April 2007 Our membership is happily involved with international “Anything that goes ‘cut’!” Lane Events Center & Fairgrounds • Eugene, Oregon OKCA 32nd Annual • April 14-15 KNIFE SHOW Come have fun at our show and wish a happy 32nd anniversary to us!!! W ELCOME to the Oregon Knife Collectors Association Special Show Knewslettter. On Saturday, April 14 and Sunday, April 15, we want to welcome you and your friends and family to the famous and spectacular OREGON KNIFE SHOW & SALE. Now the Largest Knife Show in the World! The OREGON KNIFE SHOW happens just once a year, at the Lane Events Center & Fairgrounds EXHIBIT HALL, 796 West 13th Avenue in Eugene, Oregon. April 14 - 15. Saturday 9 am -6 pm. Sunday 9 am -3 pm. At the Show, don't miss the special live demonstrations all day Saturday. This year we have Blade Forging, sword demonstrations, Scrimshaw, Engraving, Knife Sharpening, Blade Grinding Competition, Wood Carving, Balisong and Flint Knapping. And don't miss the FREE knife identification and appraisal by knife author BERNARD LEVINE (Table N-01). PLUS, every hour we will be GIVING AWAY FREE knife and knife-related door prizes. Fill out a coupon when you enter, and watch for your name to be posted near the prize showcases and on the Big Screen moving sign. (if you miss the posting, we will MAIL your prize). We will also have a raffle Saturday only. Anyone can enter the raffle. See the display case by the exit to purchase tickets and see the items that you could win. Along the side walls, we will have more than a score of MUSEUM QUALITY KNIFE AND SWORD COLLECTIONS ON DISPLAY for your enjoyment, in addition to our hundreds of tables of hand-made, factory and antique knives for sale. Now 470 tables! When you arrive you can get a listing and map of exhibitors, plus lots more information about the Knife Show and about the Oregon Knife Collectors Association (OKCA). You Could Win... You can also... Join in the Silent Auction... Ask for Bernard Levine, author of , at table N-01. Levine's Guide to Knives and Their Values a new Brand Name knife or other valuable prize, just for filling out a door prize coupon. Do it now so you don't forget! buy tickets in our Saturday (only) RAFFLE for chances to WIN even more fabulous knife prizes. Stop at the OKCA table before 5:00 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are only $1 each, or 6 for $5. Saturday only we will have a display case filled with very special knives for bidding. Put in your bid and see if you will take home a very special prize. Free Identification & Appraisal
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KNIFE SHOW 0704.pdfApril 2007 Our membership is happily involved withinternational “Anything that goes ‘cut’!” Lane Events Center & Fairgrounds • Eugene, Oregon OKCA 32nd
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Transcript
April 2007Our membership is happily involved withinternational “Anything that goes ‘cut’!”
L a n e E v e n t s C e n t e r & F a i r g r o u n d s • E u g e n e , O r e g o n
O K C A 3 2 n d A n n u a l • A p r i l 1 4 - 1 5
KNIFE SHOW
Come have fun at our show and wish a happy 32nd anniversary to us!!!
WELCOME to the Oregon KnifeCollectors Association Special ShowKnewslettter. On Saturday, April 14
and Sunday, April 15, we want to welcome youand your friends and family to the famous andspectacular OREGON KNIFE SHOW & SALE.Now the Largest Knife Show in the World!
The OREGON KNIFE SHOW happens just oncea year, at the Lane Events Center & FairgroundsEXHIBIT HALL, 796 West 13th Avenue inEugene, Oregon. April 14 - 15. Saturday 9 am -6pm. Sunday 9 am -3 pm.
At the Show, don't miss the special livedemonstrations all day Saturday. This year we
have Blade Forging, sword demonstrations,Scrimshaw, Engraving, Knife Sharpening,Blade Grinding Competition, Wood Carving,Balisong and Flint Knapping. And don't missthe FREE knife identification and appraisal byknife author BERNARD LEVINE(Table N-01).
PLUS, every hour we will be GIVING AWAYFREE knife and knife-related door prizes. Fillout a coupon when you enter, and watch for yourname to be posted near the prize showcases andon the Big Screen moving sign. (if you miss theposting, we will MAIL your prize). We will alsohave a raffle Saturday only. Anyone can enter
the raffle. See the display case by the exit topurchase tickets and see the items that you couldwin.
Along the side walls, we will have more than ascore of MUSEUM QUALITY KNIFE ANDSWORD COLLECTIONS ON DISPLAY foryour enjoyment, in addition to our hundreds oftables of hand-made, factory and antique knivesfor sale. Now 470 tables! When you arrive you canget a listing and map of exhibitors, plus lots moreinformation about the Knife Show and about theOregon Knife CollectorsAssociation (OKCA).
