Page 36 - Blade (January 2019)

SHOW FINE |
Kyle Crawford (right) shows a patron how w
to use the Work Sharp WSKTS in the
seminar, “How To Sharpen With The Latest
Sharpeners.”
largest and most important knife
event, the BLADE Show in Atlanta
(the 2019 rendition of which will re-
turn to the Cobb Galleria Centre June
7-9), BLADE Show West was a mix of
veteran, journeyman and first-time
“THEY JUST OOZE GOOD
LOOKS, PERFORMANCE
AND COOL.”
—R ICK THRONBURG
36 BLADE JANUARY 2019
Bradford Knives won Best Fixed Blade in the factory
category for the Guardian 4.5. Blade length, steel and
fi nish: 4 inches, CPM 3V carbon and a tumbled DLC called
Nimbus. Blade grind: Full-height fl at. Handle material:
G-Wood w/micro-texturing. Overall length: 9 inches. MSRP:
$259. The knife comes in a selection of handle options and
blade fi nishes and grinds.
The Pizza Slayer byOOAK Forgecaptured
Best Weird Knife in the custom category.
Blade diameter, length, material and grind: 4
inches, 9 inches, Grade 5 titanium and flat.
Hardware: Antique bronze Maker’s list price
Hardware: Antique bronze. Maker s list price
for a similar piece: $480.
knifemakers, knife/knife accessory Though not exactly a shocker con-
companies, knifemaking suppliers and sidering the pedigree, another table
more. Some sold out of knives, some that sold out of knives was the one
sold enough and some struggled, but manned by the Sobral Brothers (CAS
most all seemed encouraged by what Knives). Rick Thronburg, vice presi-
they saw and experienced. dent of operations for William Henry
Knifemaker Logan Pierce said he sold Knives, was particularly impressed
out the fi rst day, and maker Luke Swen- with Brazil’s knifemaking siblings.
son indicated he sold more knives the “I’d never seen Sobral knives ‘in
Friday afternoon of the show than he did person,’ only in pictures. In print
during all of a big name show he’d done they look absolutely stunning and ev-
earlier in the year. Even fi rst-year-maker erything looks like it is right where
Princeton Wong, who’d exhibited at his it should be—but you don’t know for
first BLADE Show in June, sold $5,000 sure till you pick them up. Well, ev-
worth of knives at his first BLADE Show erything is in place—and then some,”
West and said he would return. Rick observed. “They just ooze good