We will now interrupt the regularly scheduled program for this good old Blades micro podcast. Knife season for the year is upon us when it comes to shows. And I was doing some research to see if some of my ideas about knife show etiquette aligned with, I guess, the greater populace of published work. And I noticed that there was quite a few websites and references that talk about blade etiquette, and I thought that I would just provide our own take at the Good Old Blades podcast for y'all. Some of these items come from Spartan Blades and A. G. Russell and Blade Magazine, and I uh I couldn't agree more, and let me give some context in it. The first one is get permission to handle a knife. I can't tell you enough how much risk a knife maker takes on by presenting their knives at a at a show. And for you to cut yourself or contaminate it with your blood or get to a point where you're injured, um, all of those things spell to disaster for the knife maker. Uh it doesn't matter whether they carry liability insurance or uh what, it just uh it equals bad things. Uh typically you'll have to buy the blade if you get cut, uh, because there's there's no way to sanitize it against uh the things that are in your blood, and you know, you if you get cut you buy it. However, it's just uh it's real poor form uh to handle a blade poorly um and also do that without the permission of the knife maker. Uh typically these blades that are on tables are razor sharp and uh uh not everybody should just be picking them up and messing with them because they are the wares of the knife maker. Um I I I generally uh don't experience uh people coming up and and just pawing on on knives without my permission. So I've always been delightfully surprised at that. Um most everybody is actually uh I would say apprehensive uh to pick up blades. And you know, as long as you do it safely, uh I want you to to pick up my work and to look at it in the light and inspect it and see how it feels and everything. That's one of the great prides of being able to exhibit um my own work and you know, knife makers in general. So, you know, just make sure that you ask permission, uh, but just be prepared uh to pick up knives because even if you're just looking for inspiration or for general ideas about what certain types of custom knife uh knives look like, um that there's no better experience than the tactile one of being able to pick up, feel, and look at knives. So just make sure that you have permission on that. Um I often find that this is a problem uh where uh you know the the advice that I give is uh wait your turn. Um there are oftentimes multiple people at any given table, and uh whether they're just window shopping or actually serious about purchasing something, uh, you know, there's a cue and there is a first come, first serve type of approach, typically uh to every knife maker. And unfortunately for you, if you show up late, uh you still have to wait your turn. And you you just be respectful of other patrons um who are coming to a table because you know the knife maker doesn't typically show favoritism at shows. Um, usually uh knife makers have a first come, first serve uh type of approach to their knives. And if there's multiple people online, you kind of just gotta wait. Um and uh just don't make it awkward because the knife maker, really honestly, um that's usually the the issue is uh they don't want to get into any confrontations because people are fighting over who got in line first and whatnot. So you know, help a fellow knife maker out and just wait your turn. Um another common problem, especially in uh very popular shows or high traffic areas, is um you know, move or get out of the way. Um if you are not talking to a knife maker, if you're not actively at their table um you know looking at their wares and everything, then you are occupying space at something that they've spent a lot of money uh to uh to rent from the knife show and uh a lot of time to prepare for. So um I I honestly this is one that uh kind of grinds my gears a little bit at times because I all you know I've spent five six hundred dollars for a table, you know, thousands of dollars preparing for a knife show, and uh people will sit and talk to other other uh showgoers in front of my table and scare off other customers. And you know, that there's not a situation where my table or those um uh tables around are meeting places for uh for other patrons. Uh yeah, just so just you know move on, get out of the way, uh, go to one of the aisles where it's not in front of anybody's table because you know at the end of the day, just respect the fact that I'm there to do business. Now, if you want to talk, that's fine. Um no need to get out of the way because you're at home in front of my table if you want to talk. However, again, it's uh it's a common courtesy that if you are not uh actively transacting or looking at works or things like that, uh that that's not it's not chum around or you know, talk to your fellow buddy or whatever. It's uh you know, get out of the way, uh move through the queue, and get to some place that's respectful for all parties to have for you to sit and talk. Um another one is no haggling. Um typically the the prices on tables are those uh for shows and they're there to sell. And uh, you know, respect the fact that a maker has a lot of time, energy, and other uh you know resources uh tied up in presenting at a knife show. And and typically when they're factoring all in all their prices for their table, the sum total is very reasonably uh priced. So uh you might find that makers, if they still have knives on their table at the end of the show, you know, they might give you a discount for uh you know for not wanting to carry extra stuff home. However, don't expect it, and it's a wise idea not to lead with haggling. It's not a flea market, and it's not a yard sale, uh, it's not a swap meet, it is definitely a place of business, and these uh ladies and gentlemen have to be able to pay their bills and uh continue on with their craft, and part of that is also honoring the price that they have set on their table. Another one is be considerate of folders. Now, there are lots of folders that are usually open at tables for you to be able to look at and to feel, and if you want to check