You Could Win...
You can also...
Join in the Silent Auction...
Ask for Bernard Levine, author of,
at table N-01.Levine's Guide to Knives and Their Values
a new Brand Name knife or other valuable prize, just forfilling out a door prize coupon. Do it now so you don't forget!
buy tickets in our Saturday (only) RAFFLE for chances to WINeven more fabulous knife prizes. Stop at the OKCA table before
5:00 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are only $1 each, or 6 for $5.
Saturday only we will have a display case filled withvery special knives for bidding. Put in your bid and see
if you will take home a very special prize.
Free Identification & Appraisal
Page 2
ForgingDemonstration
This year our forgingdemonstration will be onSaturday and Sundaystarting at 11:00 AM.R a y m o n d R i c h a r d ,Gresham, OR, willc o n d u c t t h i sdemonstration of forging aknife. You are invited towatch how aknife is forgedand listen tothe blows ofthe hammeragainst steel.Listen also asRay answersq u e s t i o n sabout his craft.
Demonstration by Murray CarterOn Saturday April 14 at 1:00
A Guide to the Proper Pronunciation of Japanese BladeRelated Terminology
You can butcher your food with your cutlery and letothers butcher the pronunciation of Japanese cutleryrelated terms. I will teach you to easily master the fewterms related to cutlery; and when you speak them infront of other knife people, they will be amazed atyour impeccable command of Japanese.
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Japanese CutleryWe will have a special guest this year visiting from Japan. ShinichiWatanabe of WATANABE BLADES is coming to the Oregon Showfor the first time. He can be found at table P01. He has a web site athttp://www.watanabeblade.com/english. A write up from his page isinteresting.
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If you are interested in following more on Japan and cutlery, visitMurray Carter at table T01. Murray spent many years in Japanmaking knives and studying cutlery. Murray will be sharing hisknowledge and experiences with us during his seminar on Saturday,April 14 at 1 pm.
We will also be having a live demonstration of Japanese swords byChristian Griesi at 12 noon. Christian has a table at L13. The subjectwill be Modern versus Ancient Budo. This will give you a chance todo a “google” search on the subject before you come to the Show.
Watanabe Blade Biography HistoryI'm the sixth bladesmith in the line of Watanabe bladesmiths inSanjyo-city Niigata-prefecture Japan. Therefore, my family have beenbladesmiths since my great, great, great, grandfather. Their brothersand their brother's children were also bladesmiths. We have beenbladesmiths from generation to generation since 1897.
I know about our ancestor's history back to 1897, but I don't knowmuch about it before that. Last year, my grandfather's house wasmoved to make a new road. During the construction, many remainswere found. There were a lot of iron ore, water stones, some pieces offire place bricking, some pieces of bellows and slag. And they datedback to the Heian Period in 794! It's possible that the Watanabefamily has been bladesmiths since then!
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Yet another table to visit will be Michael Bell at table M12. Iconsider Michael Bell to be one of the top Japanese sword makers inthe world. Michael is an Oregon resident and a strong supporter ofthe Oregon Knife Club.
We will also have many table-holders that specialize in Japaneseswords at the Show. If you happen to have a family heirloom that is aJapanese sword, this Show will be the one to help you find thehistory of that item. Bring your sword or any cutlery item that youwant to learn more about to the Oregon Knife Show.
Just whenI'm gettingused to a certain brand of epoxy, sandpaper, or whatever, itchanges.After some trial and error I find a favorite dish at a restaurant and thenit gets changed or taken off the menu. I wish some things would be left withoutchanging.
Other changes are good. At one time I saved files on floppy discs. Then zipdiscs, then CD discs and now on DVD discs and an external hard drive. A CDwill hold the information from 400 floppies; the DVD will hold the informationfrom 20 CDs. Those are the kind of changes that save space and time, I like that.
Forty-five years ago I clobbered together a homemade grinder that I used toshape, smooth and buff the blade of my first knife.All I had in mind was to makemyself a hunting knife, and then I made more and then even more. Whilemaking that first knife, I had no idea that knifemaking would become my life'swork. I didn't know that my motivation to make hunting knives would change.What happened is that new challenges came along and sometimes I got tired ofdoing the same thing over and over. There was one period of time when all Iwanted to do was make folding knives. Damascus steel came along and thatpossessed me for more than a few years. Today all I want to do is make anotherBowie knife. When I hold a finished Bowie knife in my hands, it doessomething good for me that is hard to explain. It probably has something to dowith owning them for a little while, or is it the size, or perhaps the history theyhave? I simply can't get very interested in making most other types of knives; Ido get excited by the next Bowie knife that's floating around in my mind. That'sa change that's been good for me.
