KNEWSLETTTER IN A KNUTSHELL 4 The Beginning 4 Display Making 4 Charter Members 4 Laguiole Knives 4 Application Form Our international membership is happily involved with “Anything that goes ‘cut’!” December 2019 There were 75 tables which included several pretty nice The Beginning displays. We had three Gerber folding knives, enhanced ibdennis with engraving on ivory micarta handles, presented in Someone recently asked me to recall and write the beginning a custom wood box. These were given to the three best of the Oregon Knife Collectors Association (OKCA). It was displays at the Show. The attendance was around 500 with 1975 when a group of knife minded people gathered to see if it a door admission of $1.00. was feasible to have a knife show on the West Coast. We had monthly meetings in the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) utilities basement here in Eugene, Oregon, once a month on Saturdays which was attended by Oregonians mostly. We called ourselves the “Emerald Empire Blade Collectors Association.” Long about the first of 1976, we modified our name to “Emerald Empire Knife Collectors.” I think this happened as most of the public had no idea what a “blade” was. The only knife shows that were available were in conjunction with gun shows held in the area. It was always a travel-to-a destination. The big shows were even more unavailable, greater distances. How about a show in our area was the question? Something like, ”If Mohammed can’t go to the mountain, then bring the mountain to Mohammed.” It was this drive that suggested that I would promote the interest of collectable cutlery and Wayne Goddard would promote the area of knifemaking. We talked about doing a two day Show, and a search began to locate a place to hold the event. Portland was the prime consideration; however distance for the organizer (me), and the high cost of the Portland facilities were discouraging. So it was decided to hold it in Eugene on May 15-16, 1976. It was also decided to change our name one more time to include the state of Oregon rather than the city or area. The Show was held at the Lane County Fairgrounds in the Pioneer Building. The Pioneer building was torn down in 1978. That May Show proved that we could make a Knife Show happen in Eugene. In September of 1976, we drew up a Charter and promoted the organization at a September gun show. I had capped out all my credit cards prior to the May 1976 Show and doing that for future shows was not something I wanted to do. ( I did get my monies back, but zero profit for me.) So, Continued on page 4 piece of iron work saying IXL which 2005 issue and the December 2008 How to make an came off the wall of the Wostenholm issue. The April 2005 issue “Knife Award Winning factory. When I was grousing about it, Collections for Display” by Sheldon a judge said: “You didn’t label it for all and Edna Wickersham highlights Display for 2020 I knew you could have had someone displays by many OKCA top dogs. B K Brooks make that for you. You missed some The December 2008 issue called points there, buddy.” Remember, you “Display with Imagination” by Larry are there to educate so include catalog Oden maps out great ideas. Also past pictures, documentation, accessories May issues of our own Knewslettter or references. Lacking books, with the have OKCA Show pictures with many Web that research can be done pretty award winning displays that can be easy but watch out for misleading seen for ideas. Read these articles, and know-it-all opinions that lurk in the you will be locked and loaded with GOOGLE pages. winning ideas. Merit of the items on display has three I do not want to discourage those who important aspects. One is condition, just want to make minimal effort to condition and condition. Pick your best display some really rare military knives. examples and show them in a way that Heck, I want to see them! But if you are enhances their condition. Rarity of the there to win, play it smart, cover all the displayed item does count, but are you bases; because just like in elections, So you still are wondering whether properly explaining why the item is rare? there are rules and the Electoral College you should attempt to have a Military There is a completeness category; or in count can sink your highly touted Display for the OKCA 2020 Show. Sure another words, “How complete is your competitor’s boat in a close race. you do, but where do you start and what display relative to availability is needed? Well, let me give you a few of like items in the general tips I have garnered from those in the marketplace?” is a judged factor. know; and if you are at all competitive, The final judging grouping is you may want an award winning display Public Appeal. Does your really too. By covering all the bases, you may great collection just kind of lay creep up past an equally rare display in there on a flat table or perhaps the judge’s points! So below are some hard to see in a plywood box display pointers and perhaps some display just barely propped up winning tips. on the table and just looking Judging is broken down to three Plain Jane? When you’re trying categories. Educational aspects, merit of to sell your cool car, you don’t items on display and public appeal. Let’s show it off in a crammed up take a short walk around each subject. garage; people like to see it and Educational aspects include for one, walk around and kick the tires. “Does the title fit the display and is Your display should be easily the owner identified? Sure, a snappy viewable to the public, and your title helps; but if it is off base from the supporting documents readable. collection itself, then prepare to lose The creativity in displaying points. Identifying yourself means the your collection counts too. A viewers can track you down, discuss plywood box full of rare knives what you have and may even pop up with is not going to get the same a rare piece you have been looking for. points as a fully labeled, upright, Ask yourself, will your display educate a chrome and plexiglas, wowza novice as well as an advanced collector? display extravaganza that has similarly special knives. Labeling is very important, you may know what you have but do others? I fell But if you really want to win into this trap, not only failing to label the and put some effort in it, I knives which were pretty well standalone hope you’re a member of Knife knives, thus probably not needing Magazine’s website that can explanation; but I also failed to label a pop you right over to the April telemarketers calling our telephone worldwide. You OKCA Knews number. We have slammed the phone are an expert & Musings down, pushed and held a key and blew on your specific ibdennis whistles into the phone. We know our collecting number is being passed around, but we interests, be This Knewslettter are helpless now. When you call us, the they antique or first thing you will hear is a terse and custom, so let us This Knewslettter was to precede not so friendly, “State Your Business.” hear from you the December Winter/Mini Show. When we know it is a Knife Club call and do an article However, the date of the Show was or personal, we switch to the friendly for us. earlier in the month, and the typesetter and helpful mode. If it is a real person Make your room reservation would be on vacation. Things happen. solicitor call, we advise them that they This Knewslettter should be a clue have called the police department soon for the April Show. The Valley that membership might be due if your homicide division and ask them to state River Inn has been our partner for many mailing label code reads 2019. Current their emergency. Without fail, there is a decades. As properties sway and swing code should be 2020 or better. The click on their end. I suspect they delete with new owners, the same holds true January Knewslettter will have pictures our number after that. for this place of lodging. We have hit a of the December Winter/Mini Show and few lows in accommodations at the VRI, a recap of the event. Display Award Knives... but a meeting this last May seemed to Gene Martin has distributed the Seax convince me that the new management knife blanks in 1095 steel which will be is getting their act together. They have finished for the 2020 Show. These are the extended the hand of partnership to knives that are presented to the winning the OKCA and provide the first class displayers that will be at the 2020 Show. rating that they held for so many years. The individuals that have these blanks The phone number for reservations is are as follows: Brion Baker, Great (541)743-1000. This is the number for Falls MT - Peter Bromley, Spokane the local VRI which should be better The Beginning Valley WA - Gary Dekorte, Sequim able to answer any questions and process WA - Theo Eichorn, Grants Pass OR, the order more quickly. Make sure you The lead article was created from - Gary Griffin, Bend OR - Cameron mention the April Knife Show.