the action, that's great. But one thing that I see a lot of people do is open and close knives without consideration that there's a potential that that blade could wrap against the spring. Um, there's uh no consideration for multi-blades and so on and so forth. So um, you know, just remember uh especially with folders, you have mechanisms that wear out over time, and like turning on a light switch nine million times uh dulls, dims, or destroys a light bulb. Um, you know, actuating a slip joint is also going to uh wear it out, even if only marginally. And you are uh you know decreasing the operability of that knife every time you actuate it. And if you're not going to buy it, then just be very, very careful. Um, you know, uh like again with slip joints, uh especially multi-blades, like don't open more than one blade at a time. Uh it might look cool, but if it's not yours, don't do that. Um if you're not going to buy it, don't do that, because uh anytime you open up uh multiple blades at the same time, it puts a lot of strain on that spring, and it could inadvertently uh damage it. And another thing is that in a lot of uh cases with multi-blade slip joints, um you have uh certain clearances that are allowed for in the configuration of the blades, and you can't open more than one at a time without potentially wrapping it against another blade. Uh, that can cause scratches, it can cause dings in the edge, so on and so forth. So just make sure that you're following good etiquette. Instead of just slapping down a blade um inside of a uh inside of a slip joint, ease it down into it if you're not specifically checking the the walk-in talk. And it's always good to talk to the knife maker about what it is that you're allowed to do and you get permission for those individual actions, and if you know it's tolerable and everything, then they'll they'll you know give you permission. Uh the same goes with like liner locks or frame locks. You know, if you're going to uh open a blade, I I have seen it several times where uh where customers will come up and they'll slap open a liner lock or a frame lock, and sometimes the knife goes flying. And in a show, especially this is very dangerous. I mean, it could stab into somebody else, it could break it, and you're not talking about usually low dollar knives at knife shows. So just be careful, be considerate, and uh make sure that especially when you're handling some type of knife that has an action, uh, don't don't just abuse it when you're trying to look at it. You know, respect the knife and respect the maker's work. Handling knives and handing them off safely to others is important. You know, there's a a proper uh a proper handling method, uh, you know, making sure that the tip is is handed over properly. You know, you always make sure that the blade and the tip are the danger pokey points, right? And other than just making sure that you don't drop the knife, uh make sure that it's pointed in a safe direction. Make sure that if you're handing it off to the maker or to a friend to look at it as well, that you always keep in mind that the blade and that the point of the blade are uh in a safe direction, and they're not gonna cut you, they're not gonna cut your buddies, they're not gonna cut the maker, and uh, you know, they're not it's not gonna fall and cut something. Like, so just be very careful of like how you're handing things off. And you know, that's uh point the next point is really just like watch watch the tip because it's it's very easy uh to lose uh lose concentration um when you're looking at something that you admire, or maybe you get a little bit uh starry-eyed on something. And um I've had I've had customers almost stab me before. Um it's not pleasant, and I uh I get a little bit defensive, not uh in a in an attitude sense, but in a general like safety defense situation. You know, you have to be careful um with who you're uh swinging knives around with and just make sure that you don't stab anybody. So watch watch the tip of the knife, watch the blade, hand it off appropriately, and just make sure that it's uh you always understand it as a sharp object and that lots of people could get hurt. Um another recommendation is I as a as a maker who facilitates customers' happiness, right? You come to me, you want to talk blades, that's great. You want to uh be be friends and cordial and talk about uh the craft and everything, that's great. But one thing that's very difficult for me is if you are talking about a blade and you spend a decent amount of time um uh m doing more than window shopping, and then you say, Okay, well, um I'm going to look around and I'll be back. Well, uh I in my earlier days in knife shows, I might actually hold that blade back because of the proposition that somebody who I've actually spent some time getting to understand and uh and you know talking to about a blade was interested in a in a knife enough where they said they were going to be back. Uh it's it benefits nobody to lie to save face, just say, well that's great. I really appreciate it, and you know, uh hope you have a good show. I mean, you can be honest, like if if you're if you have remorse over the idea of buying the knife before you buy it, I think that that works out for all of us as makers. Uh, not because we uh enjoy missing a sale uh when we're there to sell to sell knives, but uh because I don't want you to walk away and not be uh elated with the with the knife that you bought for me. I want you to be happy about it, I want you to be proud about it, I want you to have good feelings about the purpose that you uh put forth in buying the knife. And if you have if you have that before you actually buy it, if you have remorse or uh you think it's not going to work out or you need time to think about it, instead of telling me that you'll be back, just leave it at that. Say, I I really need to think about this and I appreciate your time and uh you know move on. And that's fine. Um, I any more, I guess you would say that I'm a little bit jaded because if I hear uh um I'll be back, I can pretty much assume that that's just a cordial way of saying, well, thanks, but no thanks, and moving on, even if you spend a decent amount of time with me. So you know, don't set up false expectations because a lot of