I'll vouch for what someone smarter than me said, "The effect our work has onus is more important than the work itself."
My friends in Junior High and High School didn't have much in the way ofknives because I was good at trading. Their knives were now in my collection. Ihad some nice old pearl and bone handled pocketknives, classic hunters, aGerman bayonet and a military bolo knife from WW2. Most of those knives areextremely hard to find today. The young person who wants to collect knives in2007 will, for the most part, have to settle for what is currently being made.Things have changed for thosewhowant tocollect knives.
I'm a garage sale addict, and I usually ask if they have any knives that aren't putout. Asking that question several years ago made me aware of something that Ihad overlooked or ignored. When I asked the lady running the sale about knives.she said, "Would you like to see my collection?" I answered yes and waited forher to bring it out for me to see. I expected something other than what she had toshow me. She pulled the knives out of the cardboard box one at a time for me tolook at. There wasn't one knife in the whole box that was more than 20-yearsold. Most were less than ten years old and 99% of them were foreign made andnot of the best quality at that. As I finished looking at the last one, it was clearthat she had collected the only knives she could find. What if the cheap importknives that are everywhere today are a part of what will be collectable 40-yearsfrom now?
The more I thought about it the clearer it became that things are a lot differentthan 40 years ago, or 20 years ago. Back then you could find old knives for saleat a lot of places. Those knives are largely gone, and what's left for people tocollect are the more modern knives. It takes a lot of looking and a fair amount ofluck to find a fine old knife in 2007. The scarcity of old knives may mean therewill be less knife collectors in the future.
At our last Club meeting it seemed that at least half of the knives shown at theshow-and-tell were purchased on the internet. No doubt that is changing thewayfolks find their collectable knives.
The OKCAShow is now 32 years old and is approximately ten times larger thanit was at the start. That's quite a change! Right from the start there were a blendof collectors and knifemakers, and the collectors were mostly into old knives. Ifmy memory serves me right, the collectors outnumbered the knifemakers.Today it must be very close to a 50-50 mix with the number of knifemakersincreasing. There are so many knifemakers at most shows today that they aren'tgetting the same percentage of their business at shows as they once did. Some
makers blame the shows for being too large, or that there are too many shows.That's kind of like blaming the Earth for being so large. My advice to makerswho aren't selling knives is that they make something different because it couldbe a change that would improve their sales.
One thing that hasn't changed is the purpose of the OKCAAnnual Show whichis defined in the bylaws. "B. The purpose of this association as also stated in theArticles of Incorporation, filed with the State of Oregon, is to: 1. Provide anorganization which will unite persons with like interests in the field of knives, togather together for the purpose of exchanging ideas and fellowship. 2. Furtherknife collecting as a hobby in both the antique and modern field, as well as thecollecting of related items. 3.To further the general knowledge of the knife fieldby providing educational displays for the members and the general public to seeand enjoy."
There isn't anything in the bylaws about the selling of knives. Yes, there is a lotof buying and selling that goes on at the Show. There are those who want theOKCA Show to be a selling place exclusively for the types of knives that theythink are appropriate. I will remind them of the motto we've had from the start.As to what can be sold or displayed: "Anything that goes cut." That, of course,doesn't include any items that would be illegal by city, county, state or federallaws.
The 2007 Show is just around the corner, and I'm looking forward to it with allthe anticipation of a child waiting for Christmas. I've never been disappointedand always pleased with the newthings I see and learn.
In 1976 we hadalmost 50 tables in the
Pioneer Building.That was really sumptin’.
In the 1990’s we had250 tables of all knives.This picture shows us
wall to wall in thePerformance Hall.
In the last few years we have had 470 tables, and the cameracannot even see both walls at the same time in the Exhibit Hall.
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The Oregon Knife Collectorswill be held at the Lane Events Center
and Fairgrounds EXHIBIT HALL, 796 West 13th Avenue in EugeneOregon. This is the same location as the 2006 Show. 470 TABLES,
Exhibitor set up and membersonly day. No exceptions. New members may sign up at the door ($20individual, $23 family) AFTER 2:00 PM. Membership renewalsAFTER 2:00 PM.
Open to the public. $5.00admission. Forging demonstration 11:00 AM. Other demonstrationsthroughout the day. Live radio broadcasts - 6:00 PM Saturday NightSocial - tickets $5/person. Awards Presentations. Hors d'ouevres. Nohost bar.
Open to the public.Forging demonstration 11:00AM. The Show is open until 3pmand all tables will be full until this time.
32nd Annual Knife Show
the Largest Knife Show in the World!!!
