Jason Knight wins Battle of the Bladesmiths Title
Article from: The Mountaineer NEWS Friday, April 9, 2010
Jason Knight wins Bladesmith Title
Master Bladesmith Jason Knight of Harleyville, South Carolina, won the Battle of the Bladesmiths, held for the first time at Haywood Community College's Great Smoky Mountain Hammer-In.
Challengers included Master Bladesmiths Russ Andrews of Sugar Creek, Missouri; Jim Rodebaugh of Carpenter, Wyoming; and Burt Foster of Bristol, Virginia.
For the competition, competitors were given a piece of steel, dimensions and type unknown to them and optional handle materials. They were allowed to bring' tools, equipment and materials that will fit in a five-gallon bucket. They were also provided with standard forging equipment, grinders and heat treat. Competitors completed a knife from forge to finish within two and a half hours.
The competitors demonstrated the quality of their knives with a basic performance test that included cutting a 1" rope and a 2x4 piece of wood in half. The judges inspected the integrity of the blade looking for chips, curls, or wrinkles.
Finally, qualified blades were presented to the audience for the final vote. Each member of the audience was given the opportunity to cast one vote for a competing bladesmith.
The Battle of the Bladesmiths was well received by all in attendance. The competitors drew on their years of experience in forging, grinding, and heat treating in order to take shortcuts to complete their knives without compromising the integrity of the blade.