the newer makers might actually believe that you are going to be back and they might lose out on being able to sell that knife to somebody who wants it more or who will actually commit to it. So just be careful of that. Um another one is uh prices. Uh the same way as you shouldn't be haggling with people, uh, you know, scoffing at price. I've had uh customers come up to my table and say, hey, well, that's a that's overpriced, or that's that's a ridiculous uh price, or it's outrageous. And the same has happened online as well. Um it's it is pretty rude. I mean, I I don't price my knives to gouge anybody. Um, I barely turn a profit on them sometimes. Um and my time is valuable, the resources that I put in my knives are valuable, the equipment that I have to pay for and run and maintain, and the electricity and all those things are valuable. And the price just is what it is. Um, you're not going to offend me if you keep your comments to yourself about uh about price or look at it and admire it and then don't buy it. That's perfectly fine. Um, but the price is the price, and uh that kind of leads into uh the the next advice, and it's um keep your comments to yourself if they're negative or or judgy. Um I honestly it's it's happened more times than I'd like to uh admit, but I've had some people come up while other customers are looking at knives and uh dissuade them from buying it because their personal opinion is that somebody has a better uh a better product somewhere else, or you don't want this because of this or that. Um it's not it's not uh a quality thing, it's usually just a condescend a condescending remark uh from other people when they're not part of the transaction. And there are people out there that'll do it. Uh don't be one of them. Um if you have a particular comment about a blade, um, its shape, its price, its quality, whatever, um uh those are your opinions. But if somebody's sitting at uh uh somebody's table and uh they're look you know looking at that knife, uh don't block that uh them from you know uh at least sussing out that sale that it's not for you to get in the way of. Now, there's another component to uh knife shows, and that is makers and makers. Now uh knife shows are sometimes the only way that we get to actually you know meet with pe with each other and to talk and everything. And I I would like to say that at the show when it's open is a is an appropriate time, but it's it's really not. Um, you know, we're all spending a lot of money to be there and to sell knives and to be there for customers, and there's only so much time at a show that's appropriate to chum with other knife makers when they're trying to conduct business. You know, when you're at your table, um your job is to conduct business, and that is forward-facing towards your customers. And you might have other knife makers that want to talk and uh ask you to look at their knives and things like that. And uh I think that all of those are fine. Like you as a knife maker, you kind of set that tone. But uh knife makers don't just assume that everybody is there to have uh you know a hoot and annie and to talk about you know whatever it is that interests you while they're spending you know hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars trying to you know be at a show and sell knives and talk to their customers. Um it's it's their business, it's your business, and it needs you know to be treated with a little bit of respect. However, if there's nobody at my table and you want to come and talk for a little while, like please do it. Um introduce yourself, let me know who you are online, um, maybe give me a card or things like that. Like, let's talk because those things are cool. Um there's again, there's times when you will never get to meet another knife maker in person unless it is at a show. And we need to be able to take those opportunities at shows when there's uh downtime or when uh you know after a show is over for the day or beforehand, like let's be able to meet and and uh share ideas, and especially if you're a newer knife maker and you want me to look at your work and give you critiques or just inspect things and encourage you and whatnot, uh, you know, feel free to do that. I'll I'll oftentimes walk around shows and I will uh spend a little bit of time with with knife makers that I follow regularly online, uh new knife makers and and and so on and so forth, and uh just be there and be present and be encouraging because all of us need that at times during our knife journeys. Uh, even established makers need to have uh a little bit of encouragement and uh camaraderie, especially the knife makers that are quiet and stay through themselves sometimes. Um but just remember um your desire to meet and chum and uh and converse with knife makers is subordinate to the business of that knife maker. And a lot of us will not tell another knife maker to um uh to buzz off uh because we want to be respectful, but you know, remember that it's your obligation as the person who's going over and visiting to to read the room, uh, to know when other customers are uh are not coming to a table because you're uh monopolizing it, and to uh be aware that some customers uh won't even, I mean, they'll go another direction if they think that you're uh you're by a table and you're talking and everything. Uh so uh I know I've seen many collectors, uh some fairly uh large but um uh you know self-conscious or uh you know to themselves collectors that it gets too stuffy in a room or around a table and then they have to leave, whether it's social anxiety or or or what, uh they might just leave. And that might be a customer that um a knife maker, uh you know, it was like the make or break type of deal that they could have had on the knife show. So you just need to be aware of those things um as a maker and just be respectful. You know, your job is to help uh your fellow um your fellow maker uh not to hurt them. So just uh keep those things in mind. And uh as we enter into this glorious year of knife shows, everybody uh stay safe, travel well. And um, if you happen to be in Blade Show or in Texas at Blade Show, Texas, uh this uh this next weekend, uh, you know, let me know on social media and uh I'll be able to to maybe come and talk to you. Hope this helps.