May 2, 201214 yr It would take me a few years, but I would put the names of several of the smiths on this forum into a hat and draw them for a year or so each.
May 2, 201214 yr I'm going to go with Helmut Hillenkamp. Just listening to the man speak is a true pleasure. I also greatly enjoy his esthetic sense and have been a huge admirer of his work since I first stumbled across his "Iron to live with" videos on youtube. He's also the man who taught me how to make tongs and weld chain, despite the fact we've never met.
May 2, 201214 yr Who: Samuel Yellin. Why: Mastery of his medium and a refined eye for space and movement.
May 2, 201214 yr Let us confine this thread to the living and practising Master Blacksmiths of today. I would really like to spend time with Frank Turley, Brian Brazeal, and even though I have no interest in making knives, Rich Hale , he's cool!
May 2, 201214 yr Author Yes let's keep this to actual living people who are still teaching. Let's also keep it to ONE. I'm not asking for a list. That's way too easy. One, that means you have to take some time and put some real thought into it and have a reason why. Hillenkamp & Kington. I can understand both choices and why.
May 2, 201214 yr I'm not sure I could pick just one. Everyone has so much to offer. What about the ones you have never heard of. Like Tom Bredlow. Thats why I like to go to as many conferences, hammer in, and demos I can.
May 2, 201214 yr Author Tom Bredlow works for me. I'm a newbie so a name is just a name until someone tells me what that name means. No offense to any of the famous smiths on here. I have a lot of training by LE instructors. None of which would mean anything to people on here. Criminals never surrendered because I said I'd studied with a name. They stopped because I showed them what that person taught me to do!
May 3, 201214 yr Jeff Mohr. Mainly because he is heavy into the art side of blacksmithing, has a great since of humor and is more than willing to share any and all of his knowledge with anyone who is intrested. He also hosts an open forge each wendsday evening from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm provided he isnt at a show, and besides all that he only lives five miles from away.
May 3, 201214 yr Author Jeff Mohr works all are valid reasons. Might be better to have a great smith 5 miles away than the greatest smith 5000 miles away.
May 3, 201214 yr Jose Gomez in New Mexico is hard to beat. I know there are many amazing smiths but he is a master of traditional and modern metal working. To top all of that off he is a top notch knife maker and a very decent human being.
May 3, 201214 yr As I'm interested primarily in tool-making and hardware, I'd have to go with Brent Bailey, though I am glad to have my current mentor!
May 4, 201214 yr Jesse James , Yes the Motor Cycle Builder , very Old School Builds from the ground up Forging, metal work, and welding . Sam
May 4, 201214 yr I am sorry,I didn't understand that this was a popularity contest. I thought that you were interested in the ideal master of the discipline in which one was devoted.
May 4, 201214 yr might add Daryl Nelson for his animal heads,,, but for me it would be Peter Ross.. taken a few classes with him and hard to find anyone better!
May 4, 201214 yr I am sorry,I didn't understand that this was a popularity contest. I thought that you were interested in the ideal master of the discipline in which one was devoted. well Jesse James may be Popular but he works and builds Old School ways , he has mastered and pushes the limit of all metals . Sam
May 4, 201214 yr Author I am sorry,I didn't understand that this was a popularity contest. I thought that you were interested in the ideal master of the discipline in which one was devoted. It's not a popularity contest! I don't even know what promted that statement? :huh: I guess I should have made it clear in the orignianl question that it has to be someone living as the travel arrangements to join past masters are one way trips. :o
May 4, 201214 yr a62rambler you did not say current in the title if I had to pick one it would be Андрей Яковишинhttp://www.yakovishinandrey.ru/en/his work is creativehttp://www.markov-art.ru/art/
May 5, 201214 yr Author L. Brent Kington, Peter Ross, Helmut Hillenkamp, Tom Bredlow, Jose Gomez, Brent Bailey, Jeff Mohr, Rich Hale, Frank Turley, Brian Brazeal, Yuri Hoffi, Clifton Ralph, Darrly Nelson, Peter Ross, and Andrey Yakovishin. No offense to Jesse James but I don't think he works as a blacksmith and hasn't to my knowlege ever taught apprentice Blacksmiths. I think he might use some aspects of smithing in his work as a custom motorcycle maker. Gunsmithing sometimes involves making parts by casting etc... Part of the reason I decided to try forging. I don't think I should put Noveske, Kreiger, Wilson etc.. on the list though. I thought that it was a given that they be blacksmiths since it is posted on this site but I didn't make myself clear as has been pointed out by several. :unsure: Thanks to F. T. Cole and Old and Rusty for pointing it out to me. I forgot that none of you were mind readers. Keep them coming as I have expanded my knowlege and that is always a good thing for a stubborn old man to do! <_< I'll make a list and put links next to the names eventually for others to use or ignore at their discretion.
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