RE: International. Knife Show in Munich Germany, 2001
Internationale Messer Ausstellung - IMA Muenchen 3-4.11.2001 For participants list of this and other European shows see Messer Forum Mini-Review
The IMA German show in Munich took place again this year early Nov. (3-4
th).
Markus Balbach - THE Damascus blacksmith - was at the show with a selection
of his superb Damascus knives. He also had two superb Damascus swords which
would make the water run in your mouth. Have a look at his site: Markus Balbach
and you will see what I mean. AND Markus won the
"Best of Show" award as well for an really exquisite Janpanese Sword done
on the basis of museuum data !
Noriaki Narushima, who now lives in Germany showed a number of "Lake" style
interframe folders done without a flaw. Also two mini folders - also
interframe ! - required a magnifying glass to appreciate. Over 30 hours of
work just to assemble, not to mention the preparation of the parts !
Beautiful work using the ultimate in PM blade steels ! To ensure the
absolute control over his work he sends his blades back to Japan for
hardening/tempering.
Eastern Europe was represented by Hungary's Puli Hunting knives' Karoly
Szabados. I was especially taken by a fancy hunter with three removable
wooden segments in the handle (two different sets were provided) ,
perfectly fitted. This knife was not for sale, the innumerable number of
hours spent making it a "keeper" for Karoly. Otherwise, here are really
usable knives, well executed at absolutely reasonable prices ! Despite some
language difficulties, Christina Weiland translated my questions without a
problem.
Juergen Schanz, a very prolific young German maker showed a super line of
tactical knives of the finest water. His integral titanium framed
linerlock(R) although reminiscent of Chris Reeve's work, was a independent
execution of the concept. Markus Becker displayed a well balanced selection of his work, with very elegant interpretation of traditional styles.
Spyderco, Benchmade, Microtech, Gerber and Cold Steel knives were offered
as an alternative to the many customs at the show by Holland Knives,
competently represented by Jurphaas C. van Rietschoten who freely gave many
a customer pertinent advice on buying, selling collecting and using knives.
I was glad to see Bob Levine again - a regular at the Munich show and
Guild member - all the way from Tennesee again . He was selling many
beautifully made classic design folders with lots of mammoth ivory,
titanium lines and bolsters and including fine Damascus. The actions were
smooth as usual with a really tiny folder - blade under 1 inch - with ivory
handles especially catching my fancy.
The German bladesmith Daniel Jeremiah Boll one of the very few in the room
who actually have the profession "Cutler" (very rare these days in Germany)
and his gold/silversmith girl friend, Claudia Schildhorn who does all
silver, and copper work as well as inlaying and mounting precious stones
has had unique knives every year. A "stripped" Damascus piece with ossic
handle and beautiful stones on the guard was a real beauty.
Another German bladesmith, Hr. Hennicke showed lovely pieces smithed in
traditional ball bearing steel very similar to 52100 steel worked from
large round bar stock. A number of well executed Damascus pieces were also
testaments to this young smith's talent
who is obviously quite intimate with the secrets of steel. He also does
beautiful ornamentive blacksmithing to boot.
Wolf Borger, also a friend and regular at the IMA had his usually copious
selection of fine knifemaking supplies as well as selections of his work.
Wolf is a superb knifemaker while running a business, which supplies many a
German and foreign knifemaker with first quality raw materials.
Again was pleased to see Thomas Haslinger who had come all the way from
Canada, speaking perfect German at that (logical since he is of German
descent). Still happy in Canada, he is now doing all his grinds with
"radiused" curves to avoid any possibilities of stress on his knives.
Thomas regularly tests his knives, deliberately breaking them to ensure
that the customer is protected from the same in the field ! Good solid
knives with style from a knowledgeable maker and outdoorsman at reasonable
prices. To see them in color see his site at:
Haslinger Knives
The Master, Hr. Dietmar Kressler had a table with four of his knives but
was not there personally since he was at an "invitational" show in
California. He was represented by Franz Becker a greate maker in his own
right . He has a delicious "mini"
integral on display which was just the cat's meow ! My friend Christian Rankl showed a large selection of his 'tail-lock' folders in an abundance of sizes and shapes. Very slick and elegant, all of them as usual. He had some really nice all stainless small tail-locks for the gentleman - perfect for the boardroom !