Friday, April 13, 10:00 AM -8:00 PM:
Saturday April 14, 9:00 AM -6:00 PM
Sunday April 15, 9:00 AM -3:00 PM:
Cit y and County Regulations require that there be:
:
No smoking within the Exhibit Hall at any time.No alcoholic beverages consumed within the Exhibit Hall
during the public hours of the Show.
Show Schedule
Knife Show Etiquette Knife shows are a lot of fun. They are best,however, when visitors follow a few basic rules of courtesy. These are:
Do not handle knives without permission.Do not touch the blade or the edge of any knife offered ordisplayed as a collector's item.Do not wipe off the blade of a knife. Let the exhibitor do it.Do not open more than one blade of a folding knife at a time.Do not block a sale table if you are only "window shopping."If you have brought knives to trade or sell, obtain permission beforedisplaying them at or in front of someone's table.Please do not interrupt or comment on any transaction.
The Oregon KnifeCollectors Association(organized in 1976) is anon-profit organization,happily involved with"Anything that goesCut!" The OKCAOregon Knife Show,with 470 8-foot exhibitortables, is now the largest all-knife show in the world.OKCA members receiveadmission to the Friday"set-up" day at the KnifeShow, nine Knewslettters per year,invitations to our popular no-host dinner meetings,free tables at our Winter Show in December, and achance to buy our annual limited-edition clubknives. Membership is open to all.Dues are $20/year (individual) or$23/year (family under one roof).Come to the Club Table by theShow entrance after 2:00 PMFriday, or after 9:30AMSaturdayor Sunday, to sign up and get yourmembership card, or mail your c h e c kto: OKCA, PO BOX 2091, EUGENEOR 97402.
About the OKCA
CONTRIBUTIONS
Many companies and individuals contribute knife-related items to the Oregon KnifeCollectors Association Annual Show.
Raffle and door prize items are displayed prominently during the course of the Show.Door prizes are awarded by random drawing to members of the public who paid for
Show admission. Tickets for the raffle are sold both to the public and to table-holders. Proceeds of the raffle help to underwrite the costs of the Show.
See the up-to-the minute list of raffle and door-prize contributors at:http://www.oregonknifeclub.org
The following is a list of the people and companies who have contributed to date:
Admiral Steel • Al Mar Knives • Buck KnivesCoast Cutlery Company • Columbia River Knife & Tool
Crazy Crow TradingThe Custom Shoppe - David Shirley
Terry Davis • Dixie Gun Works • Stan FujisakaKG Products - Jerry & Kay Whitmore
Knife & Gun Finishing Supplies - Ken & Sharon McFallLone Wolf Knives • Dan McCafferty
Copyright (C) 2007 Oregon KnifeCollectors Association. No part ofthis Knewslettter may bereproduced without permission ofthe OKCA. [email protected]. Layoutand printing by Insta-Print - 1208W. 6th - Eugene, OR 97402
O K C A 3 2 n d A n n u a l Cutlery DisplaysA p r i l 1 4 - 1 5 • L a n e E v e n t s C e n t e r • E u g e n e , O r e g o n
****** NORTH WALL ******
Mike Kyle
Since 1982 Remington has offered a handsome series of sportingknives with "Bullet" shields, along with annual art posters promotingthese knives (most of them painted by San Francisco artist Larry W.Duke). Mike Kyle will present his large display of both the knivesand the posters along the north wall.
Phil Rodenberg
Phil is a long-time collector of Gerberknives made in Portland, Oregon. Hewill be displaying the rarest itemsfrom his collection.
Barb Kyle
Barb will be displaying her collectionof custom-made miniature knives. Shehas been collecting “minis” for nearlytwo decades. Included are knivesmade by Wayne Goddard, JimWhitehead, Al Barton, Paul Wardian,and many other OKCA member-knifemakers.
Greg Gritsch
The display will consist of many of the standard production Striderknives, the “work horses” that are used and valued by many. It willalso contain some special edition versions that are Strider exclusives(some call them “The Holy Grail” of Striders). The display will becomplimented with Special Forces insignia from the present Iraq warand some special Strider SWAG.
Weldon Teetz
Webster Marble of Gladstone, Michigan, invented and manufacturedall sorts of hardware and gadgets for the serious sportsman. Weldonwill be displaying his extensive collection of Marble's items, not justthe famous knives and axes, but also gun sights and other Marble'sand M.S.A. items.
Phil Bailey
This year Phil is showing us some military knives to look out for,both in terms of scarcity but also fakes and fantasy pieces as well.He notes there are some rare items to be discovered, but please usecaution and common sense when presented with that exciting deal.
