Prague Knife & Bow Exhibition 2020
Prague Knife & Bow Exhibition 2020
The spring knife exhibition in Prague is usually the opening of the Czech cutlery season. This year, like in most places in Europe, the exhibition was cancelled only a few days prior the scheduled date because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Czech restrictions of practically all aspects of public life were among the most severe in the Europe, effectively prohibiting any larger assembly of people for an extended period.
Text and pictures: Martin Helebrant
Right: Prague New Town Hall, the traditional venue of the Prague knife show.
It took until May 16th for the conditions in the Czech Republic to soften, the first reduced restrictions concerning outdoor sports. Finally, the government approved the organization of meetings with more than 500 persons. The Prague Knife & Bow exhibition was rescheduled and swiftly organized a new date in its traditional venue, the Prague New Town Hall. This was held on June 28.
If I compare the exhibition with the pre-coronavirus ones, the exhibition was significantly smaller, with about 45 exhibitors and 600 visitors. The formerly cramped Large Hall was now half empty, the visitors flow slowly between the tables. No hush and rush. There was plenty of time to observe the exhibited knives and talk with the knife makers. There was ample space for each table. This time only one supplier of steel and cutlery materials was present, with only a limited selection. Some visitors wore face masks, some did not (it is voluntary in the Czech Republic now).
This time there were just one or two exhibitors from abroad, all other were Czechs and even their presence was “representative but limited”. Anyway, I would say that the offer on the tables provided a complete spectrum of cutlery products, both in terms of quality and diversity.
The Hall of Commons was half empty, hosting only the booths of two factory produced knives dealers and one dealer of grinding belts.
If I compare the exhibition with the pre-coronavirus ones, the exhibition was significantly smaller, with about 45 exhibitors and 600 visitors. The formerly cramped Large Hall was now half empty, the visitors flow slowly between the tables. No hush and rush. There was plenty of time to observe the exhibited knives and talk with the knife makers. There was ample space for each table. This time only one supplier of steel and cutlery materials was present, with only a limited selection. Some visitors wore face masks, some did not (it is voluntary in the Czech Republic now).
This time there were just one or two exhibitors from abroad, all other were Czechs and even their presence was “representative but limited”. Anyway, I would say that the offer on the tables provided a complete spectrum of cutlery products, both in terms of quality and diversity.
The Hall of Commons was half empty, hosting only the booths of two factory produced knives dealers and one dealer of grinding belts.
Half empty – or half occupied – the Large Hall of the New Town Hall of Prague. Some people still wear
face masks, but it was not obligatory.
What was new was the presence of bows and archery products, including a small (7 meters) archery shooting range in the cellar under the Hall of Commons. The offer was limited to only three vendors, but they showed nice bows indeed. They all focused on the nicely laminated recurve bows, or at least I did not see a single traditional long bow. The largest booth and most concise offer of archery products was that of Jan Bow, which presented nice take down bows which can be disassembled in two halves by means of single screw joint. The other two booths were smaller but equally attractive.
Sales were mixed. Some exhibitors sold above their expectations, some sold nothing. I have never encountered such a contradictory evaluation of the exhibition across the tables before. There was no pattern, no matter if the knives were cheap or if they were in the upper price class. I have no explanation, you have simply to accept the fact.
If I am to summarize the Knife & Bow Praha 2020: it was small, it was nice, and it became a promise. And it is a proud statement that knife making and the passion for knives is still very much alive, no matter of the hardships created by COVID 19. For starters, this is not bad at all. I walked back home from the exhibition, the sun shone, the summer holidays were about to begin and together with Louis Armstrong I said to myself: “Yes, what a wonderful world”.
Sales were mixed. Some exhibitors sold above their expectations, some sold nothing. I have never encountered such a contradictory evaluation of the exhibition across the tables before. There was no pattern, no matter if the knives were cheap or if they were in the upper price class. I have no explanation, you have simply to accept the fact.
