably have to work. Wish I were going. I went in 2000 and it was a great time. Totaled my car (plugged oil galley which fried the engine) missed the FMA seminar (Eastern time and Central time are different, apparently) shared a tent with a stranger (Mike? You out there, Mike? I miss our chats by the fire. . . .)

I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Wild, I'd fly. Seriously. My good buddy Mike was from Alaska but had moved to Missouri to help his friend set up a farm. They made the drive in a bit less than three days in a U-Haul, as I recall, and were zombies for about a week. My own trusty steed developed a fatal blood clot in Paducah, Kentucky and I never drove it again. Flying would have saved me about $1500 and a less-than-exciting night spent in nearly beautiful downtown Paducah.

[BigG]

We got a guy right cheer named Bubba who makes some mighty fine cutlery. At least it looks fine. I never tried to cut anything with a knife that starts at $175 for the smallest size. :eek: :uhoh:

[SquirrelNuts]

Tamara,

I KNEW I saw you there today (Saturday). I passed you by and I thought "that looks like Tamara from the pictures online." But I did not think it was you. I passed you, and then I turned around a while later and saw a SIGarms shirt and then I knew it was you. I tried to go back, but I could not find you again. This was around 12:30 or so.

-SquirrelNuts

[Oracle]

If Tamara was wearing the black Beretta shirt, then some of my friends did see her. Unfortunately, I did not, had to leave early from the Blade show. It was lots of fun, though.

[SquirrelNuts]

Well, the girl that I saw that I thought was Tamara was about 6' tall, had a black hat with her blonde hair going ot the back of the hat and had on a black SIGarms shirt. This was on Saturday. I was at the show Saturday and Sunday. I had a VIP pass, but was unable to make it Friday.

-SquirrelNuts

[Tamara]

If it simplifies things, I wore a Beretta shirt on Friday, a SIGarms shirt on Saturday, a TFL/Molon Labe shirt on Sunday, and a black Quake III Arena ballcap all three days. :)

I picked up a Marzitelli Airstream on Saturday and a Simonich Bitterroot on Sunday. Pics and tales to follow! :cool:

[SquirrelNuts]

I was there on Sunday from noon until 3:30 and missed you then. I was unable to attend on Friday. I am glad to hear it will be back at Galleria next year, as I takes me 15 minutes to get there.

-SquirrelNuts

[Wylycoyte]

I picked up one of these little beauties:

http://www.shivworks.com/ClinchPick.htm

Also 10 rubber training knives and a waxwood cane over at the Cold Steel booth. By the time I circled back for another cane, they were sold out. :cuss:

It was great meeting a lot of new people, including Tamara. A friend of mine spotted Alton Brown of Good Eats with a large box of Cold Steel knives in hand, but he was gone by the time I went to say hello and pester him for some cookery tips.

[hso]

I picked up the following:

Horrigan French style 'hawk (clay tempered hand forged)
Brend #2 6.5"
David Dempsey's first big Bowie
several Paul Duncan folders and a fixed blade in black and silver G-10, Micarta, and C-fiber
Carter Santoku
Sowell damascus/ivory/silver German Prostitutes Dagger
McRae damascus/ebony/silver Highland Gentleman's Knife McRae

[hso]

here are the Blade 03 acquisitions

[hso]

Paired folder and fixed blade
Silver G-10 and C-Fiber

[Tamara]

Look, Skunkabilly! Carbon fiber! :D

[Wylycoyte]

Those are beauties, HSO! I really like that 'hawk!

[The-Distinctive-Edge]

It was a blast! Paul

[hso]

Wylycoyte, John Horrigan is a heck of a nice guy as well as an outstanding knife maker. I was particularly taken with the spike back and the clay temper. I think that he went for his journyman smith at the show, but don't know if he made it. BTW the spray of hair decorating it comes from when his wife cut her nearly knee length hair.

I just realized that the Carter, Sowell, Horrigan, and McRae are all hand forged pieces (as in no power hammer used) and are ABS smiths that are master smiths, journyman smiths or were apprentices testing for journyman at this Blade Show. I hope Sowell and Horrigan made it.

[ReconTech]

I picked up my first Microtech, a UMS Auto, love it.... very cool...now I'm looking for an Amphibian Auto :)

[SquirrelNuts]

That's funny...I bought my first auto there too, a MicroTech UMS in OD green. Oh wait...you were standing right next to me when I bought it!

-SquirrelNuts

[hso]

Recon, Squirrel

Who did you get your MT's from? What did they cost you?

[brownie0486]

HSO:

Nice looking group you have there.
I like the looks of that Bowie specially, hows the "feel"?

Tamara: Marzitelli Airstream and a Simonich Bitterroot? Can't wait for the pics. How do you like the bitterrot? I have been thinking about one myself. HSO certainly scored hey?

Congrats to both of you. One day I'll get back there and see all you folks I've met here.

Brownie

[hso]

Here's a pair of bowies I gotten this year- the Dempsy and a Kim Breed.

The Dempsy balances an inch in front of the guard.
The Breed balances on the front edge of the guard.

The Dempsy grip is burgandy micarta with a slight palm swell and a flat top (no sharp edges on the grip, but lots of gripping surface.)
The Breed is stag that has been lightly polished.

The Dempsy guard is top forward cant with chamfered edges so that the index finger rest comfortably in the racasso.
The Breed guard is a perpindicular pointed oval (there is no advantage to moving the finger forward and it wouldn't be comfortable if you did)

The Dempsy is an 8.5 inch stock reduced S30V.
The Breed is a 9 inch forged tool steel (I think O1)

The Dempsy is quick, but has a definite weight forward balance.
The Breed is quicker and feels nearly weightless.

I think I'm going to have Kim produce the same blade with a guard and grip like the Dempsy. If he can reproduce the balance on a less fancy set up I think I'll have a nearly ideal fighter.

[Tamara]

I really need to get with you on forum piccie etiquette.

(PS: You have the coolest blades... Have I told you that recently? :D )

[hso]

Ok, ok, 'k

Here's Tam's image of the pair.

[SquirrelNuts]

We bought them directly from MT. We got them at a discount for $154.

-SquirrelNuts