2014 J.S. Test Knives by David Roeder,

This is the set of knives that will be presented to the American Bladesmith Society judging board in San Antonio Texas on January 25, 2014. These knives are being judged for my advancement to Journeyman Smith.

Each Knife is forged from 5160 carbon steel. Handle material varies between cocobolo wood and stabilized Koa. The guards are 416 stainless steel.
The knife pictured at bottom is the performance knife. It passed all testing including the 90 degree flex test and did not crack ! The handle material is Blue G-10.

I began making knives in September of 1996. The gentleman responsible for getting me started along is Billy Jo Brown of Live Oak Fla. His work at the time was simply astonishing to me at the age of only 16, and to see the process of making such a tool and forging it from a coil spring was enough to set the hook. These many years later I decided to take the steps and met my requirements to be judged for Journeyman Smith by the A.B.S. The days now I look back at my younger years and my early efforts in knifemaking and just have to smile. It's been a long road leading to this, but for all the knifemkers that I have met and the interesting projects I've done I must say that I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Thank you Billy Jo Brown for setting the hook, Joel Stuart for his advise and help in my beginnings, he will be missed ! Randy Spanjer, John Davis, Gary House, Ed Schempp, and especially Tommy Morris for your friendship over the years.