American Edge at California Custom Knife Show 2026 | Show Highlights, TKI & Custom Knives
Posted by LeNeigh Saldana on Feb 24th 2026
California Custom Knife Show – Spring 2026 Recap
The plan was simple: arrive early in California, soak in the sunshine, breathe for a minute before the pace of show weekend took over.
Of course, the universe had other ideas.
What was supposed to be an 8 PM arrival into John Wayne, turned into a 4 AM landing at LAX after a brutal delay and diversion. Somewhere between the altitude change, compression socks, and sheer determination to be prepared for everything, I fainted on the plane. It was not exactly the glamorous start I had envisioned, but if knife shows have taught me anything, it’s that the story almost never begins the way you expect.
By early Thursday morning,we were FINALLY in Costa Mesa just in time for a quasi-good night’s sleep. Any by that, I mean a whole 3 hours. I’m not sure if it’s my downfall, or my best attribute, but once I decide I’m doing something, I move time and space to make it so. Therefore, the first mission upon awakening was clear: California thrifting.
Thrifting, Coffee, and the First Signs of Spring
We started at a local coffee shop which ended up being attached to this little church with some beautiful artwork on the side. With breve in hand, we moved on to some curated thrift stores, courtesy of those who know my love for the thrift. Thrifting always leaves me a tad hungry, so before that hanger set in, we ran to Trader Joe’s for fuel and booth snacks. The thrifting was great, but the thing that stopped me in my tracks wasn’t the coffee or the stores. It was the daffodils. Perfect, bright, reasonably priced daffodils. The first real sign of spring. I wanted to bring them home more than I can explain, but it wasn’t time yet. I’ll have to wait until the weather cooperates back home. It’s in those glimpses of the hopefully warmer future, that a big ranch sounds more than perfect.
Thursday Night – Seafood, Reunion, and the Hotel Bar That Started It All
Dinner that “first” night at Water Grill with Chuck Gedraitis of Gedraitis Custom Knives and Dien from EDC Lifestyle set the tone for the weekend. I have a personal rule about not eating ocean fish unless you can smell the ocean, so being able to partake in the right place, with the right people, made it memorable.
…and then came the hotel bar.
The show doesn’t begin on the show floor. It begins the night before. IYKYK.
Nick Chuprin (NCC Knives), Jeremiah Burbank (PVK), and a few other friends joined the rest of our crew with the same outlook as us: the conversations that happen in those late hours are just as important as anything that happens under the show lights. I think it’s notable to say how well this community combines and flows. We aren’t the only dealers in this industry, American Edge is on of the few dealers that has been on this journey since the beginning, but we are still learning new capacities and industry wisdom each and every day. That knowledge doesn’t just happen. It happens through the continued relationships with not only the makers, but the other dealers who we coexist with as well. This isn’t an eye for eye deal for us. It’s a bond that subconsciously doesn’t break. These symbiotic bonds only benefit and continues to grow. In my experience, I would say most dealers carry that same outlook. Thankfully.
Friday – Coffee, Newport, and TKI
Friday morning started the only way it could: coffee from Made Coffee in Costa Mesa. The Spanish latte was worth every penny.
We spent the day at Fashion Island, fit in just one more thrift adventure, and made it out to Newport Beach for a few moments of perfect weather before the evening’s main event: TKI (Tactical Knife Invitational)
TKI is different, and Recon 1 does an amazing job of putting it on. TKI is elevated. It’s structured. It’s intentional. Once again, here’s my opinion: attire should match that atmosphere. It was nice to show up to the show and to look around to see that so many others obviously agreed. I digress.
The lottery system, the pacing, the presentation of TKI- It forces you to slow down and really look at what is directly in front of you. This year, Jordan and I were both fortunate enough to win the opportunity to purchase pieces, a Strider for me and a Brian Efros for him.
The invited maker lineup was incredible: Lucas Burnley, Ramon Chavez, Kirby Lambert, Bob Terzuola, Sergey Shirogorov, Michael Walker, and many more.