Louis Chow
The evolution of the Loveless subhilt fighter from 1954 to thepresent. (On exhibit: the first fighter Loveless made for sale in 1954;early Delaware period subhilts (the precursors to the Big Bear
Remington Bullet Knives and Posters A07
Rare Gerber Legendary BladesA09
Legends in Steel A10
Strider Knives A11
Marble's Outing Equipment A12
Are They Rare? or Buyer Beware! A13
The Loveless Subhilt Fighter A17
Bowie); an unique, early fighter that saw service in the 12th Cavalry;a special-order Lawndale subhilt with a Brazilian hardwood handle;contemporary Big Bear and Junior Bear subhilts; and the actualcrown-stag handle "Big Bear" subhilt made in 1969, that waspictured in the 1970 catalog.
Stanley Chan
Large stage knife custom made in the early 19th century forcelebrated actor Edwin Forrest in his most famous theatrical role,"Metamora, the Last of the Wampanoags," first performed in 1829.Modern vintage push daggers, by makers such as Cooper, Lile andChapelle. Stag handle fighting knives by pioneer makers such as W.W. Cronk, Red Watson, Don Hastings and Ron Lake.
Chuck Gollnick
The Balisong Underground proudly exhibits a wide variety ofbalisong (butterfly) knives. Modern and antique, custom andproduction, artistic and utilitarian pieces will show the entirespectrum of the strongest and most reliable of folding knife designs.Several fabulous custom balisongs will be on display.
Rick Wagner
This year Rick will be displaying a selection of United StatesOfficers' swords used during the War of 1812. Original officers'manuals are included, as are an 1813 newspaper and an impressedAmerican seaman's discharge from the British Navy, both illustratingthe hot-button American issues in the war.
Clay Stephens
Clay will display two collections. Hand held can openers dating fromthe 1890s to the 1930s and World War II U.S. military issue pocketknives.
Jim Pitblado
Display of over 35 Official Remington Boy Scout utility knives andfixed blade knives and 12 Official Remington Girl Scout Knives.Display also includes advertising material and historical informationon various patterns as they changed throughout the years.
Charlie Campagna
The Empire Collection is a lifetimecollection of Charlie’s friend, TomBoutin, from Winsted, CT, the formerhome of Empire. Charlie purchased it,enhanced it; and it will be the basis ofsome articles, and possibly a book!There are many historical papers andpictures as well.
Custom Made Knives A19
Balisongs; Butterfly Knives A21
Military Swords X02
Can Openers / WWII U.S. Issue Pocket Knives X05
Remington Official Boy and Girl Scout Knives X06
Empire Knives X07
****** SOUTH WALL ******
Page 6
Ron Edwards
The New York Knife Company, knives and information about thisearly knife company with locations and the dates they were inbusiness.
Tom & Gwen Guinn
Once again Tom and Gwen will share with us their collection of hand-made miniature knives. Most top makers have tried their hands atminis, and a few makers create nothing but. Tom and Gwen have beencollecting minis for a decade. They are fascinated by functionalminiature versions of full-sized knives. Most of their knives are one ofa kind, all are fully functional, and many have won awards for theirmakers.
Dave Anderson
Kershaw has made many patterns and styles of knives from the late1970s to date. Dave Anderson has accumulated a collection of thenumerous knives made by this Portland based company.
Roger Baker
Mr. Baker's collection includes the finest examples from threedifferent areas of bowie knife collecting: fixed blade bowies, foldingbowie knives, and California knives.
Jack Birky
Dozens of Different Species of knives and edge tools sold andmarketed by E.C.SIMMONS, KEEN KUTTER. Jack has beencollecting both items for many years. This year he will display a widerange of knives and edge tools, many different patterns...
R. Terry Gail
Knives by W. R. Case & Sons of Bradford, Pennsylvania, have longtopped the list of collector favorites. And the prettiest of all are theCase genuine stags. Terry presents a dazzling display of these greatlooking knives, built up over the course of three decades. He pointsout that stag handled pocketknives are less common than bone orsynthetics. Stag is a natural material, used only on premium examplesof the cutler's art.
R. Terry Gail
Technically advanced folding knives made by Oregon's ownBenchmade knife company, using the most advanced state-of-the-artmetal-working technology. These are examples of current productionknives, including pre-production examples and first-productionmarked knives.
Rick Miller
The daggers and fighting knives of Toledo, Spain, are the stuff oflegend. Here is a rare chance to see the real thing. And they aresplendid! The oldest knife in Rick's display is a dagger made byEusebio Zuloaga of Toledo in 1841.
Mike Adamson
Mike will be displaying six countertop cutlery display cases: Boker,Camillus, Case, Remington, Kutmaster and Western --all of themfilled with knives.
