[Jon H.]

On the weekend of 30 May of this year, Blade Magazine will be holding their Annual Blade Show and International Cutlery Fair in Atlanta, Georgia. So far, it looks pretty interesting. There are a number of seminars/demonstrations, most notably (for me anyway ) the World Championship Cutting Competition and the Japanese/Western sword Demonstrations. I'll be making my reservations sometime this week. Will any others here be attending? I haven't been here that long, but I'd love to meet some of you!

Apologies in advance if this has been posted already, but I didn't see anything.

~Jon

[Russ Ellis]

I'll be there, I've been for the last 5 or 6 years so no reason to quit now. More importantly some of the best swordsmiths will be there (at least I assume so they are every year) as well as some of the best sword manufacturers. It's a great show I heartily recommend it.

[Joe Fults]

Good time if you've got the time to go. Tends to be one of the rare chances to put names and faces from the various forums together in my experience. Just don't hang out drinking after the show too late if your hotel is off site. Sitting in a parking garage at 3 AM waiting to get sober enough to drive really sucks.

[William Goodwin]

Haven't been since 2004, but it is surely something to experience if one has the chance to attend.

[Joey Marmorato]

This is always a fun experience. Considering I live only about 20 minutes from the event center, I'm definitely going, as usual. I'll probably be there all 3 days, or at least Saturday and Sunday, as well as some other local ARMA members.

[Joey Marmorato]

Now that it's right around the corner, anyone else planning on going?

[J.G. Grubbs]

I'l be there. Been a couple of years since I attended so I'm looking forward to it. Headed tot he Albion booth 'cash in hand' LOL!

[Joe Fults]

Too darn expensive to travel right now but I sure could use the break from status quo if I could put it together. Looks like another year of maybe next year...been that way the last 3-5 years now (I think).

[Johnathan F]

i wish i could go i live in california and flying is expensive. For those of you that can be there in 20 minutes i hope you enjoy it you spoiled georgians.lol

If i could go though i would definently spend alot of time at the albion booth lol. Though i have no idea what they do or sell i love the swords they make Albion FTW.

[Joe Fults]

So did anybody go...and did anybody take any pictures?

[J.G. Grubbs]

I went but, like a true moron, forgot a camera!

[Joey Marmorato]

I got some pictures, but they're nothing special. I'll post them tomorrow after work when I have time. It was a lot of fun as always.

[Russ Ellis]

I think I only took three pictures this year, one of Mr. Jarvis's winning "sword." (It wasn't a sword nor should it have won in that category although it was a fine piece of craftsmanship.) One of a couple of William Lloyd's crazy complicated carvings and one of a guy with an incredible turned wooden hat. I didn't even bother photographing any of Mr. Evans pieces this year as I figured that would get taken care of as normally happens. He had a gorgeous viking sword and very impressive chinese saber both already long since sold of course. I'll see if I can post the wooden hat picture later... Maybe some of the others as well. I think I'll start another thread on musings...

[Joey Marmorato]

Alright, I've got some pictures to show. They're pretty low quality of course, but I was really focused on the experience rather than taking photographs of anything.

I'll post another reply after this reflecting on what I saw, experienced, etc.

I'm starting with CAS/Hanwei stuff, then Cold Steel, then Albion, then a Kevin Cashen piece, then a little something ridiculous.

First the CAS/Hanwei Tinker swords. The sharp is on the far left, the blunt second from left:


Here's a close-up of the hilts:


Hilt of the blunt:


two other swords. don't particularly recall the info on them:


A sweet little dagger. This felt very solid; I was impressed. I’d consider buying it in steel furniture. Not sure if they have that or not:


Some of their Viking swords:


And a close up:


And another:


Alright, now for Cold Steel.

Two shots of some of their swords:




I didn't take much of their stuff because this is all they had (well there were katana there but I didn't get photos of them. Simply out of my area of interest. I apologize). I took two photos of their knives but it's nothing special.

[Joey Marmorato]

Now for the Albion booth. These don't really need any kind of commentary, I don't think. Simply amazing.

















I really wish I'd had about $900 cash on me at the time, but being a college student doesn't really help with that. Some lucky chap bought a Kern while I was standing there. Very happy for him, but exceedingly envious.

[Joey Marmorato]

Now for a gorgeous dagger by Kevin Cashen. Very very nice:






And finally .... I don't even know what to say about this except "no comment." Certainly picture-worthy!

[Paul Watson]

Joey, in the first photo you have of the Albion booth there is a Knud & Valkyrja with what looks like a Beserkr next to them. Can anyone identify the sword next to the Beserkr though. It looks like a single hander with a slightly down turned flared guard.

[Joey Marmorato]

[Paul Watson]

Did you get to handle the Machiavelli? Mine is due any day, those photos of one on the bench are just upping my anxiousness to get my hands on it.