OGCA at I-X Center

The Ohio Gun Collectors Association (OGCA) held their only meeting in the northern part of the state at the I-X Center in Cleveland.  It is a gun collectors meeting and not a gun show (even though it looks, talks and walks like a gun show), but I was disappointed by how few knives were present.  I was even more disappointed by the prices and lack of attendance.

The IX center is a cave–like building.  The impossibly high ceilings and open spaces need a lot of bodies to fill it.  There were 800+ tables but very little foot traffic.

One dealer had two Warther WWII fighting knives.  The blades were scratched, not unexpected as Mooney Warther made metal sheaths 

Mooney Warther's fighting knife.  He stopped working on fighters the day peace broke out.

that used folded chevrons of metal to retain the knife.  I didn’t ask, but I’ve been told that these knives sell for over $9000 in mint condition.  I didn’t ask the dealer his price.

I stopped off at another dealer who had a nice selection of Randall knives.  He had a smallish one with a black micarta handle and a 3 to 4 inch blade.  I thought “Why not?” and asked the price.  He wanted $600.  I was thinking I’d spend $150-$200.  Oh well, if everyone could afford them, collectors would not be interested in them.

My knife table backed up to  LT Wright and his wife from Blind Horse Knives  www.blindhorseknives.com.  They are both nice people and good gun show neighbors.

We had some interesting conversations about knife shows, sales and knives.  My wife ordered a nice flat grind knife from him and it will take a little time, but she (and I) think it will be worth it.  I’ll post pictures when it arrives.

Bad IHOP Experience

The restaurant business is tough.  Always a new competitor, constantly changing tastes, and let’s not even talk about reliable employees.  

But enough is enough.  I had to walk out of the 24-hour IHOP at 1920 Harper Road, Beckley WV.  

The reason?

Poor service.  The manager got us seated right away.  It was 4:45 am.  We got coffee and menus right away.  They had a hostess whose job was to serve coffee and water.  She was great.  She also told us our server would be right out.

But 15 minutes later still no waitress.  I had to be in a car caravan by 6:15 AM to be escorted down to the landing zone at Bridge Day.  If I’m not there when the caravan starts down I will not be allowed down.  Since I feed the landing zone people it’s important I honor my commitment.  I’m not important, but feeding the landing zone crew is.  Without those volunteers, Bridge Day, the largest single-day money-making activity in the state of West Virginia might not be.  People come to see the BASE jumpers.  And they leave their money behind.

I know a lot of the patrons in this IHOP past 3 am are drunks trying to sober up over an endless cup of coffee.  I’ve been there a number of times over the years and I’ve seen it.  Service is slow.  I understand the servers don’t need to pay them attention.  That wasn’t the case Bridge Day morning.  There were only three tables occupied and everyone sounded sober to me.  That was a rarity at that place.  I was sure my wife and I would have no trouble meeting our deadline.

After 15 minutes of being ignored, I put 2 dollars on the table for coffee and left.  On the way out we explained to the manager, heard the waitress explain that she was in the back and nobody told her she had customers.  Despite the entreaties there was no reason to stay.  I didn’t hear the one thing that would have gotten us back into those seats.

It wasn’t about free food.  I always prefer service over free.

Promise to do better next time means nothing.  Next time doesn’t feed the cat today, does it?

What I needed to hear was the staff will rush your order through and get you out of here in record time.

So there you have it.  If you want to be ignored or treated like a drunk, go to the IHOP at 1920 Harper Rd in Beckley WV.  But don’t say I didn’t warn you.