Blade Show Atlanta 2025 Recap

Blade Show Atlanta 2025 is in the books! Not only did we get to see some of the latest and greatest knives on the market, but we also got to hang out with iconic knife makers, teach some classes, and interact with so many members of the community! Join Offgrid Associate Editor, Nick Italiano, as he recaps of some of his favorite knives, hot new gear, and moments from the show!

Pre-Blade Show

Traveling by air is always a draining experience, and heading to Blade Show is no exception. Living about an hour away from the closest airport, combined with the 2 to 3 hour wait at the airport, flight time, and chaos of arrival into one of the world’s largest airports in Atlanta, Georgia takes its toll on body and mind! All that quickly fades when upon arriving to the area surrounding the Cobb Galleria, where Blade Show is held, as the familiar sites and faces from previous years come into view!

I arrived to my hotel around 7pm and it wasn’t more than 10 minutes after checking in that I was getting text messages from friends and business associates asking when I was going to be coming to “The Pit.” For those who haven’t been to Blade Show Atlanta before, The Pit is the name that has been given to the lobby of the Renaissance Waverly Hotel that serves as a meeting grounds and after party location for those who are either working at or attending Blade Show.

After a quick change of clothes, I set out to grab a burger and meet up with some friends and associates at the Waverly. Upon arrival I was happy to see a bustling area filled with old friends, new faces, and Blade Show banners, After a few hours of catching up with people I went back to the hotel to grab some shut eye, because day one of Blade Show starts early and is absolute madness in the best kind of way.

 

Blade Show Opening Day

I arrived at the Cobb Galleria shortly before 8am, and it was no surprise to me to find hundreds of knife enthusiasts lined up outside waiting for early bird entrance. It is not uncommon for people to camp out overnight to ensure they can hold their spot on line so they will not miss their opportunity to get their hands on limited edition or show special knives from their favorite makers.

Inside knife makers, retailers, and assorted gear producers were inside getting the final touches on their booths completed, laying out their merchandise, and getting scrambling to finish their breakfast and coffee before the opening rush. While the vendors were getting set up Alicia Newton, Director of Blade Show and hardest working woman in all of knifedom, was running around answering questions, solving last minute problems, and working her magic to ensure the world’s largest knife show goes off without any issues. The rest of the show staff were assisting ticket holders, setting up displays, or taking pictures and video.

With everything in place, it was time for the show to open! The early bird ticket holders eagerly awaited Alicia’s call to head into the main room, and as soon as she gave the word hundreds of knife enthusiasts poured into the room, many sprinting to get to their favorite knife makers booths for the opportunity to purchase coveted one offs and limited edition knives. In most cases these show specials sell out in mere minutes so there is a tremendous value in being among the first through those doors!

Brakimo Forged for the Field Class

After successfully making it through the morning rush I hosted a class with renowned jungle guide, survival instructor, and knife designer Joe Flowers. In this class we dove into Joe’s experience in the jungle and how it lead to the creation of the TOPS Knives Brakimo. We discussed practical knife use techniques, showed off a few of the prototypes that eventually lead to the final production version, and highlighted one of the first versions of the upcoming TOPS Knives Brakimo Slim.

One lucky 10 year old even walked away with his very own Brakimo, a lot of advice on how to start his knife making journey, and a few contacts to leverage when he gets started!

Opening Day Wrap Up and The Pit

After the class the I continued walking the floor visiting various booths to talk to knife makers, and gather photos and video, and gather demo knives for my next class the following day. When all was said and done I had walked nearly 15 miles around the show floor! Once the show closed I grabbed a quick dinner with friends and made my way to the pit.

It is said that all business at knife show is done in the pit. That is not referring to knife sales of course, but it is often where businesses make connections with each other as most companies have been tied to their booths all day! Opening night is much busier when compared to the pre-show evening as the lobby of Waverly was filled with knife makers, enthusiasts, writers, media, and social media personalities. I took the opportunity to catch up with people I hadn’t had to chance to see during the day, talk with fellow writers and press, and make a few new connections.

