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Knife makers of the Dutch Knife Exhibition part 1 (attempt #2)

Last Saturday I visited the one knifeshow my little country has every year. (It's ok, there's a couple more in Germany, Belgium and France every year as well and they're just around the corner so don't feel TOO bad for me)

Entering the room I found it to be very well visited. After browsing for a couple of hours I took out the camera and started taking pictures....then I put away the camera and took out my cellphone because apparantly that takes better pictures in the terrible lighting conditions that we have in that small hall.

And so we get started. The first maker that I'll show some pictures off is called Geart Leystra. He's a Dutchman who makes knives in the scandinavian style. Usually he buys the blades from master blademakers (Such as Matthias Steyrefors) and construcs wonderfull handles which he often scrimshaws, carves or embellishes himself.

As you can see there are quite a few beautifull blades on that table. But the one that caught my eye the most is the one in the bottom right corner.

With the amazing damascus blade:

Geart works with bone, wood, but also ivory (with cites so it's completely legal) and like I said he does his own scrimshaw and sheath work.

Dabakyan Arkady

is a knifemaker from the Czech Republic. He makes all manner of fixed blades (and axes) and his specialty is Wootz steel (crucible melted damascus) which can have a carbon content of up to 2,5% (most "normal" steels only reach up to 0.95% carbon or around 1%)

It's supposedly very tough, keeps an amazing edge and has a very cool very fine damascus type grain which you can see in the other photo I took of one of his knives. (not cheap though.)

One of the great makers in this region is Alex Salsi

Who (with his own damascus) makes some amazing blades in the frontier/Rawhide style. As well as some Stunning art folders.

Part #2 tomorrow with a trio of Dutch Makers, Erik de Feijter, Hennie van Ham and Cees Euser, probably along with a few others.

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Comment by Alexander Noot on April 24, 2013 at 3:49: Found some more pictures (that other people took) of the show. I'll include those of the knifemakers featured in this post here:

Geart Leystra:

Comment by Brad T. on April 22, 2013 at 21:02: Those are beautiful knives, I especially liked the one spotlighted by Geart, that blade is great and the scrimshaw compliments it well. True artisans, they all are wonderful. Give them my compliments on such fine work.

In Memoriam Comment by Robert Burris on April 22, 2013 at 20:37: Alex, you can tell your buddies, we love their knives. Great knife makers for sure. There should be a world wide apeal for knives made of this high quality.

Comment by Sue OldsWidow on April 22, 2013 at 19:03: I love the pile of sheaths.....they are wonderful!

Comment by Jan Carter on April 22, 2013 at 17:48: Alexander,

First let me Thank you. W would not be able to see or hear about these amazing makers if you had not taken the time to share your show with us...Fantastic work

The scrimshaw on the first knife is fascinating and the Damascus is VERY nice. Of these makers I think the High carbon may be my favorite. The design in that steel is very subtle and the fact that it is such a high carbon steel just makes my heart beat faster. Cant wait to hear about more of the folks that were at this show!

Comment by Chuck Parham on April 22, 2013 at 14:52: Alex, I am soooo jealous!! I'd love to be able to see knives like that in the flesh, so to speak. I'm afraid I'd be unable to leave the show and probably follow someone home to get a look at even more. Awsome pictures, too!!