If I am to summarize the Knife & Bow Praha 2020: it was small, it was nice, and it became a promise. And it is a proud statement that knife making and the passion for knives is still very much alive, no matter of the hardships created by COVID 19. For starters, this is not bad at all. I walked back home from the exhibition, the sun shone, the summer holidays were about to begin and together with Louis Armstrong I said to myself: “Yes, what a wonderful world”.
Archery should best be learned from an early age. The improvised
shooting range in the cellar under the Hall of Commons was quite
busy throughout all the exhibition.
Zdeněk Janča, the organizer of the exhibition is an excellent knife maker himself. He did not exhibit on the
show, but behind the scenes he showed his latest products to his friends.
The table of Emperor Swords (CZ) – dealer of Chinese edged tools.
The multi tool, knife, fork, and “God only knows what else” from Konol knives (CZ) has received a new
functionality – can opening. And of course it can be used as a toy.
The booth of Premiove nože (CZ) offered Kizer knives.
The booth of Jan Bow looked like a Christmas tree. It had the
largest offer of archery products on the show.
Carbon damask blades from Okské nože (the Czech-based dealer for the Russian-made blades and knives)
sold as a kit.
Knives by Štefan Galovič (SK) are made in a semi-serial production. From time to time Mr. Galovič upgrades
the production knives by premium blade and handle materials. These two have Desert Iron wood handles.
The upper knife has a Carbon steel blade, the lower blade is from Damasteel.
The Fenix IX and Fenix VIII by Martin Hlinák (CZ). The blades are stainless D2 sandwich and the handle
material is e-TEC. Both knives have a modified Axis lock. Instead of two side located buttons the Hlinák
lock has one, center based slide on the back of the handle.
This knife by Václav Melč (Arrigos) has a 245mm blade made from 14 260 Spring steel, and a Bone
and Oak handle. Overall length is 375mm.
Czech maker Petr Dražan (Pietro Knives) showed two version of this model with a N690 blade and
EDC 1-9 handle material. The blade measures 92mm and overall length is 193mm.
A dagger made by Bohumil Šrom (CZ). The blade is 19 312 and N640 Damask, the handle material is
Ebony. The blade measures 180mm, the overall length is 315mm.
Two knives by Pavel Komberec (CZ). Both have Carbon steel Damask blades. The upper knife (overall length
202mm) has Stingray Skin handle material. The lower knife (240mm) has a handle from Desert Iron wood.
A collaboration between knife maker Maxmilián Netrval (CZ) and engraver Miroslav Třmínek (CZ). The 140mm blade is Carbon steel Damask, the handle is Axis Deer antler. Overall length is 275mm.
Nožířství Petr Dohnal a synové (Petr Dohnal and Sons Cutlery) from the Czech Republic presented these
three knives. The upper two have Carbon Damask blades measuring 145 and 125mm resopectively.
The lower knife has a 112mm Elmax blades. Handle materials are (from top to bottom): Deer antler
and Ebony / Ironwood / Ironwood and Deer antler.
A Tomahawk by Michal “Jakuza” Jarý (CZ). The blade is spring steel, the handle is Ash. The tomahawk
is fully functional, handle and head is drilled, enabling use of the axe as a “peace pipe”.
Karel Vančura (CZ) reshaped an old file into this Bowie-type knife. The blade is 200mm long, the handle
material is Deer antler.
A knife by Pavel Komberec (CZ). The 150 mm blade is from RDS stainless steel, the handle material
is Deer antler.
The table of Radim Dachs (CZ).
The “Left and Right Hand of the Devil” by Miloslav Pouzar (CZ). The blade material is Elmax, the handles
are Ebony, Bronze and Brass. The blades measure 208mm. The overall length of the knives is 305mm.
Replicas of different military (mostly WWI and WWII) trench daggers / knives by Czech maker Kovo Kotěra.
Jan Hermach (CZ) made this knife with a Carbon Damask blade, and handle made from Ostrich bone
and Oryx Horn. The blade length is 140 mm, the overall length is 255 mm.
Pavel Ševeček (CZ) is known for his excellent carbon steel mosaic Damask blades. Now he has added a
new product of an entirely different kind –laminated recurve bows. Like his blades, the bows are wonderfully
made, and they are perfect to shoot.