ABS School

[Igor]

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Dear All, I was wondering whether anyone out there has been to the American Bladesmith School in Texarkana. I'm planning to go there this Sept. and was looking for any helpful advice.

[Colin KC]

Hi Igor & welcome:D

Hmm an ABS smith eh, you'll be wanting to speak with...


...Keeevviiiiinnnn;)

[Kevin]

Igor.

I was there last October ...did the basic and Damascus.
I am going again in october for 'handles and guards'.

You can either discuss it here or send me a PM and I will tell you what I can.

:)

[Igor]

Dear Kevin Hopefully you've received my email at your website if not we can discuss everything here. Sorry about any confusion, it's just i'm a bit of a technaphobe and don't really know what I'm doing. The information I'm after is about where to stay, will there be anything for my wife to do whilst i'm at the ABS School. What will I be learning? Will I have a few finished blades to bring home with me? Igor

[Gator68]

Dear Kevin Hopefully you've received my email at your website if not we can discuss everything here. Sorry about any confusion, it's just i'm a bit of a technaphobe and don't really know what I'm doing. The information I'm after is about where to stay, will there be anything for my wife to do whilst i'm at the ABS School. What will I be learning? Will I have a few finished blades to bring home with me? Igor

Hi,
I went to the ABS school basic class a few years ago. The best two weeks (in terms of knifemaking!) you can spend. However, your wife will be bored out of her skull. Old Washington is in the middle of nowhere. She better have a car, and even then, she'll see everything worth seeing within 200 miles in a few days. Also, it's a dry county -- that means you can't buy booze unless you go over the county line. If you like a drink every now and then, you might want to bring a bottle and ask the locals where the nearest liquor store is.

If you go without your wife, I'd recommend staying in the bunkhouse. It's close, cheap, and you'll be with other knifemakers. If you're taking the basic class, you should be able to make the Journeyman test knife by the end of the two weeks. We learned fire management, forging by hand, forging with the power hammer, grinding, heat treat, and finishing. You should come home with a number of forged blades in various states -- it's all a matter of how much you want to work at it.

You should visit the weapons museum in the town. They have some cool knives there. If you get a chance to visit Little Rock, AR, they have a big exhibit on bowie knives and ABS mastersmith knives in a museum there. Also visit the village blacksmith in Old Washington, Billy Nations. Great guy.

I highly recommend going. It's great fun to spend two weeks straight living knives. :)

[Kevin]

Hi,
....... However, your wife will be bored out of her skull. Old Washington is in the middle of nowhere. She better have a car, and even then, she'll see everything worth seeing within 200 miles in a few days. :)

Yep. Second that.
:D