Although Mel has passed on, I feel that this page should remain as a memorial. Mel will always have a table at this show. It would not exist if it wasn't for Mel having the idea for doing a virtual knife show. The pictures on this page show the work of a man with a lot of talent. His friction folders were recognized by some as one of the best interpretations of that design. Mel will be missed at many a knife show to come, but he will never be absent from this one. --WK
Doing business as Madpoet Custom Knives, I am now a full-time maker. I have been making knives since 1988, when it first occurred to me to take an old mower blade, and grind myself a knife for clearing out around a deer hunting stand. From those crude beginnings came many more equally crude knives, but slowly I started to get the hang of it, and what had once been an occasional hobby is now more of a passion.
I bring to my now full-time knifemaking a lifetime of interest in the art of the using knife, including several years working as a professional meatcutter in a butcher shop and many seasons in the field after deer and small game. Add to that several years living in Chicago, which piqued my own interest in designing a proper defensive blade.
While my work has run the gamut from tiny carving tools to large brush clearing blades my main interest is in making a knife that is compact, and comfortable, and cuts - whether at home, on the job, or in the field. I produce several varieties of fixed blade knives and recently have begun producing some folder designs.
 | The "Edge" Camp Knife: 13" CPM 3V Blade, Rc60. 18" overall length. Desert ironwood scales, John Etzler 1095 & nickel damascus bolsters. (SOLD). |
 | Lockback folder with 3 1/4" D-2 blade, damascus bolsters, and fiddleback redwood scales. Similar knife sells for $285. Price on lockbacks vary depending on materials and options. |
 | Frontier friction folder: 3 3/4" D-2 Blade Rc61. Desert Ironwood scales, stainless liners, adjustable pivot pin ($150). Another friction folder (not pictured) available with cocobolo scales and 3 1/2" blade ($140). |
 | Drop Point Skinner: 4" D-2 blade, Rc61. Kingwood scales. 1095 & nickel damascus & titanium bolsters. Persian turquoise inletted into butt end of handle (Sold, similar knife sells for $200). |