Debbie:

I have done a lot of shows…..been at our trade since 1972.  My wife Deb manages a large high end arts and craft show here in NC and I used to help Tommy McNabb with our NC Custom Knifemakers Guild Show.

The facility is superb and I’m about to conclude that Arkansas folks are mostly just “good people” !  Thanks for helping Deb and I enjoy our working vacation.  We appreciate “you guys” and will be looking forward to seeing you again in 2011.

Best personal regards,

Tim & Deb Britton

Don Hethcoat presented Gunny with a handmade knife in recognition of his ongoing support of the Wounded Warrior Project.

Had a great time AG and team!!!  Thanks for allowing us to join you all and can’t wait to do it again in 2011!
I went home with all kinds of souvenirs from the show!!! (Picture attached!)

I appreciate you all very much!

Missy (Cas Hanwei)

After all the preparation by the entire GREEN team, 2010 is fast becoming a memory and we’ll soon begin preparation for the July 29 - 31, 2011 event.  Same fantastic facilities in Rogers.  Highlights of the 2010 show would certainly have to be the appearances of R. Lee Ermey (Gunny) in the SOG Specialty Knives booth and David Yellowhorse in the Yellowhorse Collectibles booth.  A very special THANK YOU to SOG and Richard Harris for making this possible. If you were at the show, I hope you got to see the incredible display of miniature knives that Tom and Gwen Guinn hauled in from California.  I was able to meet several established knifemakers, suppliers and manufacturers  that were new to our event and I hope they had a successful show and will return next year. Also, in the Spyderco booth for the first time were the owners! - Sal and Gail Glesser. Another special thanks to our exhibitors who come back year after year. We’re always happy to see you again. Our longtime photographer and friend Jim Weyer and his wife Louise stepped in this year to take photos and we certainly appreciate their efforts on short notice.  We had positive responses about Whole Hog BBQ.  I’m sorry that the cooler temperatures I had ordered for Saturday did not prevail, but with the fans blowing and underneath the big top, it was bearable! Thanks to all door prize contributors.  The recipients of the door prizes were thrilled.  For all exhibitors that gave the staff the big thumbs up, THANK YOU!  It means a lot to us to know we are making your experience a good one. And, last but certainly not least, THANKS to all of the customers who come from far and wide, who not only support our exhibitors, but take the time to come over and talk to us. It is very nice to meet you and we hope to see you again soon.  We appreciate everyone involved. ~~~Debbie

Hi, there I am attending the AG Russell Knife Show in Rogers Arkansas US of A. I have had a great time in Rogers. I have met some really fine people and talked knives for the last three days. Yep I’m a knife nut but there’s lots of us!

Michael Balaskovitz with his assistant Audrey

Jim with Bob Cumming

Pop’s Knife Supply Co.

David showing his inlay techniques.

Tim Locker showing Leatherman products

The Art of Lone Wolf

R Lee Ermey

The NWA Marine Corps League, Lewis D Kaslow’s Commandant presented R Lee with a letter of thanks.

Luke Berger helps customers

Kim Johnson

Thomas Welk and Luke Berger helping customers with knives from Kershaw.

Ken Daniels talks with a customer.

Jessica Hall of Hallmark Cutlery

Henry and Marilyn Okleshen

Mr Ermey got playful with one of our Staff Members!

Gary Fadden shows knives to customers at the show.

Douglas Stice

Barry and Kevin

Dave showing his fine knives.

Charles Turnage

Gail Glesser helps customers.

Krista and Missy manning the booth.

Bob Cumming

AG and Roy relaxing for a few minutes

Phil Hartman of Masecraft Supply Co.

R W Wilson showing his wares.

Brad Vice with Alabama Damascus.

Andrea Kennington and Les Bryant show uses for their silversmith hammers and saws for cutting out inlays for knife handles. They also carry polishing wheels of recycled suit material. Many items for dressing up your knives.

Rod Bremer, Doug Flagg and Matt Isabel discussing knives in the American Knife and Tool Institute booth.

showing some engraving.

The guys with Busse Co. sets up their booth.

“The Gunny” is in the HOUSE!!!!! SOG is thrilled to have R. Lee Ermey, The Gunny, at the SOG booth today and tomorrow. Plan to drop on by for a handshake, autographed photo of The Gunny and a great opportunity to purchase a new favorite SOG from AG Russell. Hoorah!!!!

James talking with a customer.

Fine handle materials.

R Lee Ermey speaking to Don Hethcoat, NM knifemaker and fellow Vietnam vet.

