Last Saturday, May the 7th, the Knife Group Association of Oklahoma held their spring shop tour at the home of Ray Kirk. The KGA has two shop tours a year and holds one knife show that is Oklahoma City at the H & H Shooting Sports on the first Saturday in March.

This year there was about 90 attendees at our shop tour. We had several demonstrations of using social media for business, leather sheath making, and forging. Tracy Roach, Mike Miller and Ray Kirk performed the demonstrations. We have two new lifetime members, Kevin Blankenship and Rusty Polk.

The weather was perfect for an outdoor event and every one seemed to have a great time. We had a meal of venison chili, brown beans, and hot dogs. The hot dogs seemed to be on everyone's plate. The tail gate sales, iron in the hat, and general discussions about knives and how to make them was the subject of most of the groups that was enjoying the day.

This year the Grand Prize for the iron in the hat was won by Connie Porter of Chandler, North Carolina, Roger’s sister.

We were honored to have the Chief of the Cherokee Nation here to witness the performance testing of two knife makers in the American Bladesmith Society. Rusty Polk from Van Buren, Arkansas and Roger Comar from Chandler, North Carolina. Roger is also a Cherokee and this is the first time that our Chief has ever signed the test results of a maker testing for a stamp in the American Bladesmith Society. It was truly an honor to have him share his time and eat with us.

Our next shop tour will be in October at the home of Mike Miller. The agenda hasn’t be made yet but I do know we will be having BarBQ for lunch.

I would like to thank every one that attended this event and a special thanks to the Ladies for all their work in getting the food ready to eat and serving every one. They made it a pleasure for everyone. They were, Lou Ann, Robbi, Tracy, Tristen, Pam, Payton, Deloris, and probably a few more that I can’t think of. David and Tommy Killingsworth also did a fantastic job putting things back up and clean up. A big Special Thanks to all of you.

Ray Kirk, Master Smith

KGA Sec/Treas