European Knife Show Strasbourg 2022

On 1 and 2 February 2020, the last pre-Covid knife exhibition was held: the European Knife Show (EKS) in Strasbourg. Shortly afterwards, everything went off the rails. Last year's EKS edition was cancelled, but this year on 5 and 6 February the Strasbourg show was back, with a somewhat delayed first lustrum.
 
Text and pictures: Bas Martens
 

The return was not easy. The organisation had to comply with the health measures, and had to change venues as well. Hôtel Mercure Palais de Congrès in Strasbourg, the location for the first four editions, closed its doors. An alternative was found in the nearby Hilton hotel, with the advantage of a larger hall and an adjacent 'Galleria'.
With a larger exhibition space, the 2022 edition also had a larger amount of exhibitors. There were almost ninety custom knife makers, with several new faces, and several suppliers of knife making materials and accessories. The two-day show attracted over 1100 visitors, which, in view of the prevailing Covid measures, was a fine result.
And what else? Well everything else was as usual. A very varied range of styles and materials, in almost all cases of high quality, and with a knife for (almost) every budget. The accompanying photos give a small impression of what was on display.
Sales were mixed. Some knifemakers were sold out halfway through the first day, for others the trade was moderate. However, with all the economic problems of the last two years, the most important thing was the pleasure of meeting colleagues, customers and interested parties again. A kind of feeling of relief: we can do it again.
Let's hope it stays that way - with or without limitations. In any case, the next edition of the EKS is already on the agenda: 4 and 5 February 2023, again at the Hilton Hotel in Strasbourg. European Blades Mag. will keep you informed, but in the meantime you can always check the EKS website, The most up-to-date information about health measures can be found at the EKS website: www.euroknifeshow.com, available in English, French and German.

 

A linerlock folding knife by Florian Keller (La Forge de 30 Pas).  The blade is Damask, the handle

is Arizona Desert Ironwood. The engravings were done by Carlo Cavedon.
 

A linerlock folding knife by Dutch maker Aad van Rijswijk. The blade is stainless Torre Damask,

and has a golden thumb stud. The handle is inlaid with Desert Ironwood.
 

A linerlock folding knife by Elouan Coudé (Les Couteaux d’E). The blade is ladder Damask,

the handle Amboyna burr. Overall length is 197mm.
 

 

Alain Conesa (Acier & Cuir) showed this lovely little cran forcé (notched slip joint) folder. Blade and

The accompanying wooden box (not pictured here) is made from Ovangkol wood.
 

 

The “Piccolo” by Adrien Giovaninetti. The blade of this slip joint folder is from inox Damask,

the handle is Mammoth ivory. The blade length is 10.5cm.
 

Andy Goltz (Apeiron Bladeworks) presented this “Guderian”. The 117mm blade is RWL 34 with an acid

rain finish. The handle scales are aerospace Carbon Fiber. The overall length is 230mm.
 

A linerlock folding knife by Fabrice Delbart. The 95mm blade is U10A steel, the handle is stabilised

 

A straight hunting knife by Daniel Vally. The blade is three steel Damask, the bolster San Mai

and the handle is Amboyna and resin. The overall length is 240mm.
 

A camp knife by Hervé Maunoury. The  blade is so-called “acier fibré”, which is made by folding the steel

overall length is 20cm.
 

 

“The Good Knife” by Gary Headrick. The blade of this slip joint folder is Damasteel Dense Twist Damask.

The bolsters are Zirconium and the handle scales are Yellow Bone. The overall length is 21cm.
 

The “Cuisine 16” by Frédéric Collin. The kitchen knife has a 16cm Niolox blade and a Micarta handle.

It comes with a wooden sheath made from Boxwood. A Micarta pin prevents the knife from falling out.
 

A linerlock folder by Jean-René Floch. The blade is Masame Damask from Achim Wirtz, the bolsters

 

“The Gyr” by Tim Bernard (Atelier Névé). The blade is homemade feather Damask, the handle is

black Mother of Pearl.
 

“Le Passager” (The Passenger) by Pierre Thomas (Atelier Ôdae). The blade is Alenox Stonewash,

opened, the knife measures 21cm.
 

A large fixed blade by Nicolas Dartus. The blade is XC75 / 15N20 Carbon Damask, the handle is Resin.
 

Thinned solid bolsters; corkscrew.
 

The “Ligne Rouge” (Red Line), a very colourful slip joint folding knife by Raphaël Calu. The blade

is Sandvik 14C28N steel, the handle is a collage of stabilised wood.
 

The “Tiburón” (shark) by Carlo Cavedon. The blade is Damasteel RWL 34, bolsters are Zircuti, the spacer

is Zirconium and the handle scales are Mammoth ivory. The overall length is 22cm.
 

 

A beautiful dagger by Stéphane Uhlen. The blade is xc 75 steel, the guard of old iron with rings of

patinated iron and leather. The handle is Russian stag.
 

The “K-Libre” by Michel Grini. The linerlock folder has a 135 / CR3 sandwich blade and Titanium handle.

A “Stiletto” by Honoré Vilain. The blade is C75 steel, the fittings are bronze and the handle is Ivory

substitute, just as the support. The overall length of the stiletto is 31cm.
 

The “Speartak Regular” by Thomas Gony (Grind Tactical Knives). The framelock folder has an RWL34 blade,

and Brass. Overall length is 20cm.
 

A “Gyuto à la française” by Fred Mercky. The 21cm blade is 135CR3 and old iron, the bolster is San Mai

and the handle is made from Blackthorn branch. The overall length is 35cm.
 

 

“Le Morgenstern” (the Morning Star) by Maxime Rossignol (La Forge de Max). The blade is 90HCV8

Alain André (Lames Gatinaises) made this Framelock folder with a Carbon fibre handle. The

The pocket clip is Mokuti. The knife weighs only 63 gram.
 

 

 

 

The blades opens through a flipper.

 

The “Cellois Forgé Plume” by Stéphane Robin (Le Cellois). The blade and bolsters are home-made

The opened length is 22 cm.