It is hard to believe that Shot Show 2023 is already two and a half weeks in the rearview mirror, yet there it is! Being a long time attendee; I can say that this year was a strong one, especially post covid. I felt like the vibe was as strong as it was in 2022 when things were really rebounding, but there was an added element to this year with the expanded presence at Caesar’s.
The main show floor was packed as always; each day that we walked onto the floor I felt like I was in a herd of cattle. It didn’t matter what floor you were on, or what direction you came from – every coffee shop as far as the eye could see had a line around the corner. I enjoyed wandering around the blade area and loved some of the new stuff that was released at the show. From Kershaw’s ZT0006 to Hoffner Knives Creed II, there was some awesome stuff up there. I even got to spend some time with Ben Peterson over at the WE Knives booth. Many of you know him as a host from BladeHQ, but he is now also an inventor and business owner; check out his line, Knafs.
Down on the lower floor, where our booth was, I got to spend some time with Bryan Ganz. Bryan is the inventor and CEO of Byrna, a less lethal option which is quite fitting for the times we are living in. Their new 12-gauge less lethal shotgun rounds were one of the most scanned new products during day one of the show, and after checking them out I can see why!
The New Product Showcase housed quite a few exciting new innovations. One of my personal favorites was released by JL Billet; a 5.56 Archetype which is a total nod to the Tommy Gun. I also thought our innovative Lego design stood tall next to it’s high caliber neighbors. I jokingly said after setting up our display that, at least we know our neighborhood is safe.
As I ventured to the very back of the main hall I found a fun little beer garden. After watching my team enjoy a few games of cornhole I knew it was time to continue the journey, which took me to a much expanded Caesar’s Forum. When I walked to that part of the show last year I was slightly disappointed as it was a LONG walk for only a handful of booths. This year was totally different having booths spanning the entire hall from one end to the other.
One of my favorite stops over at the Caesar’s Forum was the Sionyx booth. Their OPSIN digital night vision is a game changer when it comes to offering color in the night vision space. If you didn’t get a chance to stop by their booth you should check out their Facebook page for some pretty impressive demonstrations.
While we are on the topic of Caesar’s Forum, I have to say I really enjoyed the All-Star Jam concert that was put on mid-show. We had dinner reservations so we missed the act that we were looking most forward to, Billy Gibbons… BUT both Don Barnes and Eddie Montgomery killed it on stage! I have to say that I was less than impressed by the retail area that was hosted outside of Caesar’s. It felt like a total afterthought, and it was so under advertised that I had to ask multiple people how to even find it.
Outside of the show, Vegas did not disappoint. The food is always a major topic and I try to mix it up a bit with hitting favorites as well as trying some new eats and treats. The highlights of this trip came from three places. 1. Hell’s Kitchen served us the best Old Fashioned and it even came with a monogrammed ice cube! 2. Osaka made for a wonderful place for us to have a meal as a team. Their tatami seating was just what the doctor ordered after a long day at the show; where else can you kick your shoes off (literally) and enjoy a great meal like that?!? Finally, I must give a nod to the Hash House a Go Go for their BLT Bloody Mary. I have never been served a drink that came with all the fixins for an actual sandwich. An experience I will not soon forget.
