So- I attempted to note every single thing that Eric showed to us....All in all that was 75 products shown, discussed and passed around at what can only be described as a break-neck pace.
Caveats and apologies in advance:
-If I've got the name wrong or misspelled then that's my own fault and sorry....I'll post the raw notes too, so y'all can marvel at the fact I'm supposed to be a literate hoomin wotsit :D
I'll list 'em in the order they passed through my hands.
I'm trying to recall particular features after too little sleep, too much coffee, a 4am start and a flight back to the UK.
General Thoughts:
-No Sal this year as he's sworn off long-distance flying at the moment (Can't say I blame him- I'm half his age and it knocks me sideways every time)
-Eric did a perfect job as host and presenter on his own.
-It was great having the big screen to see the knives on the table one at a time- especially with the smaller offerings, we got a really good picture of the stuff coming before it arrived in hand.
-The raffle was another great touch and good fun- And I was one digit away from winning! C'est la vie!..That S110v cut-out pattern would have had pride of place on my bookcase
-Good fun, great folks and a wonderful family spirit again....Thanks to Juurphaas, Eric and the whole crew for a lovely event (and apologies for not saying 'bye as you guys were all busy eating and we had 'hit the wall' and needed bed!)
What we saw
New ATR- G10 overlay with holes (Yay!) and a removable Cobra hood- S30V....A winner in my book
Mamba- As per this year's catalogue....She's a big 'un, but worth the money.
Cara Cara 2- Ti handled Byrd, Fit and finish were top notch.
Gordo- P.Carrey 'stubby' flipper in a Ti locker (can't recall the mech- but in a Techno style)
Unnamed P.Carrey flat version of the Ion in a flipper- Nice I thought
New D'alarra- with a ceramic ball and flat G10- narrower, shallower- Another winner.
Gum- A Dogtag stretched to about the size of a stick of Gum- Ti and steel
Dox? Friction folder- Modified wharnie blade, nice short spine- felt usable
HAP40 Dragonfly- as good as always, if not better for the steel afis
Zome (?) dyed FRN Delicas and Enduras- These were something folks have been crying for: dyed 2-3 coloured handled Delicas, in Van-Gogh-esque splotch patterns....More to come on this, but will really stand out in the market I think. The Pink-Red-Purple splotched Dragonfly looked amazing
Southard comp locked, BOLSTERED carbon fibre clipper with a recurve blade- ALL OF MY YES!
G.Stainthrop folder in RWL34. Can't bring it to mind
Jerry Brauer knife....>Wrote nothing else so....er....404-File-Not-Found!
"Euro Dagger"- Taichung, Ed Schemp, dagger shaped folder with scallops and polished G10- ALL FOR ME :D
Flipping Manix XL- Slim Ti handle, flipper, external stop pin. What's not to like?
Chinese value folder- concept model. Again, a blank space in my brain on tthis one
Rhino- M.Rhienhold- Little comp locker in G10 and BD1
Joule- A reborn Leafstorm in style- I loved this.
100 Pacer- Deep and big blade on this with triangle patterned two-tone G10.
Birch flipper of some variety- a stubby flipper in a dark stonewash
Smaller K2! (Though this may well be the 'medium', and an even smaller one was mooted)
Introvert- it's in the catalogue, so yeah....
HAP40 Ladybug....and that's now on my wishlist
Lil' Lum Chinese Folder- Tiny little liner locker: I need this in my life
Lil' Native- This is cast-iron winner: 3 different variants of a smaller Native, with slightly differing builds- One slippie (YES!), One Comp locker and one normal back lock!
Lil Nilakka- Another winner- Imagine a domino (the game counter not the knife!) but with a tiny little microbevel Puuko about the length of my little finger
A newer Valloton subhilt with more finger grooving and better ergos- Liked, but not loved
Jonathan McNeese(?) tiny Ti folder integral locker- Gemlike, I'll have one if they make it
New Lil' Temp- Production sample!- Definately on the must have list...Also, mention of an FRN Lightwiehgt version to go with the G10!
Magnitude- Carey flipper- I wrote 'mini-Rubicon' and that's about it
Lwt Manix 2 with a pair of LED flashlights in the handle.....Not for me, thanks
Manix 2 with concept Blue Jeans G10....Very nice
Arc(?) Byrd- delica sized?
40th Year Native- Worth every penny this- Beautiful
Navigator style slipjoint! Oh yes!
Nirvana- again- in the catalogue- beautiful
Ourobourus- Really warmed to this- Junior-looking Comp locker but fit my hand like it was made for me- I'll be having one. Will make a great herb-chopper
"No Name" slimmer version of the above.
Pattada- a winner, lively in the hand- added to the wish list
PITS with weird internal lock that needed you to stick your finger inside the scales from the side....More to come on that
Robin Byrd 2.5" in Ti- Nice enough
PM3!- Yes, awesome and will be worth the wait: Also, there's likely to be a Lwt version in FRN!
Barlow style Spydie in Ti and Wood- Very classy
New 'Cost-conscious' variant of the Rubicon with flat scales.
Sage 5- Comp locker- Yes- added to the wishlist
ATR-ish Salt in LC200N with intergral comp locker on Ti drilled frame
Another Salt on a similar build but with 'speed-block' style yellow/black two-tone G10...
Native XL- comp locker- lovely sculpted handles.
H1 Snap-It- s'in the catalogue, just like the one in my collection and another must-have.
Szabo flipper in a similar style to the Lightning Strike, but a Ti Handle- Not a fan, I thought this had been hit with the ugly stick, shot from the ugly cannon into the ugly circus net then run over with the ugly ambulance on the way to the ugly clinic.
Bradley "Tac 1 S" M4 with 'orange peel' Ti handle- Another must have!
2 Multi-bladed knives- Very cool, very Victorinox- build reminiscent of the Dyad
Low Cost folder- A Liner locked Delica but with an original straight-backed blade shape- This was like shaking hands with an old friend who's had a facelift- and very welcome: I want this!
Low Cost folder- A Liner locked Endura- as above
The Ray Mears Folder- superb! Ergos are great too.
Folding Spyderchef- another rust free build...Upswept bladeshape in LC200, Ti integral. Loved it.
Squarehead Lwt with an FRN 'back-scale'....Really liked this
Finch- Ladybug sized Byrd....This was a gem
Large Persian from Ed Schemp with reddish micarta- Big ol' beast
ARK with a new semi-SERPA-esque blade retention on the sheath
Bradley Packer- Fixed
Sprint Rock Salt- Big and orange!
Jumpmaster2!- This is a must have for me- a big, leaf shaped H1 full serrated
Carey "Fighter"?- Big, weighty, thick beasty
"Night stick?" boot daggery thingy!
Throwing knives!?...Yeah....No.
Ackerman Sliver? Slither?- in CPM20C
Gauntlet sharpener- Cool looking, clever.
Duckfoot and goldenstone angle stand
Hatchet-hawk
New Kitchen knife- In the catalogue- this is seriously well thought out
Fixed CF handle Puuko?
Lime Cutter....Sheepsfoot.
Phew....Still with me?....Awesome!
Here's the goodie bag for this year: the catalogue and a calendar (yay!), a Szabohawk pin (double yay!) and a 'hole from the 40th Year Native (triple and quadruple yay!) plus a Crow 2 on top (So many yays!)....This all has pride of place on the collection shelf.....
Here's my raw notes for you to laugh due to my barely literate runes :)
Again- kind thanks from myself and Mrs Lopez (who spent Sunday indulging her artistic streak in the museums)...With God willing and a fair wind, I hope to see you all again next year!