But as always, it wasn’t just about the knives. It was about the conversations, the reconnections, and the shared respect for the empires that everyone in that room is building. We closed the night out with the ones we gravitated to the most: the other purveyors- EKnives, PVK, KnifeJoy, BladeRunner, EBossHoss, KnifeCenter, EDC Lifestyle, Farina Fine Arts.
Saturday – The Energy Peak
Now this wasn’t the first CCKS that we have attended, but this was our first time exhibiting. I think the Costa Mesa location was absolutely perfect.
Our booth was on the back wall between Pro-Tech and Strider, which felt exactly right. Jordan focused on buying. I focused on selling. That split allowed us to fully experience the show from both sides of the table. Having a booth changes everything.
You meet the customers who have supported you online. You meet the ones who have never heard of you.
You shake hands, kiss babies, tell your story, and watch those relationships start in real time.
The memories are the real inventory we bring home. GO TO A SHOW!
Saturday was packed. I would equate it to those kinds of days where time ceases to have a feeling whatsoever. You enjoy yourself and those around you, and the next thing you know, you look up to see time has passed in the blink of an eye.
Saturday not only met us with returning customers and industry friends, we were excited to watch a complete unveiling of some amazing collaborations, including the Pro-Tech Avalon with Shawn Ashmore. The show was indescribably amazing in so many ways! I couldn’t be happier with every interaction I was a part of.
After the show closed, the night ended the way the best show nights do: dinner with the Pro-Tech crew and Shawn, gelato at Venci (thanks to Dave for permanently raising my affogato standards- IYKYK), and another hotel bar gathering that somehow turned into equal parts business, family reunion, and connection.
Why Sunday Matters
Here’s my controversial take:
The last day of a show is the MOST important day.
Every attendee deserves the full experience, whether they walk in on day one or day three. If we want this industry to grow, we have to collectively make it welcoming and complete for everyone, not just the earliest arrivals. That being said, I was slightly- you know what- not even slightly- I was disappointed to see a handful of tables empty on Sunday. It breaks my heart as someone who strives to contribute to this community above and beyond to know that we are unintentionally shedding the most beautiful part of the shows themselves- inclusivity and connection.
Shows are disappearing. The collector base is aging. We don’t sustain this niche world by accident. We sustain it by showing up fully, every single day. Every one of us plays a part in the knife industry, but we aren’t all doing it well. Makers, dealers, show promoters, and customers alike- we all need to collectively step up our game if success remains the goal. The more we can all agree on that, the more people will be enticed to stay in a hobby that was never meant to be a momentary hyperfixation. There are companies out there making heirloom quality products that will never pass into the perfect set of hands if we can’t provide a stable and inviting atmosphere for those who are experiencing it for the first time. If you have a table, SHOW UP the whole show. It’s a disservice to you and the industry entirely when there are infantile collectors waiting to meet you. That being said, Sunday for us was strong, intentional, and the ultimate reason that we intend to be back as exhibitors in the fall.
The last day of any show is difficult to say the least. You end the show. You pack your inventory. You say your goodbyes. We chose to end the show with one last group dinner. While the food in all honesty sucked (it may actually have earned a D+ on my standards), the dinner was entirely redeemed by the company and laughs that were shared. One last dinner led to one last night cap. One last night cap led to one last sweet moment- DoorDashing some pints of ice cream for myself and John Gray, with the hugs, the handshakes, the “see you in a few weeks,” following suit. Three weeks from now, it’s Blade Show Texas. As always, we reach the end, all for the cycle to begin again.
The Real Reason
Yes, the knives are incredible.
Yes, the buying and selling matters.
But the real reason we is the people.
This industry survives on connection. On shared tables, late-night conversations, and the understanding that we’re all in this process together. The moment we stop showing up, is the moment it all fades.
So go to the shows.
Meet the people.
Make the memories.
Book the flights.
I’m know I’m not the only one counting down the days to seeing you there (24).
-LeNeigh Saldana | American Edge Knives
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