1 Diamond Dave
2 Fluffy ]]>
This event is more about the effective use of various traditional blades and may be of interest to some folks here? Would be great to see some BB members on board :)
Following hugely successful past events, the Highland Challenge 2010 is scheduled from Sunday 6th June through to Saturday 12th June, and open to all who are up for it.
What is it about? -
An entire week of martial training, physical challenges and social sessions, all in the glorious setting of the West Highlands of Scotland.
The challenge offers an opportunity to train hard, play hard, push yourself, discover, experience and enjoy, all in the purest environment Nature has to offer.
Moidart is a land rich in genuine Celtic cultural and combative legends. It still provides one of the most historic, inspiring and challenging training grounds available today.
This is the setting for the Highland Challenge.
The 2010 Challenge is all-inclusive, as course costs cover the following -
- Transport - Minibus to and from Edinburgh and around the various Highland training grounds.
- Accommodation - All participants are based at Glenuig Inn, Moidart (www.glenuig.com/) which serves as our base of operations for the week.
- Meals - Breakfast and lunches are included each day, as Highland air works up a rare appetite! Evening meals are available from Glenuig Inns quality range of local produce and cooking.
- Training - Six days of intense tuition in the traditional Highland weapons of quarterstaff, backsword, dirk and more! (weapons are supplied), all given in some of the most stunning locations, steeped in Scottish history and legend. All tuition is given by Mo. Paul Macdonald of the Macdonald Academy of Arms.
Each day consists of a morning challenge (details of which are not revealed until the day), a full afternoon of training at specific locations and naturally, an evening session, all for six days and seven nights straight!
This is as authentic as it gets, as we train on original Jacobite training grounds with traditional weapons and martial techniques.
It all adds up to one unforgettable adventure and experience.
The last Challenge saw participants arrive from throughout the UK, Norway, Canada and the US.
Dates are confirmed and booking is now open. Please note that places are strictly limited, so early booking is advised. Fortune Favours the Brave!
For further details, please contact Macdonald directly at macdonaldacademy@aol.com or on 0131 557 1510 (0044 131 557 1510 for int'l)
Yours Very Truly,
Paul Macdonald,
Macdonald Academy of Arms,
www.macdonaldarms.com
]]>So, is anyone free for a libation or three?
Rgds ]]>
every year I hold a forge in .....
last year preperation took up about 10 days of my time.....
at least 5 days of Colins time.........
I paid for help for 3 days(this came out of the forge in monies so, basically my pocket as I did not cover the event with fees)
It should not take that much time this year as spaces are clearer .However the space we use are shared with other people so there will be a few days re arranging to be done at some time in the month leading up to the event .
I would like some help !
If you would be able to help tidying up the place (lugging stuff around sweeping organising etc ) for a day in march It would be a great help to me to have a work party willing .
or if you would be willing to do a run and fetch some thing or look after or collect a demonstrator etc .
It would free Colin up as he has really done more than enough over the last few years (I am sure he will still help!).
The forge ins I hold are really more on par to what an organisation like BABA or ABANA hold and are too much work for one or two people .
I can not off set help against attendance fees as I have enough trouble balancing the cost of the event as it is .
I enjoy hosting the event but the work involved takes up too much time so its time to delegate a bit ......
If you would like to help please put your name here and I will delegate some tasks out .
thanks in anticipation Owen ]]>
5th to 9th of april 2010
.
I am very pleased to announce a 5 day sword forging class with the American Swordsmith Howard Clark at the Bushfire forge school of smithing .
Howard is an ABS Mastersmith and is highly regarded for his Japanese style sword blades (including the legendary L6 Banite blades he produces).
The class will cover the forging, grinding and heat treating of a wakizashi blade .Blades will be clay quenched to achive Hamon (the differential hardening line so typical of Japanese swords) .This is a rare opportunity to learn from a real master.Howards understanding of the heat treating process is second to none .
The class will run from monday the 5th through to friday the 9th of april 2010 and take place at Bushfire forge school of smithing in welling Kent .
The cost of this class is £550
for more information please contact Owen on 07973798690 or email owen@owenbush.co.uk .
for information on howard and his work please visit
http://www.mvforge.com/ ]]>
Visit to Sheffield Forgemasters International Ltd (SFIL).
As the world's largest independently owned forgemaster, SFIL specialises in a broad range of heavy steel forgings and steel castings as well as stocking steel ingot and bar. During its 200 year history SFIL has produced some of the largest bespoke engineered products in the world and has the capacity for steel castings of up to 350 tonnes and steel forgings of up to 200 tonnes. The company continues to supply an increasing global demand for high quality engineered products to key industries such as defence, nuclear, oil and gas exploration, power generation, marine and construction.