New York Knife Company X08
Miniature Knives X09
Kershaw Thru the Years X10
Antique Bowie Knives X11
Keen Kutter Cutlery and Tools X12
Case Stag Pocket Knives X13
Benchmade Knives X14
Spanish Toledo Knives X18
Antique Cutlery Displays X19
David & Lonna Schmiedt
David and Lonna will exhibit their collection of swords fromMalaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, including Moro swords,Nias Island swords and Borneo headhunter swords. These are someof the finest and most beautifully crafted edged weapons ever made.The forge work, the damascus steel, the carving -- all are superb. Thecloser you look, the more amazed you will be.
Ed Holbrook
Ed "wrote the book" on Scout knives, and he published a newexpanded edition last year. His display includes excellent examplesof just about all of the Official Scout knives ever made. Ed has beenactively involved with the Boy Scouts of America since 1948, and hehas collected Official Scout knives (Boy Scout, Girl Scout, andCampfire) since 1982. The rarest knives in his display are the Officialknives from the 1910s through 1930s, including those by New YorkKnife Co., Remington, Ulster, L. F. & C. and Cattaraugus.
Indonesian & Phillipine Swords X20
Scout Knives X23
Display Award KnivesThe blades that were ground at the April 2006 grinding competition wereused to make up the display award knives for the April 2007 Show.
The following are the people who have so graciously finished these blanks tomake fantastic awards:
Bill Amoureaux - Northport WA - N18Bruce Bump - Walla Walla WA - U12
Tedd Harris - Hillsboro OR - S03Cameron House - Salem OR - F09
Todd Kopp - Apache Junction AZ - J17Gene Martin - Williams OR - Q10Lynn Moore - Fall Creek OR - O13
Matt Otto - Nampa ID - S06Robert Schrader - Bend OR - Q01
Mikey Vellekamp - Puyallup WA - F12Alan Warren - Portland OR - U18Art Washburn - Pioche NV - Q02
Craig Morgan - Eugene OR - P05 display standsJerry Whitmore - Oakland OR - A15 engraving
I have a knife that I have had for about 30 years. I like it because itsays Eugene, Oregon, on it. I also like it because in knife talk it is“mint” and was cost effective (cheap).
The handles are metal (probably nickel silver), and the words areclearly readable.
THE HOLDER OF THIS KNIFE WILL BE ALLOWED ONEDOLLAR ON ANY MAN’S SUIT OR OVERCOAT. SIMPLYSHOW THE KNIFE.
The back side of the knife says:
ROBERTS BROS TOGGERY MEANS WEAR EUGENE ORE.
The knife is marked - A.W. WILLIAMS & CO.- NEW YORK on thefront tang and H. KESCHNER GERMANY ON THE BACK TANGof this two bladed knife. Because it appeared so nice I first thought itwas a reproduction knife of recent manufacture.
When I first purchased this knife, I was puzzled over the word“Toggery.” A trip to my Funk & Wagnall didn’t help as this word wasnot even listed. Several dictionaries later I found the word, and theinformation that the word was first used in 1811. It also suggested thatit came from “togs” and was used in reference to clothing. In anyevent it was one of those words that comes into fashion for a period oftime and then phases out. It gave me the clue that Roberts Bros. was a
clothing store. Pretty smart hey, considering that the discount withthe knife was for a man’s suit or overcoat. Momma didn’t raise nodummy.
I like to try an educated guess or two before I research a knife’sactual origin. I figured that a German made knife would not havebeen manufactured for the U.S. from about 1914 to 1924 (WWI) andfrom 1935 until 1950 (WWII). I also guessed that it was after 1950from the looks of it, but boy was I wrong on that one. A look inGoins’ and Levine’s knife books suggested that this was a 1920sknife. And that was a firm maybe. So the search went on. Having aninsatiable appetite for historical mysteries, dear elayne and I went tothe University of Oregon and did a search on old newspapers. Thosenewspapers prior to 1930 required the use of a microfilm reader. Iknow that we spent numerous evenings going back in time lookingfor any clue to Robert’s Toggery. We also searched city directoriesfor a clue to this store. Nothing.
We started looking in the 1920s and nothing showed up. It is a factthat one can become quite nauseous looking at microfilm go flyingbefore your face in the hunt for information. I had to actually slowdown before I conquered the queasy stomach syndrome. I rememberit well. So then we started in 1919 to 1918 and down through theyears. It was slow tedious work. We were looking mainly foradvertisements for this store because I believed if they had purchasedan advertising knife chances are they purchased advertising space inthe local newspaper.
I was hoping that I would find my original notes, as I doubt whetherI will go through the microfilm forest another time in my life. Frommemory, since I have not located my notes, I will guess that we hitpay dirt around 1912. I do recall that Robert’s Toggery was only inbusiness for a few years. The ads were there, and I also rememberthat we did not have the ability to make copies of this information.There is a certain mystery to knives that are pristine and date so farback in time. I enjoy the knife for its local history and for the manystories it tells, all at the same time. The knife will go back into mycollection in a safe place; and when the day comes that I find mynotes, I betcha that I won’t be able to find the knife.
