fat pete Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 What do you think of the ABS school in Arkansas.http://www.americanbladesmith.com I am thinking of attending a 2 week class... How advanced should you be? Is it worth it?800 bananas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Hale Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 I have heard good things about it..Call or write them and ask about what level you should be at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fat pete Posted November 13, 2007 Author Share Posted November 13, 2007 they just sent me their schedule for 08...it is a beginners bladesmithschool and it is 2 weeks long 2 different instructors....it takes a year off their requirement for Journeyman...i will check and get back to here with the answer in case anyone else would want to go. It would prolly be good to post the schedule. 2008 Bladesmith School Schedule. Does anyone know of these guys February 2008 Liner Locking Folders Feb. 25 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plain ol Bill Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 Attending the school can literally take years off your learning curve for making forged blades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leah Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 I took the two week into to bladesmithing class in Feb. I had never tried to forge a blade and I don't know anyone who could show me how. For me, it was worth every penny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbaknife Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 I went in '04 and it was one of the smartest things I ever did. If you have intentions of continuing on to attain JS or MS ratings, then waiving one year of your wait time is worth it in that alone. I met three guys there who have become friends/acquaintances, and we all know what friends are worth. Don't forget room and board, lost wages while away from home, and travel expenses to and from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fat pete Posted November 14, 2007 Author Share Posted November 14, 2007 Thanks guys I signed up for the march 3rd one....here is what they said about requirements..... "You need no experience in Bladesmithing or Blacksmithing to take and have a successful time in the Intro to Bladesmithing course. You must have the willingness to work with your hands and some general aptitude with working with your hands and the ability to listen and follow directions. You will learn the nomenclature of a knife in this course, so their is no need to have experience in construction of a knife. You will not design the first two knives you make. You will be assigned knives to make for the first couple of days, then later in the week you may forge the knives you wish. We start with smaller knives and straight forward designs to minimize the number of first time errors. Also, it is a much simpler task to show the students how to fix these errors while working on a smaller scale. We use both coal and propane, but predominantly propane will be used in the Intro courses. As for camping, we allow students with self contained campers to park on our grounds and use the bathroom facilities and electric hook-up from our shop." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 Batson and Crowell are big names indeed! I have not heard a bad review of the ABS school since it started. March should be nice weather down there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fat pete Posted November 15, 2007 Author Share Posted November 15, 2007 Thanks for all your replys... I am so wound up about this...My blacksmithing teacher said "you cant build a knife till you know how to forge" this is the one I wanted to go to...... ANyone know these guys?? Intro to Bladesmithing March 03 - March 14, 2008 $850 Week 1-Harvey Dean dean@tex1.net Week 2- Dickie Robinson with Ray Kirk raker@wildblue.net dickie@amaonline.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdCaffreyMS Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 Harvey and Dickie both are two of the top ABS Mastersmiths. Harvey is considered by many to be one of the top 10 Bladesmiths in the world. I know both of these guys, and you won't go wrong. Make sure to spend time after class talking and hanging out with both of them....you will get many jewels of knifemaking wisdom just chatting with them. Both are down to earth type people and very easy to get along with. The next time you take a look at the ABS website, take some time and read over the JS and MS test requirements.... Both of these teachers are Mastersmiths, which means they've passed both the JS and MS requirements. You don't get there without having something on the ball! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Hale Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 I have had some time with Harvey DEan at a local hammer in a few years back ED said he may be in to top ten in the world, But from my experience he's is an even better instructor. I was really impressed with his knowledge but moreso with his ability to teach and make it down to earth. If I were to go to that school it would be for his class, Have fun and take a lot of notes and pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fat pete Posted November 16, 2007 Author Share Posted November 16, 2007 Oh boy you guys got me all excited....I cant wait I gotta get thru winter ...It will be cabin fever time too... Thanks.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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