Knife Makers getting their tables set up for the show.

Bob Taylor sets up Queen/Ontario (booth 14)

Come by booth #4 to check out new 2010 knives from Gerber.

Goldie wanted to choose an informal setting for our Saturday night event and just call it a BBQ and Bull Session, but instead of all beef, we chose Whole HOG Cafe (our SEC affiliation aside!) because of their award winning BBQ!  Listed in Fodor’s Travel Guide as a ‘don’t miss in Arkansas’, we’re going to have delicious world champion BBQ brisket and pork, beans, potato salad and cole slaw and a brownie for dessert.  The store will be open until 8:30 p.m. and we’re planning on doing a lot of visiting.  Tickets on sale now for $16.00 each.  Don’t worry, we won’t call THE HOGS..too much.. ~~Debbie

For an up-to-date listing of items donated for door prizes, log on to http://www.knifeevent.com and click to the DOOR PRIZES link.  We have 2 or 3 items not listed yet, but will be by the end of this week.  Not sure what will come out of the A.G. Russell vault (AG won’t let me have the key!), but we will have a few items to offer as well!  THANKS SO MUCH TO OUR EXHIBITORS FOR THEIR GENEROSITY! ~~~Debbie

….then you should sign up for them so you’d already have this info:

BREAKING NEWS: We’ve just been informed by SOG Specialty Knives, that their official spokesperson, R. Lee Ermey (Gunny) is scheduled to appear in their booth on Friday, 7/30 and for a limited time on Saturday. A decorated veteran of the Vietnam War (U.S.M.C.) this actor of film and television (Mail Call and Lock N’ Load with R. Lee Ermey on the History Channel), will be available to talk SOG knives and sign autographs. Make plans to stop by the SOG booth. You don’t want to miss it!

“OORAH” - can I say that without getting in trouble by Gunny? — we’ll see.  ~~Debbie

I’ve just heard that despite his busy schedule, David Yellowhorse will make an appearance at our event courtesy of Dick Harris with Yellowhorse Collectibles.  While we’ve known and worked with David directly and via several manufacturers for many years, this will be his first time to our event and that makes many of our customers very happy! Make plans to stop to visit with David and his wife Yasbah. ~~~Debbie

Posted with permission.  Not to blow our horn, toot-toot!  Thanks Mike for letting me share and I hope you don’t mind I took the liberty to BOLD the important part (to me!).  ~~Debbie

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From: “Mike Malosh”
Date: July 28, 2009 1:38:20 PM CDT
To: <ag@agrussell.com>
Subject: AG Russell knife event 2009

Mr. Russell,

I am writing this from work and apologize for not writing from home, I hope it doesn’t seem impersonal.

Having just returned from your knife event this weekend I wanted to drop a line and say that I was very impressed by it all. I have been to 3 Blade shows as a customer and I wasn’t as impressed with the Blade show as I was at your show. I am a part time maker (I make Scagel style knives) and was at table K2. The promotion you did was top notch as all my customers knew about the show and knew I was going to be there without me telling them. I brought 15 knives, five of these were a delivery, but the remaining 10 were sold by 12:30 Friday when the VIP’s were let in. I could not be happier with the staff you had as they were very accommodating and courteous. This is what I would call a KNIFE EVENT! My customers were more than impressed that there were not any items that they could see that was not knife related. For me it was worth the 14 hour drive one way.
Thank you for starting this show; I will be there next year as I paid my deposit before the show ended.

Thanks again!

Mike Malosh

My how 63 days fly by when you’re having fun!!  The whole AG Russell team is in high gear in preparation for the Knife Event.  I do need to announce that our principal photographer, Jim Weyer, will be filling in this year for Chuck Ward.  We look forward to having Chuck and Mary back in 2011.  I think Jim and Louise are going to be very impressed with our 3 year old show.  More, later!!!  ~~Debbie

Over 100 knifemakers, 17 manufacturers (new this year- Gerber and Busse Combat Knife Co.), 12 suppliers, 4 dealers, an incredible miniatures collection and a Javanese Keris collection, there is bound to be something for everyone.  A few tables are left but we’ve sold out of booth space.  American Knife and Tool Institute and Custom Knife Collector’s Association will have a presence at the event as well. Because of the ad on the back cover of Blade Magazine, I’ve spoken to a lot of nice people from around the country who are planning to make it to the event in July.  Hope you’re planning to be here too!  More details will follow.. ~~~Debbie