You may see this knife displayed at the Show on table K03.
Page 10
OKCA ClubWhot-zits & Whos Zits
In Oregon it is legal to make, sell, buy, or ownswitchblade knives. However, IT IS ILLEGAL here tocarry a switchblade knife, a gravity knife, a dagger, or adirk concealed on one's person, or for a convicted felonto possess a switchblade. Thirty states have bannedpossession or sale of switchblade knives. Under federallaw it is ILLEGAL to mail, carry, or ship a switchbladeor gravity knife across state lines, including U.S borders.
Oregon Public Order Offense 166.240 Carrying ofconcealed weapons. (1) Except as provided in subsection(2) of this section, any person who carries concealedupon the person any knife having a blade that projects orswings into position by force of a spring or bycentrifugal force, any dirk, dagger, ice pick, slungshot,metal knuckles, or any similar instrument by the use ofwhich injury could be inflicted upon the person orproperty of any other person, commits a Class Bmisdemeanor.
(2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section applies toany peace officer as defined in ORS 133.005, whose dutyit is to serve process or make arrests.
Switchblades & DaggersState - Federal - Postal LawsState
PUBLIC BUILDINGS, INCLUDING SCHOOL BUILDINGS [excerpt]
Federal
Postal
-Oregon's state knife laws were revised in 1999. Here are key sections of the currentlaws. For links to the complete text, and for other U.S. state knife laws, visit www.knife-expert.com
166.240 Carrying of concealed weapons. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of thissection, any person who carries concealed upon the person any knife having a blade thatprojects or swings into position by force of a spring or by centrifugal force, any dirk, dagger,ice pick, slungshot, metal knuckles, or any similar instrument by the use of which injurycould be inflicted upon the person or property of any other person, commits a Class Bmisdemeanor.
(2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section applies to any peace officer as defined in ORS133.005, whose duty it is to serve process or make arrests. Justice courts have concurrentjurisdiction to try any person charged with violating any of the provisions of subsection (1) ofthis section. [Amended by 1977 c.454 §1; 1985 c.543 §2; 1989 c.839 §21; 1999 c.1040 §15]
[Note: The phrase "by centrifugal force" is often interpreted to apply to any folding knife ofwhich the blade can be "thrown" open while holding on to the handle.]
166.270 Possession of weapons by certain felons. (1)... firearm... (2) Any person who hasbeen convicted of a felony under the law of this state or any other state, or... under the laws ofthe Government of the United States, who owns or has in the person’s possession or under theperson’s custody or control any instrument or weapon having a blade that projects or swingsinto position by force of a spring or by centrifugal force or any blackjack, slungshot,sandclub, sandbag, sap glove or metal knuckles, or who carries a dirk, dagger or stiletto,commits the crime of felon in possession of a restricted weapon...
166.360 (5) "Weapon" means: (b) Any dirk, dagger, ice pick, slingshot, metal knuckles or anysimilar instrument or a knife other than an ordinary pocket knife, the use of which couldinflict injury upon a person or property...
166.370 (1) Any person who intentionally possesses a loaded or unloaded firearm or anyother instrument used as a dangerous weapon, while in or on a public building, shall uponconviction be guilty of a Class C felony.
-United States Code, TITLE 15 -COMMERCE AND TRADE, CHAPTER 29,Section 1242. Whoever knowingly introduces, or manufactures for introduction, intointerstate commerce, or transports or distributes in interstate commerce, any switchbladeknife, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.As used in this chapter -
(a) The term ''interstate commerce'' means commerce between any State, Territory,possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and any place outside thereof.
(b) The term ''switchblade knife'' means any knife having a blade which opens automatically-
(1) by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of the knife, or(2) by operation of inertia, gravity, or both.
Exceptions... (3) the Armed Forces or any member or employee thereof acting in theperformance of his duty... [Note: this exception does NOT exempt sales to members of thearmed forces. It only exempts carry of issued knives across state lines by Armed Forcespersonnel while on duty.]
-United States Code, TITLE 18, PART I -CRIMES, CHAPTER 83, Section 1716.Injurious articles as nonmailable... [including] (g) All knives having a blade which opensautomatically (1) by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of theknife, or (2) by operation of inertia, gravity, or both... (h) Any advertising, promotional, orsales matter which solicits or induces the mailing of anything declared nonmailable...
Watch the Big Sign!This year we are experimenting with a four footlong reader board sign. We hope that this will letpeople know if they have won a door prize. Wewill also have announcements of importance andinformation on the demonstrations. We will sounda bell to let everyone know to look at the sign formessages of importance. Therefore if you hear abicycle bell, you do not have to move out of theway; but you will want to read the message. Forthose in the back of the room may we suggestDoctor Eyesneedchecking.