While I decided to head back to my hotel around midnight, I heard the party kept going for at least a few more hours after I retired!

Blade Show Day 2 and The Cutting Edge Class

For me, the second day of Blade Show started with a class I wrote to help educate knife buyers on the functionality of various knife design features, steel choices, handle materials, blade coatings, sheath types and more. The class ran about and hour and a few of the students stayed behind for almost another hour to ask more questions about knife design features, discuss survival topics, and take a closer look at the demo knives I had out.

While I still believe I am a far better writer than presenter, it was fun sharing knowledge with those who are eager to learn about the practical applications of the tools they were there to see!

The rest of the second day was dedicated to seeing as many knives as I could and picking up some of the latest and greatest knives to test and review. After the show closed I went to dinner with a few of  my favorite knife makers before heading back to the Waverly for the award ceremony and hang out time.

Wrap Up

For all the makers and vendors in attendance, the last day of Blade Show was open from 9 am to 2 pm. While they were enjoying the final hours of the show I was at the airport waiting for my flight home. Blade Show is always a marathon, sometimes literally as I walked over 45 miles over the two and a half days I was in Atlanta. Beyond all the walking it’s a mad rush interacting with friends and industry associates, checking out new knives from familiar makers and discovering up and coming knife makers!

While the weekend is fast paced and my voice is all but gone at the end of it, it always leaves me wanting more. If you are a knife enthusiast and have not experienced Blade Show Atlanta at least once, it should be high on your priority list! Once you’ve attended one, you will already be planning on attending next year!

It doesn’t matter what type of knives you are into, you’ll find it at Blade Show! The greater knife community is filled with awesome people -It’s a great place to catch up with friends and people you have met through assorted online enthusiast groups. Even if you walk into the show not knowing anyone, you will find comradery with fellow enthusiasts and understand the deeper meaning behind the term knife community!

Now let’s get into what you are all here for – The Knives!

Nick’s Favorite Blade Show Exclusives

Knives By Nuge Sharky Wicket and Captain’s Edition XL

Knives by Nuge is an American Knife Maker out of New Jersey who is known for his handcrafted outdoor, hunting, and fishing related knives. While all Nuge knives are designed for outdoor and sportsman use, many of his smaller models have also become popular as everyday carry knives due to their exceptional build quality and utilitarian design. KBN is also working on launching a line of American made production knives that will feature many of his existing models!

The Sharky Wicket added some unique handle scale material made by Flying Shark Knives. These were combined with a custom made black alligator pattern leather sheath by Badger Claw Outfitters.

The Captains Edition aka “the Rikket” is a collaboration design with Rikki Hernandez (above), also known as capt.rikki on social media. Rikki is a talented videographer working in the knife industry. This unique take on the existing Wicket XL design adds a harpoon style point, hand filed jimping, and desert iron wood handle scales.

Auxiliary Manufacturing Captain’s Bowie

Rikki was a busy man this year! His second design collaboration takes Auxiliary Manufacturing’s tactically oriented Pocket Bowie and dresses it up for EDC. The Captain’s Bowie featured a custom made Desert Iron Wood and Richlite handle scales with more subdued texturing for a clean and classy finish.

Sasquatch Spartan Blades Harsey USA Made Blade Exclusive

The Spartan Harsey folder, designed by legendary knife maker Bill Harsey is the knife that proves that a beautiful high end folding knife can function as great as it looks! For years Spartan Knives has used the titanium frame of the Harsey Folder to create stunning graphic images by combing precision lasers and anodization of the metal for color.

The USA Made Blade Exclusive is no exception. This version features USA Made Blade’s sasquatch mascot in a shadowy woodland scene. Despite artistic nature of the this special edition Spartan Harsey, once you get this utilitarian 4-inch folder in your hand you will want to put it to work!

