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The first week of June, I began my annual ritual of burning the candle at both ends to prepare for Blade Show, arriving at the shop early in the morning and working late into the night to make sure I have as much to offer at the show as I can possibly muster. This kind of last-minute push to finish a project before a deadline brings me back to my college days, when I would spend all night finishing my drawings in the architecture studio, or typing out an essay in my dorm room, allowing the clarity of the early morning hours to keep me focused and in the flow.
The morning of Thursday, June 4, the epoxy had finally cured on the last piece I was making for the show, so I took a couple quick photos, wrapped it carefully, and left for the airport in the nick of time to catch my flight. The festive feeling of Blade Show kicked off as soon as I landed in Atlanta. My good friend and fellow knife maker, Bob Earhart and his family picked me up at the airport and we headed to the Cobb Galleria convention center to pick up our exhibitor badges, find our tables, and reconnect with friends from all around the world, whom we only ever see once or twice a year. Blade Show, which I previewed in my previous blog “Blade Preview 2026: 3 Custom Knives to Watch Out For”, is a three-day affair, where the hours standing on your feet talking to hundreds of people can drag on and on, but somehow the whole weekend passes by in an instant. It is inspiring to take a look at what other makers brought to the show, to share tips and tricks, and to talk with seasoned collectors about the past, present, and future of our industry. This year, I particularly enjoyed getting to handle and learn about a number of antique daggers in the collection of Arthur Green, and I look forward to incorporating some of what I learned into future pieces. My table at the show was quite lively this year, with many folks stopping by to see my work, having watched me make it on Instagram and YouTube. I brought three pieces to the show: 
The parrying dagger and Ranthambore were both sold by the end of the first day, and Ranthambore won the “Contender Award” for “Best Fighting Knife” at the custom knife awards ceremony. The chef knife, Twilight came home with me from the show, but it has since been sent off to be included in an exciting YouTube collaboration.
It is an incredible honor to receive an award for my work among so many exquisite entries, and I am proud to be able to add this latest award to my collection, including “Best in Show” of 2021 and “Best Kitchen Knife” of 2024.
After returning home to Hebron, the high of Blade Show lingered on, as I followed up with many of the folks I met and started preparing for the months of commissions ahead of me with renewed inspiration and motivation. I am grateful for the opportunity to connect with so many other knowledgeable and enthusiastic people in the industry, and I am already looking forward to Blade Show next year. It’s always in Atlanta on the first full weekend in June, so I hope you can join us as well. I am glad that you enjoyed my recap of this year's Blade Show. If you would like to commission a culinary knife to your specifications, you can start the process by filling out my contact form and sending me a description of what you are looking for. About The Author Jordan LaMothe is a Master Bladesmith, a Fulbright scholar, a member of the Art Knife Invitational Show, and a teacher of knife-making. His work has won numerous awards, has been published in magazines internationally, and has made him a Forged in Fire Champion. At the end of the day, he makes collector's pieces, family heirlooms, and fine tools including culinary and outdoor knives for the kitchen and field.
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AuthorJordan LaMothe is a Master Bladesmith, a Fulbright scholar, a member of the Art Knife Invitational Show, and a teacher of knife-making. His work has won numerous awards and has been published in magazines internationally. Archives
June 2026
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