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2010 Arkansas Custom Knife Show : A Review
By: Roger Pinnock
Knife shows are as different as they are the same. While the commonalities are obvious – tables that abound with bright shiny new knives – it is in the differences that we discover the factors that make some shows stand apart from the rest. The Blade Show offers the largest assembly of all things knife-related anywhere in the world. The bi-annual Art Knife Invitational offers an exclusive assembly of a small group of elite makers presenting knives which reflect the very height of their craft. In my experience, the Arkansas Custom Knife Show – held each year in Little Rock – stands apart by virtue of offering a unique combination of quality, diversity and atmosphere.
Among these, it is the atmosphere that is perhaps the most distinctive. Where the Blade Show is non-stop “go”, the pace at Little Rock is altogether more relaxed, welcoming and laid back. This extends from the easy and inexpensive 15 minute cab ride from the airport, to the efficient check-in at the Doubletree Hotel (ask for a room with a river view). Alternate accommodations abound, but I recommend the host location for convenience of being at the center of all show-related events and for the fun of being surrounded by fellow knife nuts for the entire weekend. The lobby and bar don’t present quite the frenetic buzz of ‘The Pit” in Atlanta, but you can find friendly and familiar faces there any time outside of show hours.
And you’ll want to make sure to arrive Friday afternoon so as not to miss the traditional Gala Reception at the Doubletree Ballroom. Table holders and their guests were treated to a memorable banquet, which in addition to good food and excellent fraternity, offered two particularly appealing events. The first was an exceptionally well-produced documentary film on the history of knifemaking in Arkansas, which spotlighted the contributions of such luminous Arkansans as Bob Dozier, A.G. Russell, James B. Lile, B.R. Hughes and Jerry Fisk.
The second was the unique process of selecting the award for Best of Show. Each maker was encouraged to bring what he felt to be his best piece and place it for showing on a large display table. All makers then had an opportunity to view all of the knives and cast their vote for the piece they felt stood first among this excellent group. While collectors did not vote, we were treated to what was an enjoyable preview – seeing the one piece that each maker felt was his best work. And one piece in particular quickly became the talking point. The buzz around the room was defined by one oft-repeated phrase: “Have you seen the violin case?” American Bladesmith Society Master Smith, Ron Newton, claimed the award for exceptional “Shootin’ Newton” gun / knife combination. This memorable piece featured an elaborately engraved D-guard damascus bowie combined with a .32 calibre cannon – that could have been the subject of an article itself. This piece could take center stage at a show like AKI. This brings me to the subject of quality of the knives on display.
The brightly lit showroom offers a truly excellent assembly of fine custom cutlery and a wide range of exceptional purchase opportunities for the collector. There is a strong forged blade influence here – and while by no means restricted to such blades – I would venture to guess that this show presents largest and best offering of such knives outside of the Blade Show and the annual ABS show now held in San Antonio. And the reasons are clear - first, Arkansas boasts the largest number of ABS Master Smiths. Second: simply stated, Arkansas is bowie country. Steeped in the tradition of the man and the knife, Arkansas was home to James Black – the smith who forged what is arguably THE single most famous knife in the world. The show itself is adjacent to the historical building which formerly housed the Arkansas legislature, a place which unexpectedly – and spectacularly – leapt into bowie lore when a dispute between the Speaker of the House of Representatives and a fellow member was settled quite conclusively not by debate, but by the lethal implementation of bared bowies. While this event dates back to the 1830’s, it serves to underscore the long association – for good or ill – between Arkansas and this singular and definitively American blade. I suspect that there are very few shows indeed that offer the collector such a vast array of bowie purchase opportunities – from simple carbon and wood, to the most elaborate ivory and damascus.
Moving beyond the bowie genre, there were a number of quality custom knives on display, and at a broad range of price points. My strolls up and down the aisles revealed everything from an excellent assembly of Loveless-style fighters and hunters; a number of quality hunting knives from field to presentation grade; a good selection of folders that ranged from simple slipjoints to elaborate and highly embellished pieces; some wonderfully detailed miniatures and a few really appealing tomahawks for good measure. Moving through the aisles was a little bit slow for the first hours after opening on Saturday due to very strong attendance, but it was never uncomfortably crushed. And while there was certainly a lot to see, one was never left with the rushed feeling that there might not be time to see it all. This is a show that you can reasonably cover in a single full day, though it is far more enjoyable to spend two days looking over the fine pieces. Interacting with the makers was thoroughly pleasant, as table holders seemed universally willing to discuss their work and to talk knives in general.
I would be remiss if I did not mention one of exceptional related attractions that any knife buff will enjoy. Just steps away from the show itself stands the Historic Arkansas Museum, which is more than worthwhile it its entirety for offering a window into Arkansas’ frontier history, but is a must-see in particular for its exceptional and unique display of contemporary and antique bowie knives. These latter examples left a lasting impression, rich as they were with untold – or partially told stories of a time when men relied on these large blades for much more than attractive display. Most memorable among these was the famous coffin-handled “Bowie No. 1” – a knife attributed to James Black himself.
This 2010 visit to the Arkansas Custom Knife Show was my second, and will by no means be my last. In my view, it is one of the best regional shows in America. Great people, terrific knives, good times.
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