T.Kell Knives x Knives By Nuge DP-1

T.Kell Knives is known for making hard use tactical style knives, along with several models suited for EDC and outdoor use. Most models feature T.Kell’s signature NiB coating that is commonly found on bolt carrier groups. Their are variety of handle options and textures offered across the T.Kell lineup. One handle option that is not typically found in that lineup is burnt jute wrap.

To alleviate that Tim created a special batch of his EDC friendly DP-1 knife. Each of DP-1 in this collaboration was hand wrapped by Tom Nugent, owner of Knives by Nuge in the same fashion as his Primitive Wicket series! One side of these unique DP-1’s featured the T.Kell logo and the other featured the Knives by Nuge Logo.

Nick’s Highlighted Makers

TOPS Knives

TOPS Knives has been a leader in U.S. production fixed blades for decades. TOPS was founded in 1998 with the goal of producing durable and functional tactical knives, and they have met that goal and far more! If you are looking for a robust tactical knife TOPS Knives has what you are looking for. TOPS offers a large portfolio of tactical fixed blades ranging from pocket sized to full sized field and fighting knives.

The TOPS line up does not stop with tactical knives. They also offer a diverse line-up of outdoor and EDC fixed blades with both in house designs and collaborative efforts with reputable professionals across the industry. All TOPS knives, regardless of style, are built to take on hard use tasks and beg for more!

TOPS Knives produces knives in just about every size you can think of. Full sized machetes, large fighting knives, discrete self-defense knives, outdoor knives for large to small, and compact EDC fixed blades.

T.Kell Knives

T.Kell Knives is a family owned and operated company founded by USMC Veteran Tim Kell with the goal of producing top quality, U.S. Made tools that you can trust your life with at an accessible price. Tim definitely has a type. Known for his compact tactical/self-defense style knives, T.Kell is one of the leading small U.S. Knife makers thanks to excellent designs, tough materials, premium fit and finish, and his unquie NiB coating.

Despite the tactical nature of these small fixed blades, many T.Kell knives serve double duty as practical everyday use knives. T.Kell Knives offers a diverse line up that also offers outdoor and less aggressive EDC fixed blades and even a robust folding knife. Regardless of the style of knife you are looking for – Tim’s values of functional design, distinctive aesthetics, and premium build quality are evident in every knife produced.

Knives By Nuge

Tom Nugent and his girlfriend Lauren are the two people behind Knives By Nuge. This up and coming fixed blade maker has become very popular in the hunting, fishing, outdoor, and EDC communities for his utilitarian designs and eye for detail. While Tom has spent the last few years producing handmade knives, he has recently branched out into production work to keep up with the high demand for his knives.

The cub shown below is one of Knives By Nuge’s newest models. This is a compact fixed blade is based off his larger Bruin, and is designed to accomplish all the outdoor and game processing tasks of the Bruin but in a smaller, more pocket friendly package.

Reiff Knives

Reiff Knives is in the business of making no-nonsense, premium, hard-use fixed blades – and business is good! Since Reiff hit the market a few years back with their signature F4 and F6 survival knives, every new model and update to existing models have continuously shown Reiff’s dedication to producing some of the best designed field knives in the U.S.

Pictured below is owner, Stu Shank, with Reiff’s newest model the Vicon.

The Signature F4, pictured below, has seen a few updates over the the years included upgraded micarta handles and the use of premium steel options such as Magnacut.

Auxiliary Manufacturing

Mike Jarvis is an award winning knife maker known for making highly functional tactical style knives that have a distinctive design aesthetic. In addition to the long running line of handmade fixed blades, Auxiliary Manufacturing has recently launched a line of production fixed blades and folding knives.

Shown below is another Blade Show Collaboration exclusive with Flying Shark Knives. The Bowie XL is a larger version of the Pocket Bowie, the first knife to feature Auxiliary Manufacturing’s coffin handle shape design.

Revenant Corps

Cache Haggard started Revenant Corps with a simple goal, to make high quality self-defense tools for non-permissive environments. Each model is designed with everything you would expect to see in a small tactical knife, but instead of steel they are made entirely of G10. While G10 is commonly used as handle scale material due to its superior durability, Revenant Corps has perfected the art of machining and grinding G10 to make a durable knife.

