Dutch Knife Exhibition 2019

For a lot of people, the number ‘13’ is an unlucky number. But not for the organisers of the Dutch Knife Exhibition. The 13th edition of the show, which was held on April 13 this year, complied with two of their longstanding wishes: more than 100 participants, and more than 1000 visitors.

Text and pictures: Bas Martens

Toni Oostendorp and Ed de Pauw, organisers of the annual Dutch Knife Exhibition (DKE), are still guessing at the exact cause, but one thing is sure: their show received a sudden boost. For the first time, there were more than one hundred exhibitors, and for the first time, the show drew more than one thousand visitors. It was a very pleasant surprise.

The DKE has a mixed offering of custom knife makers, industrial knives, and knife maker’s tools and materials. The show is held in a large restaurant on the outskirts of Tiel, a small town in the central provinces of the Netherlands. Amidst an international company, there is a strong presence of Dutch and Belgian knife makers. Among them a surprisingly large number of young artisans. Apparently, the art of making blades appeals to a younger generation as well.
The following pages show a selection of the better-quality knives presented at the DKE. Next year’s edition will be held on April 25, again in Tiel. Participants can already register at www.dkeshow.nl.

The DKE awards prizes in various categories:
Best Folding Knife: Martin Annegarn
Best Fixed Blade: Jean-Louis Regel
Best Newcomer: Emiel Besseling
Best Production knife: QSP Parrot
Best of Show: Leonardo Frizzi
Best Damascus knife: Véronique Laurent
Oeuvre award: Alessio Salsi

Jury and prize winners. Standing, from left to right: Ben van Wieren (jury), Hans Brons (jury), Mark Esser

(QSP Knife), Henk Kraaijvanger (jury), Marco Croes (QSP Knife), Alessio Salsi (Oeuvre award),

Véronique Laurent (Best Damascus Knife), Jean-Louis Regel (Best Fixed Blade), Martin Annegarn (Best

Folding Knife) and Emiel Besseling (Best Newcomer). Seated: Ed de Pauw (organiser).

Kneeling: Leonardo Frizzi (Best of Show).

Sheepfoot damask knife by Dutch maker Johan Lebbing, The 85mm blade is MVH Damascus, the bolster

and butt cap are Bronze and the handle is Deer antler.

Dutch knife maker Emiel Besseling won the prize for best newcomer. This is one of his knives, the Kitchen

Slicer. The blade is O2 / 15n20 Damascus, the handle is red stabilised maple. The overall length is ca. 40cm.

‘Model # 15’ by Dutch knife maker René Huismans. The blade is D2, the handle is Bocote with blue liners.

The best fixed blade by French maker Jean-Louis Regel. The blade is Wootz, the handle is fossil Walrus

ivory. The engraving is by Regel himself. The knife is completely dismountable.

A gentleman’s backlock folder by Dutch maker Hans Luiken. The blade is RWL34, the scales are

mammoth ivory.

A linerlock folding knife with front flipper by Dutch maker Martin Annegarn (MAknives). The blade is

Damasteel ‘Vinland’, the handle material is mammoth ivory.

The ‘Technical’ by Dutch maker Aad van Rijswijk is a bit more robust than his usual gentleman folders.

The blade is RWL34 and the handle materials are Mokume and Ironwood. The backspacer and liners

have file work.

‘Lena’s # 4’ by German knife maker Achim Wirtz. The 240mm knife has a blade of homemade Damascus

steel. The handle is stabilised Chestnut burl. There is a glass breaker in the butt.

A fixed blade by Belgian knife maker Tim Wagendorp. The blade is selectively hardened 52100 ball

bearing steel. The handle is Shibuishi and sculpted and brushed Bog oak (Morta).

The ‘Alamo S-Guard Bowie’ by Italian/Belgian knife maker Alessio Salsi. The 10” blade is forged and

clay-hardened 125-SC steel. The handle is Thuja burlwood. The vegetal tanned leather sheath has a

Diamondback rattlesnake inlay.

A fixed blade by Dutch maker Erik Markman. The 26 cm blade is 1.12510, the handle is Carbon fibre.

A kitchen knife by Belgian maker Jan Dox.

Polish knife maker Bartosz Herman presented this ‘Ishtar’. The liner lock folding knife has a Damasteel

blade and a titanium handle with Carbon Fibre inlay from Fatcarbon.

The model 181129801 Chef’s knife by Clem Vanhee from the Belgian Atelier 185. The blade is 225 layers

of 75Ni8 / 1.2442 Damascus, the handle is white Ebony.

The ‘Rhino’ by South-African knife maker Pieter Annandale. The linerlock folding knife has a blade made

from Ettoré Gianferrari mosaic Damascus. The scales are reconstituted stone. The blade has the IKBS

ball bearing system with ceramic balls.

Dutch graphic designer and knife maker Theo van Leeuwen (Lion design) made this knife with a Niolox

blade and aluminium / black epoxy handle.

The ‘Selva Puukko’ by Dutch knife maker Gert van den Elsen. The 11 cm blade is Achim Wirtz mosaic

carbon Damask, the pommel and guard are Damasteel, the handle is mineralized Mammoth ivory. The

knife has a black leather sheath with bullfrog inlay.

The ‘Blade lock’ by Alfred Dobner. The blade is Balbach stainless mosaic Damascus, the handle is elephant

ivory. There is a small locking mechanism just behind the blade.

‘Whale Framelock’ by Belgian maker Filip de Leeuw. The blade is M390 steel, the handle Titanium.

‘Bagwell style Bowie’ by Dutch knife maker Jurgen Visser (Wicked Fish Knives & Tools). The blade is D2,

the guard is Titanium and the handle is black Micarta.