Post by Marc Kaden Ridgeway on Jun 13, 2012 14:28:30 GMT -5
Spent a couple of hours last week at the Cobb Galleria for the Atlanta Blade Show... wandered around and just checked things out. Even in these trying economic times , the volume of people and exhibitors at the show is overwhelming.
The show is set up with booths and tables. The booths line the periphere, while the tables fill the center. The booths are for manufacturers, and the tables custom makers , or associated crafts.
I stopped in at the Cas-Hanwei booth... and while there , talked to one of the CAS people. Although there were no new items on display I did get to see a photo of the new factory... which seems to be coming along well... and also I heard that a shipment may have come in recently...
I also stopped by the Citadel Booth, and while it was disappointing that they didn't have any swords there, there were some neat displays , including one beautiful knife with a blued blade and hamon. Tried to picture it... and the subtle difference in hues between the harder and softer steels, but it was hard to photograph.
I stopped by the booth for SaberSmith... many may know them from Rennfaires. There was quite a bit of interesting stuff there... and I'm not just talking about the tattooed,pierced, leather-clad black-dyed hair goth girl behind the counter...
The first custom maker I spoke with was Reese Weiland of R W Custom Knives. He had some nice stuff, notably a beautiful knife that the late, great Bob Engath called one of the best designs in years.
There were so many wonderful things to see, I barely had a chance to see them ... much less photo them all.
Following are just a few of the creations that caught my eye ... whenever possible a picture of the craftsman's business card precedes the piece... but not on them all... for instance the first one...
Despite all the wonderful sharpies, the show was a bit disappointing compared to years past. There was no Gus Trim, no Tinker, no Lundemo. Rick Barrett didn't show, nor Rich Chen of Zubeng Forge although the website said Barrett and Chen would be there.
I couldn't find Kevin Cashen either, though I did get a glimpse of Vince Evans , but didn't get to speak to him.
Perhaps the highlight of the highlight of the show for me was chatting with Wally Hostetter of Shining Moon.
www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=wally%20hostetter&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CF0QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fshiningmoon13.com%2F&ei=n1DZT-HkJoSg8gTxvoi8Aw&usg=AFQjCNGL2n3xXwwWY3F5DAYWWfaTPwUOAA
Wally is a JSA practioner, swordsmith and mounter who makes both custom koshirae and cast koshirae from his hand carved originals.
His work is very nice... a good place to pick up koshirae and a great guy to make or mount your katana.
The show is set up with booths and tables. The booths line the periphere, while the tables fill the center. The booths are for manufacturers, and the tables custom makers , or associated crafts.
I stopped in at the Cas-Hanwei booth... and while there , talked to one of the CAS people. Although there were no new items on display I did get to see a photo of the new factory... which seems to be coming along well... and also I heard that a shipment may have come in recently...
I also stopped by the Citadel Booth, and while it was disappointing that they didn't have any swords there, there were some neat displays , including one beautiful knife with a blued blade and hamon. Tried to picture it... and the subtle difference in hues between the harder and softer steels, but it was hard to photograph.
I stopped by the booth for SaberSmith... many may know them from Rennfaires. There was quite a bit of interesting stuff there... and I'm not just talking about the tattooed,pierced, leather-clad black-dyed hair goth girl behind the counter...
The first custom maker I spoke with was Reese Weiland of R W Custom Knives. He had some nice stuff, notably a beautiful knife that the late, great Bob Engath called one of the best designs in years.
There were so many wonderful things to see, I barely had a chance to see them ... much less photo them all.
Following are just a few of the creations that caught my eye ... whenever possible a picture of the craftsman's business card precedes the piece... but not on them all... for instance the first one...
Despite all the wonderful sharpies, the show was a bit disappointing compared to years past. There was no Gus Trim, no Tinker, no Lundemo. Rick Barrett didn't show, nor Rich Chen of Zubeng Forge although the website said Barrett and Chen would be there.
I couldn't find Kevin Cashen either, though I did get a glimpse of Vince Evans , but didn't get to speak to him.
Perhaps the highlight of the highlight of the show for me was chatting with Wally Hostetter of Shining Moon.
www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=wally%20hostetter&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CF0QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fshiningmoon13.com%2F&ei=n1DZT-HkJoSg8gTxvoi8Aw&usg=AFQjCNGL2n3xXwwWY3F5DAYWWfaTPwUOAA
Wally is a JSA practioner, swordsmith and mounter who makes both custom koshirae and cast koshirae from his hand carved originals.
His work is very nice... a good place to pick up koshirae and a great guy to make or mount your katana.