Revenant Corps offers everything in discreet black, but if you are looking for some color, G10 offers many options. All the handles are cord wrapped with genuine ray skin underlays adding to the premium look and feel of each knife.

L.T. Wright and The Woods Monkey

L.T. Wright has been one of the leading makers of handmade outdoor, hunting, and bushcraft knives for many years. Each design is simple, functional, and ready to work. The Woods Monkey is a division of L.T. Wright that brings some fun into the line up with unique designs that retain the functionality LT is known for.

Shown below, Brian from the Woods Monkey with the new Batwing knife that combines a scandi and chisel grind.

L.T. Wright offers most standard models with Micarta handles scales, but unique handle scales options can often be found at Blade Show and on their exclusive members only forum, the Pout House.

Glow Rhino

Glow Rhino is a company that caught my eye recently. They offer a variety of EDC sized folding knives to suit many styles and budgets. What sets Glow Rhino apart from other brands is the inclusion of Tritium, a radioactive element, that produces a glow that never needs to be charged. Tritium is safe, as the low level radiation can not penetrate human skin, and will glow bright for 12 years, ensuring you will never misplace you knife in the dark. Shown below is the new McGuire button lock folder that sports premium materials and a tritium insert in the thumb stud and rear handle.

Shown below is the Battlbox Exclusive Fermi 2 in low light to demonstrate the Glow Rhino tritium insert. In addition to folding knives Glow Rhino has recently launched an all purpose fixed blade and offers a variety of fobs that can be attached to gear for easy location in dark environments.

JD Custom Knives

JD is a custom knife maker who makes stunning handmade outdoor knives. His passion for design, premium materials, and meticulous fit and finish is evident across every knife he makes. If you are in the market for a piece of functional art JD’s knives will not disappoint even the most discerning collector and user.

JD places great attention to producing high quality handle scales from unique and exotic materials ensuring each knife is like no other. If you like the idea of having a one off knife that will never be duplicated JD Custom Knives is definitely worth a look. He has also recently dipped his toes into semi-production knives with the his Cheeker XL. While the blades are machine cut each Cheeker XL is hand sharpened and finished by JD to ensure each knife meets his exacting standards.

AA Forge

Adam from AA forge has been making knives professionally his entire life. Known primarily for hand making large outdoor and hunting fixed blades, he has recently taken to producing smaller EDC sized fixed blades that he frequently has available at Blade Show.

Adam’s designs, attention to detail, and incredible knowledge of steel properties allow him to produce incredibly functional knives that look great and will serve avid outdoors people well when put to the task.

The Simple Sparrow shown below offers outdoor functionality in a compact form making it ideal for EDC, fishing, small game hunting, and light bushcraft work.

Hellbender Blade Co.

Hellbender Blade Co. was founded by Mike Kent, owner of Rivers Edge Cutlery. They have recently launched their premier line of knives, the Snot Otter Series. The SO-2 features a 2.8 inch blade making it ideal for everyday carry and the SO-4 has a 4 inch blade designed for hard use task. Coming soon is the SO-5, a sized up version of the SO-4 for those who are looking for a large outdoor knife.

The Snot Otter series is available in a variety of premium handle scale options and blade finishes to suit just about every taste. All Hellbender Blades are made in the USA with U.S. sourced materials.

Nick’s Blade Show Haul

It wouldn’t be a successful Blade Show if I didn’t bring back a bunch of cool stuff for testing and review! Here is a sneak peak of a few of the new knives that you can expect to see in upcoming articles! There are a few more that are not ready for public consumption so stay tuned!

Knives by Nuge Sheepsfoot Cub 

Reiff Knives Vicon and Circadian

Auxiliary Manufacturing Production Pocket Bowie and Pocket Bowie Folder

Revenant Corps Grosbeak and AwlZall

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