Hope you can join us on Monday, 9th November.
Venue: Sheffield Forgemasters International,
Brightside Lane,
Sheffield, S9 2RX
Time: 18:30 hrs
Please, note that the assembly point will be at the car park of SFIL.
We would appreciate if you could confirm attendance to Tiziana.Marrocco@twi.co.uk
Tell Tizzy you is a guest of Badger if 'er asks... ]]>
the forge in dates for next year are going to be April 10th 11th and 12th .
Held at Bush fire forge in welling Kent (UK)
Demonstrators include :-
Howard Clark (USA)
Achim Wirtz (Germany)
Peter Johnsson (hopefully)(Sweden)
Jeff Pringle (USA)
Grace Horn (UK)
Dave Budd (UK)
More to add
Medieval Sword Fighting with Dave Rawlins
Cutting comp and Tamishigiri .
Band for Saturday nite
As always there will be forges open to have a bash at and power hammers (Massey Anyang are bringing along a hammer to play with), welders, and steel .this is a great opportunity to have a go at blade smithing in the company of some of the most experiences smiths in the world .
There will be prizes for the best knives forged at the forge in (probably bladesmithing hammers).
I really want there to be a bring and buy area for tools blades etc so bring stuff to sell .(and money)
I would like there to be a mini knife show on sunday eve so bring your finished work .
I will provide food for Saturday eve and there will be all the usual antics and don't forget drinking by the fire (when the forging has finished!!!).
There is space to crash here and I can recomend a local B and B if you prefer .These are friendly gatherings that bring smiths and interested people together from across the world
There will be a fee for this event of £70 if you pay before the end of january 2010 and £80 after that .I charge a fee to help cover demonstrators flights (America ,Sweden,Germany) and forging fuel, food ,toilet hire etc .I make no money on this event (far from it) .Early payment really helps me balance out paying for flights etc.
If you have not been along to one of these forge-ins I cant recommend them highly enough (if I do say so myself!!!) .
if you want any more information feel free to contact me on 07973798690 or email owen@owenbush.co.uk ]]>
http://www.owenbush.co.uk/school-of-smithing.html
I am offering a 10% discount for contributing BB members on my Bladesmithing and damascus classes .
December 11th/ 12th/ 13th 2009 Bladesmithing Weekend
January 29th/ 30th/ 31st 2010 Damascus steel weekend
March 26th/ 27th/ 28th 2010 Bladesmithing Weekend
April 5th/ 6th/ 7th/ 8th/ 9th 2010 Sword Forging with Howard Clark
April 10th/ 11th/ 12th 2010 Forge-In 2010
if you would like any more info feel free to phone or email me .
All the best Owen
If this would be better placed somewhere else let me know . ]]>
These are some stationary golf ball cuts from earlier in the day
Dave
Stew
Ian
Some competition cuts
Rob,
Empty can cut
Dave,
Farid
Mr Yarrow
Rob,
Ian,
Thanks Ian,
Mick. ]]>
A couple of standing about, chatting photos before the fun begins
After some lunch it was the cutting comp.
The course was laid out and involved 16 individual cuts
The 1st cut was the 2x4 (Ian is leaning on it ), then continuing along the table is the postal tube, cut as many complete rings out of it. 5 or 6 was the most on the day. Then the empty coke bottle. Onto the other table,
Wooden golf tee, cut through the shaft. Empty coke tin, cut in halve through the side. Tennis ball. Out the door to the 5 water filled coke bottles,
Back to the 2nd table to the rolling ball cut.
Pull out the 1st straw, for a golf ball. The cutting area is about 20", cut these in half before the ball drops of the end. 2nd straw for a table tennis ball and the 3rd straw for another golf ball.
Then the 4" cardboard tube cut, in half from top to bottom.. Back to the 1st table for the drinking straw cut. The 1st straw is extended and the cut is to slice the straw in half above the flexy bit. The 2nd straw is to be cut in half from top to bottom, length about 6". The only person to do this was Rob.
The last cut on the table was the 1" wooden dowl cut. Cut the wood through the blue taped area.
Then the Jelly Baby cut. The only person to do this was Stew.
And the last cut is the hanging 1" rope.
All the cuts have points awarded and from the first strike on the 4x2 the clock starts ticking until the rope cut is done.
Mick ]]>
And a big thanks to Ians Lady wife for some fine food!!
]]>Thinking of doing this in January. Just thinking might be nice to expand it and get a few more people in on project. Idea would be to turn up to venue with steel, hammers, welding equipment etc. and build it together.
Anyone interested?
Cheers recurve:D ]]>