Knife skills on display

As The Report shines in NSW 

Hunters use knives and knife makers talk to hunters or are hunters themselves. There is a certain synergy between the two that was evident at Sydney’s NSW Cutlers Expo held recently. 

With The Report magazine on display for attendees and all exhibitors receiving a complimentary copy through our own knife writer Rod Hoare, there was plenty of discussion on the two passions of shooting and knife making. One exhibitor even talked about how he did a spot of feral animal control on foxes and rabbits on his drive down from Emerald to Sydney and planned to do the same on the way home! 

Previously known as the Sydney Knife Show, it was the largest annual event celebrating edged tools and all things sharp south of the equator. The event is brought to states across Australia by the Knife Art Association and supported by the Australian Knifemakers Guild and its members. 

They showcase the work of top Australian artisan makers, highlight knifemaking courses, industry suppliers, factory blades from across the world, along with live demonstrations from blacksmiths, Jacobite re-enactors, hand engraving, scrimshaw, whittling/carving, leatherwork, sharpening and taxidermy. 

Exhibitors came from every state and territory in Australia, as well as New Zealand and Japan, displaying all kinds of folding and fixed blades for every conceived use there is. 

Think about how many times you pick up an edged tool during the day (kitchen or utility knife, axe, hatchet, scissors, multitool or razor.), whether at home in the kitchen, garden, shed or farming. Most jobs require a knife, multitool or similar at some point during a normal day and then there’s the weekend hobbies and interests that see them used all the time, like BBQs, hunting, camping, touring, or carried as a lifesaving item when trekking or bushwalking. Edged tools are everywhere in your life and are required for day-to-day living. Make sure you have the right tool for the job. And that it’s made to perform as required; our artisan exhibitors perform all heat treating, grinding, forging, handling and sharpening of their tools to make sure they are the best possible tool for the required job. 

Edged tools are one of the world’s oldest tools along with the hammer, brought from the stone age into modern times using modern materials, by the men and women who devote their life to the art of making the best possible heirloom quality functional edged tools they can. 

Exhibits included factory knives from the world’s best brands including Benchmade, Civivi, Ruike, Tops, ZT, Cold Steel, Ka-Bar, SOG, Buck, Kizer, Knafs, Jack Wolf, Vosteed, Japanese kitchen knife brands, Boker, Randall, Buck, Puma, ESEE and OKC. 

Every Day Carry (EDC) gear included multitools, flashlights/torches, pens, pads, prybars, coins and wallets, from brands like NEXTORCH, NEXTOOL, Notorious EDC, Tactile Turn, Big Idea Design, Field Notes, Vero and Vosteed. 

For Queenslanders look out for the next show in March next year at Doomben Racecourse. Stay in touch at knifeartassociation.com