Page 11April 2007
Photography at the Oregon Knife Show
Website
Art work needs to be captured on film for not only one's personal pleasurebut also to use in publications. Since our Show is but a fleeting moment intime, we have engaged one of our own Club members to take professionalquality photographs during the Show. We have set aside a shooting studio onthe Show site. Dan O’Malley is a professional photographer who cancertainly do justice photographically to your knives be they antique,sentimental or custom made. Make an appointment while at the Show forBladegallery.com (table Q03) to take that once in a lifetime photograph.
The Oregon Knife Collectors has posted a website on the WorldWide Web.It can answer your questions about our Club and about our Show.Also, thespecial articles that we have published in our Knewslettter can be found onour website. In addition we have provided links to our members who haveweb sites of their own.
www.oregonknifeclub.org
DIRECTIONS TO THE LANE EVENTS CENTERFrom 1-5 take exit 194B. Stay on I-105 West until the end (it crossesover the Willamette River and then curves to the left). I-105 ends at7th and Jefferson (when I-105 widens to three lanes, stay in the centerlane to avoid being forced to turn). Proceed straight ahead, south onJefferson, straight through the intersection at 13th & Jefferson, whereyou will enter the Lane Events Center and Fairgrounds: 796 W 13thAve., Eugene, OR 97402, (541) 682-4292. The EXHIBIT HALL is atthe South end of the large building on your right. The entrance isaround on the West side. Parking is available on both sides.
Knifemakers from all over the U.S., and from several foreignlands, come to the Oregon Knife Show. You can meet well-known makers, and perhaps order that special custom-madeknife you have always wanted. Prominent knife dealers areoffering everything from classic knives by makers long gone,to the latest in high-tech and high-art cutlery from the U.S.A.,Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.
Hand-made knives range from solid practical hunting,fishing, kitchen and utility knives that are pricedcompetitively with good factory knives--though with thatone-of-a-kind hand-made touch--on up to exquisite,investment-grade, fine-art pieces suitable for the mostdiscriminating collector.
The Northwest is an important center of bladesmithing, so besure to note the wide variety of hand-forged cutlery offeredhere. Each forged blade was individually hammered-to-shapered hot by its "smith" or maker. Many have "Damascus"blades, built up of layered or braided steels of varyingcomposition, then etched or specially polished to reveal theresulting pattern.
Another regional knifemaking specialty is traditionalobsidian knapping, as practiced in Oregon in the Stone Age.Some modern obsidian knives are made for use, and theywork as well as similar knives did 10,000 years ago. Othersare fine art display pieces.
For the do-it-yourself knifemaker, don't miss the wideassortment of knife making supplies and guidebooks offeredby several of our exhibitors.
Hand-Made Knives
This weekend at theLane Events Center:
Oregon Knife Show - Exhibit Hall
Friends of the Library Book Sale - Performance Hall
The KnewslettterOregon Knife Collectors AssociationPO Box 2091Eugene, OR 97402
Page 12 April 2007
OKCA Cutlery Demonstrations32nd Annual Show - April 14 - 15, 2007
All the demonstrations will take place in Meeting Room #3 or #4 which are located in the rooms to the right (South) of the ShowEntrance. Demonstrations will start promptly at the specified times. These demonstrations are designed to be highly educationaland entertaining and are presented to show the many facets of our interest in cutlery and cutting tools.
Sunday Morning Chapel Service - Howard Hoskins (U12) 8:00Blade Grinding Competition - Sponsored by True Grit (Y10) MorningForging a Knife - Raymond Richard (V07) 11:00Wood Carving (At table P04) - Dory Silva All DayThe Art of Engraving (At table A15) - Jerry Whitmore (A15) All Day
The Art of Scrimshaw - Bob Hergert (X15) 10:00Balisong Knife Exhibition - Chuck Gollnick (A21) 11:00Forging a Knife - Raymond Richard (V07) 11:00Modern vs. Ancient Budo Related Terminology - Christian Griesi (L13) 12:00Japanese Blade Related Terminology - Murray Carter (T01) 1:00Modern Olympic Saber (Fencing) (W14) 2:00Flint Knapping - Making Stone Tools - Martin Schempp (V11) 3:00Sharpness & Performance Seminar - Wayne Goddard (N10) 4:00Wood Carving (At table P04) - Dory Silva All DayThe Art of Engraving (At table A15) - Jerry Whitmore (A15) All Day
Metallurgy Seminar 9:00
Saturday
FridaySunday
The number & letter followingeach name is the Show table location.