[ABS Webmaster]

3rd Great Smoky Mountain Bladesmithing Symposium

March 5, 6, and 7, 2010



Offered by the American Bladesmith Society, Inc.
Hosted by Haywood Community College

Location: Haywood Community College
185 Freelander Drive
Clyde, North Carolina
Contact: Laura Simmons, HCC at Email Laura or call (828)565-4244
or Bill Wiggins,ABS at (828)226-2551 or email Email Bill for more information
Registration: $55 Registration fee
Demonstrators: ABS Master Smiths and Journeyman Smiths listed below
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Schedule

Thursday, 4 March 2010
3-6 pm………………………………………………………...Registration
6:30 pm…………………………………………………….....Demonstrators Dinner

Friday, 5 March 2010
8-12 am………………….……………………………………...Demonstrations
Lunch
1-3 pm…………………………………………………………...Demonstrations
3-6 pm..................................................................................... Battle of the Bladesmiths

Saturday, 6 March 2010
8-12 am…………………………………………………………..Demonstrations
Lunch
1-3………………………………………………………………...Knife Show
3-5 pm…………………………………………………………….Auction
Dinner BBQ, pay at site
7 – 9 pm..........................................................................................Cutting Demonstration
Knife Show & Auction Free to public
Sunday 7 March 2010
8-10 am…………………………………………………………….Demonstrations
10- 12 pm.....................................................................................Knifemakers Roundtable

Demonstrators

Jason Knight...............................................Blade design, forging, grinding & heat treating
Len Landrum...............................................Damascus steel
Terry Vandeventer......................................Handles & Guards
B R Hughes & Greg Neely.........................ABS Knife Judging
Carolyn Hughes...........................................Promotion & Advertising
Steven Rapp…………………….……....... Silver wrap handles & silver sheaths
Kevin Jones.................................................Custom Knife Collecting
Ronnie Boydston & Demonstrators............Hands-on blade forging
Col Tim Ryan…………………….……….Auctioneer

The Knife Show & Auction are free to the public.

"Battle of the Bladesmiths" Competitors Jason Knight, Burt Foster, Russ Andrews and Jim Rodebaugh

Bring examples of your work for the knife show. Tables are free to paid attendees.

Participate in the Cutting Demonstrations. Bring a knife, 15” or less in length with a blade no longer than 10”. The handle should be pinned & with a safety lanyard.

A $500 Scholarship to the ABS Schools will be given to a paid participant.

Accommodations
Lodge of Waynesville – 909 Russ Avenue, Waynesville (828) 452-0353
Best Western – 130 Shiloh Trail, Waynesville (828) 456-4402
Days Inn – 232 Phillips Road, Waynesville (828) 452-9009
Super 8 Motel – 79 Linar Cove Road, Waynesville (828) 454-9667

[Rick Baum]

Hey Dan,

I've always wondered if it would be possible to get a transcript of what was demonstrated at the hammer-ins? Specifically, I'd be interested in Mr's Hughes and Neely comments on ABS knife judging.

Perhaps, down the road a DVD copy of the demonstrations could be offered? My wife and I do some videography and video editing, if we could get some raw footage of an event maybe we could put something together and it could be offered through the ABS.

Food for thought...

Rick

[Cindy Sheely]

Hi Rick,
We usually have a gentleman video the sessions, however he was involved in an accident on the way to this hammer-in which prevented him from being there, fortunately no one was hurt in the incident.

The ABS Store has several DVDs available and one is the Gaston and Neely ABS Knife Judging. Others are Kevin Cashen on making a Quillion Dagger, Dan Peterson on Knife Design, and E. Jay Hendrickson on Silver Wire Inlay. These single DVDs are produced from ABS event demos which I believe were 2 hour demos and the cost is $20.00 each plus shipping. We have a 3 DVD set by Don Fogg, 3 sessions on making Damascus steel, that is $50.00 for the set. There are other demo sessions recorded from past hammer-ins, but not available for sale at this time.

We also have Bill Moran DVDs available, "The Making a a Knife" $65.00, "Handles and Guards" $60.00 and "Damascus" $60.00.

Thanks,
Cindy

[Rick Baum]

Thanks Cindy! I knew of the videos but was wondering how up-to-date the current ABS knife judging video is. It seems to me, and rightly so, that the quality needed to pass the judging has increased over the years. I'm planning on presenting knives at the 2011 show and am trying to get all my ducks in a row in order to increase my chances of passing.

Thanks,
Rick