OKCA Show 2001 by Wayne Goddard As a Kid I Remember a Tension Filled Between the Show and Excitement That Built for the Last Couple of the Earth
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
KNEWSLETTTER IN A KNUTSHELL All about the Show! Our international membership is happily involved with “Anything that goes ‘cut’!” May 2001 Reflections on the OKCA Show 2001 by Wayne Goddard As a kid I remember a tension filled between the show and excitement that built for the last couple of the Earth. The Earth is months before Christmas. Our family didn’t very large, so large in have much money for stuff so the main fact that one person treasures that came in to my life arrived at could never enjoy all Christmas time. My year, as I remember it, of it. The Oregon centered around the Christmas season, and to Knife Show is too a lesser degree the last day of school. The large to be fully excitement of Christmas has somewhat faded enjoyed in the short for this senior citizen, and my child-like time available. excitement is now manifested as my year However, I don't wish seems to focus around the Oregon Knife either the Earth or the Show. And, after 26 years, it has become a OKCA show were any habit smaller just so we The rope cutters: Standing (L-R): Tedd Harris, Ed Sverson, Jim Rodebaugh, The show always seems to get here about could enjoy all of it. Michael Vagnino, Shane Taylor, Steve Garsson. Kneeling (L-R): J.D. Smith, Bob a month before I have my knives ready for it. Krammer, Bill Burch, Ed Schempp, Kirk Rexroat. All of a sudden it’s finally here and then seems Parts of the to end all too soon. When the countdown starts Show I Saw home but finish it with files and stones after at closing time on Sunday, I want to shout, The grinding competition: I got to see only roughing it in with the belt. I got it up too “No! I need three more days!.” part of the grinding competition from the far on one side, and then the two sides were inside of a face shield. It had taken several not the same width. I fought the false grind Just How Big Is This Show? years of arm twisting by Larry Criteser to get until my time was up and had to admit defeat. In trying to sum up the 2001 Oregon me in the competition. Larry does a fine job of It’s too bad there wasn’t a prize for the ugliest Knife Show I can only come up with one running the competition. John Mallet of blade because I would have taken it home. So, word, “HUGE". There were 470 tables, and TruGrit furnishes a Hard Core grinder, the a good rule would be: Don't do in public what the show was open to the public for fifteen steel and belts for the event. Thank you both! you haven't practiced in private. hours. 15 hours = 900 minutes of available The competition sounds pretty simple, Knife Sharpening: I had a great view of looking time. 900 divided by 470 = 1.9 grind the bevels on a small Bowie style blade. the participants at my sharpening minutes to spend at each table. Those of us Thirty minutes are allowed and that should be demonstration. I always enjoy showing the who spent the set-up day at the show gained plenty of time. Not for this old timer! First of Norton India/Crystalon Stone way to a get a perhaps another six hours which would give all, the grinder was totally unfamiliar to me, sharp edge. I’ve done it more years than I can us an extra 360 minutes, 360+900 = 1260 total and it took me nearly the whole time allowed remember at our show, perhaps as many as 20. minutes or 2.6 minutes per table. One doesn’t to get the feel of where the platen was. The It’s a regular at the two BLADE Shows, and I have to be a rocket scientist to figure that some Hard Core is a smooth running and beautiful think it gets smoother and clearer all the time. of it will be missed. machine; but like most machines designed for I’ll do an in-print version in a future OKCA OKCA has 8' tables whereas most show hollow grinding with a contact wheel, the news letter. tables are 6', with the occasional show having platen setup leaves something to be desired The rope cutting competition: I got in only 5' tables. OKCA, with its four-hundred- when compared to an upright machine made late from my sharpening demonstration but seventy 8' tables offers 3,760 feet of trade and for flat grinding. I got the bevels ground fairly sneaked into the safety row for some pictures display space. That's almost ¾ of a mile. That quickly, and they looked pretty good. I then and narration. What can I say, strong men, makes it not only a huge show but a long, very made the mistake of trying to finish the false sharp knives, the thrill of victory for three time long show. I'd like to make a comparison grind on the platen. I never do it that way at winner Ed Schempp who once again did eight Continued on Page 8 Remington reproductions and a price guide. I also managed to pick up a Hopalong Mike & Barb’s Why? Because we don’t have one to look at Cassidy knife at this show at the very last Corner for a price guide. Most of us are going by what minute of the show. It is a nice Serpentine with knives are selling for on ebay and ads in black handles. by Mike & Barb Kyle magazines. We need a better guide than that so Oh, by the way, I already have four he is going to write a book. I hope to give his reservations for the Christmas mini show in The 2001 Oregon Knife show has come name at a later date so he could obtain info Dec. Jim Maitland, Larry Hogan , Paul and gone and what a show it was. A lot of from any of you members. The only two good Wellborn and Jimmy Brown. That’s a people work very hard to get this show up and books that I have on Remington reproductions seventy table show right in the middle of running. They deserve a big hand clapped is by Mel Brewster. Mel passed away a couple winter. several times. Thank you to all of you. The of years ago. Barb and I are making plans for the security guards also did a real fine job at this I did purchase four Remington bullet Northwest Knife collectors show in June in show as always. They were Tim Cooper, Tim knives at the show that are outstanding. They Tacoma, Washington. That is a good show Cooper Jr, Dave Coon, Dallas Vance,John also, they are just starting out Whitney, Chris Rietman,Mike Lynch and with a knife club and are doing Laurie Johnson. Dave Coon and Tim well. Cooper are members of the Oregon Knife Barb and I enjoyed seeing Club. Peter Faust also played a big part in the all of you again I mean we only security of the show. To all of them I say get to see you once a year. Jim Thank You and a Job well done. Pitblado and his wife, Barbara; While at this show I did purchase some it was great seeing them. First very nice knives that turned out to be very time I got to meet Barbara rare. As some of you know I had a display that Pitblado. Melaine and Paul Barbara and I put up of Remington Wardian always nice to see reproduction knives. This covers the posters them. Paul brought a home and knives that went with the Remington made apple pie and shared it poster. The posters are done by artist L. W. with anyone who wanted to Duke. I don’t know much about Mr. Duke, but come by with plate and fork. So I am learning. A person came up to me at the many other people I got to talk show and told me that he was involved in with it’s hard to remember all making several of the posters. He pointed to were all 1123 bullet knives. The contractor is names. one and said see that red shirt? That shirt is Bowen; and they are 1973, 1974, 1975 and The Saturday evening dinner was great mine that I gave to Larry Duke for the picture. 1976. The info I have is that only 500 of each as always and seemed to be enjoyed by all. The fishing creel in that scene is also mine. He were ever made for Bowen. The 1973 is the Twelve displays got awards, and Barb and I also helped design the Hunter and the Trapper very first Remington reproduction ever made. just happened to be one of them. That was poster. I took his picture pointing to both of I always thought it was the 1982 1123 bullet very lucky on our part because I saw some them. We exchanged email addresses and knife in case. You learn something every day. awesome displays. phone numbers. He is going to try and put me Thanks to Jim Martindale of Seattle, Wash, I A very special thank you to Dennis and in touch with L. W. Duke. Who knows what picked up new info. I also found out that the Elayne Ellingsen for the hard work they put can happen from that.