5/6/2008 The ABS Annual Meeting is just around the corner May 30-June 1, 2008 at Cobb Galleria Center, Atlanta, Georgia. The TOMB knife for 2008 is by Mike Williams. An Auction collaboration knife by Steve Culver and Jean-Paul Thevenot is posted.

3/18/08 We received this nice note from a recent Great Smokey Mountain Bladesmithing Symposium attendee:

Hello, I wanted to post a big thank you to ABS for the recent bladesmithing symposium at Haywood Community College. Those of us in the HCC blacksmithing program appreciate the opportunity and truly value the knowledge and friends we gained over the wonderful weekend. We hope that all of you will come back and visit us and hopefully teach some more classes. Thank you so very much for the amazing opportunity to be a part of the bigger picture in the knife making world.

Sara Martin-blacksmithing student

Sara Martin
Biology Instructor
Haywood Community College



3/3/08 Hammer-Ins coming up! Batson's 20th Anniversary Bladesmithing Symposium This is going to be a special event this year with many of the past demonstrators coming and everyone gets in free. It should be the biggest hammer-in ever in the country and you all are welcome. Also we just listed the 2nd Annual Youth Hammer-In at Smokey Mountain Knifeworks in Sevierville, TN This is for kids ages 11-19 and will be a hands on forging and finish work. If you never have attended a hammer-in you should. Collectors find it a great place to meet makers, buy knives and learn more about how they are made, makers can learn the latest techniques and get to network, trade tools and sell knives. 

1/16/08 It is with great regret that the ABS announces the retirement of Master Bladesmith Jerry Fisk from the ABS Board of Directors, effective January 13, 2008. Jerry has served on the board since 1994, giving nearly 14 years of service to the ABS as a board member. In that time, his contributions to the ABS, as well as to knives and knifemaking have been innumerable. Jerry remains as a Mastersmith with the ABS and will no doubt continue to be a driving force in the world of cutlery. Thank you again, Jerry, and we wish you the very best of luck in all of your endeavors!

Dues for regular members are $60 per year, while Associate and Youth memberships are $30 and $15, respectively.

11/24/07 The new 2008 Bladesmith's School schedule is now posted.

11/11/07 The hammer in season is over, but we are starting look forward to next year. The Great Smoky Mountain Bladesmithing Symposium and Knife Show is scheduled for March 14-16, 2008 at Clyde, NC . Also the 3rd Annual Big Sky Country Hammer In and Knife Show is going to be June 28-29, 2008 at Frenchtown, MT.

The hammer-ins are an integral part of the ABS's mission to promote the craft and teach bladesmithing. We have also incorporated a knife show into every event and encourage all makers within the catch basin of the hammer-in to attend. Inviting our collectors to come will help educate them on the forged blade and share the true spirit of our group. It is also a wonderful way to build community.

8/29/07  ABS long sleeve denim shirts are now on sale for $20

7/31/07 The ABS Youth Program is going strong and held a hammer-in at French Camp Academy Members have been generous in their donations to help these kids. The gallery from French Camp

3/12/07 The Reno Show was exciting. The winners of the raffle knives were Mike Rudik of San Ramon, CA who won the Bowie by James Rodebaugh and Brian Heyer of Gaylord, MI who won the Bowie by Ed Caffrey. Congratulations.

The 2007 Hammer In schedule has been updated on ABS Events Be sure to support your local events.

1/17/07 The Reno Show is coming up January 26-28, 2007 We have updated the demonstrations and have posted a photo of a beautiful Greg Neely Damascus hunter that will be in the silent auction. See you there.