Andreas Schweikert, a young blacksmith - Schmiedemeister - also something
of a rarity in Europe made a number of
Mountain Man styled knives in both Damascus and using Farrier files. Here
the texturing is left in for color. The knives are perfectly balanced and
feel surprisingly light in the hand - as a good
knife should ! He also had a "peacepipe" tomahawk with curly maple handle
which whet my appetite for the warpath ! Fritz Schneider was there as always with his original Scheider stainless Damascus and a few examples of his perfect knives. A lapis handled Damascus dagger was enough to take one's breath away ! Perfect ! Fritz always concentrates on perfection and top quality has always been his motto.
The Trompeter & Ritchi cooperation was represented by Hr. Trompeter and his
knives and a number of scrimshawing examples. These scrims, especially on
mammoth ivory have to be seen to be believed ! The written word can be
checked against their site
Trompeter !
Daniel Renner makes mainly fully integral knives meticulously finished at
reasonable prices using the German equivalent of CPM 440V, which is M390
PM. The PM stands for Pulver Metarlurgisch or Powder Metal. Franz Weinberger, as big, rugged and loveable as usual with his Bavarian personality (he looks like an original Mountain Man, in this case the Bavarian mountains) is continuing with his superb work on Obsidian or glass bladed knives perfectly done in the primitive fashion along with arrows to match (!). His standard line of cleanly executed hunters reflect styles from Loveless to Randall. Franz makes what he likes, and variations on traditional designs - including some very rugged fighters - and it definitely shows in his work. Joachim Faust, showed some really beautiful work. I especially liked a small boot knife in perfect proportions done with Balbach stainless Damascus and a beautiful burl handle.
Peter Herbst, showed his well made and esthetic knives. Also,
his Spyderco model is finally being produced after having some production
difficulties. A very "smooth" design ! Since a picture is worth a thousand
words, have a look at his customknives at his site:
Messer Herbst
Although not displaying due to the high expenses of travel etc., the young
and promising engraver Hr. Makovicka showed me some of his excellent
engraving and steel carvings. I have never seen anything like this work
before - lots of fantasy and really accurate execution. He tells me he has
updated his site with pictures
of his latest works. Have a look for something new ! Hr. Richard Spitzl, who specializes in integral knives using RWL34 powder metallurgical steel again impressed me with his precision and also the combination of ivory and Grenadil wood in his handles. Jockl Greiss, a German Guild member as well as a member of The Knifemaker's Guild, showed a fine selection of his elegant creations in Jerry Rados Damascus, ossic and mamouth ivory. Knives executed with great attention to detail and obvious love of the art.
Niklolai Spasov, a Bulgarian newcomer to Munich showed his well finished,
traditional, with real silver boarshead, wolfshead pommels and hunting
knives, in sundry sizes, pretty but intended for using in the field. Have a
look for yourself at Balkan Knives. Sales were good with about 700 visitors total for the two days, a small number compared to US shows, but we're growing ! The Awards:
Noriaki Narushima won the "Best Folder" award at the show for his beautiful
interframe knives. The Jury consisted of (without Wolf Schulz Tattenpach and Magnus von Kuehlmann due to sickness) the Showmaster Franz Becker, himself Knifemaker for over 20 years and the knowledgeable representative of the Deutschen Klingenmuseums in Solingen, Frau Dr. Frauke von der Haar. These are but a few of the highlights at the show, which is small compared to US shows but high in quality. My apologies to the makers I could not review - so little time ! I also apologize for any mistakes in the above review, I am getting older and forgetful - I can recommend the various internet sites for accurate information. copyright(R) Rolf Hatterscheid, in November 2001
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