Cindy Sheely just sent the Mid America Hammer-In schedule to me today and it looks like another great learning opportunity.

2012 Mid America Schedule download: MID AMERICA 2012 SCHEDULE.pdf

Well this hammer in is just around the corner -- so who is going? I haven't missed this hammer in in years, but my schedule may not allow me to attend this year -- time will tell.

If you haven't been to this hammer in, it is at the fair grounds and SOFA hosts the hammer in with their fantastic facility. They have 2 great shops with bleacher seating. The new shop has a coal forge made of brick that is a work of art.

Many of the demonstrations are done in the air conditioned hall as is the cutting competition. In the past meals have been available at the hammer in, so you do not have to leave for lunch.

There is some great skill up there in the schedule.

Brian

BR Hughes asked that I post this reply for him:

"Kevin Cashen, who knows more about the quillon art dagger than anyone I know, will join me at the Mid-America hammer-in for the ABS Judging Standards class. We have offered this class for several years, and it has paid off in terms of success for those who test. We have studied the pass-fail stats and can say with some certainty that you have not sat in on one or more of these sections before you put your knives before the review panel, there is about a 90 percent chance that you will fail. However, sitting in on one or more such classes pushes your chances of passing to over 50 percent.

So, if you plan to test for your Journeyman or Master stamp during the next 12 months, it is to your advantage to attend."

BR Hughes

This is a terrific place to learn a little bit about the art of bladesmithing. Lots of different topics are covered so there is always something new. Sofa is a top shelf group, they operate an outstanding facility.

The amount of time that these hammer-ins cut off the learning curve is huge. I have been to the Mid-America hammer-in every year but one. Each year I come away with something new that makes the trip more than worth while.

It's also great to catch up with friends you only see once or twice a year and make some new friends.

I am very honored to be demonstrating this year. If anyone has anything specific, related to blade finishing or handles and guards that they would like to see or discuss please let me know.

Hope to see you there!

|quoted:

BR Hughes asked that I post this reply for him:

"Kevin Cashen, who knows more about the quillon art dagger than anyone I know, will join me at the Mid-America hammer-in for the ABS Judging Standards class. We have offered this class for several years, and it has paid off in terms of success for those who test. We have studied the pass-fail stats and can say with some certainty that you have not sat in on one or more of these sections before you put your knives before the review panel, there is about a 90 percent chance that you will fail. However, sitting in on one or more such classes pushes your chances of passing to over 50 percent.

So, if you plan to test for your Journeyman or Master stamp during the next 12 months, it is to your advantage to attend."

BR Hughes

My friend BR is far too kind and I was honored to have him ask me to help out with the Judging talk. One of the most common concerns you will hear from Mastersmiths who you may take you knives to for review is that they know exactly what they want to see in those knives but are not sure of the particulars of what will be looked for in Atlanta or San Antonio. These judging talks at our hammer-ins are the perfect answer for this since you get a good block of time with people who are experienced judges in Atlanta or San Antonio. If you wait until you are there to ask those gentlemen your questions it is pretty much too late, but at the Mid America you are arming yourself with critical information to work with for the many months you will have to prepare.

I will be happy to give my dagger talk once again, as I am quite flattered that it seems to be in much demand. I am pleased with its popularity because the real inspiration for it was to reestablish this fantastic knife as anything but fantasy, or artful whimsy, but as the deadly serious, and yet most beautiful, blade that it really is. I am continually adding more to my presentation so there will be something for even those who have seen it before.

The hamon demo will be fun for me, I used to do a lot of that sort of thing but got entirely away from it with the direction that my knives took, so when I get to revisit it is more fun than work. I have even obtained some steel particularly conducive to the process (thank you Aldo!), and a large tub of refractory. Of course I will touch and all general aspects of heat treating but we will see what sort of pretty lines we can make down the edge as well.

Hello, the 8th Mid America Bladesmithing Symposium and Knife Show will take place at the Miami County Fairgrounds, Troy, Ohio, August 24, 25 and 26th, 2012. Like Mace with the New England event, this is the first ABS Hammer-in that I have been asked to be the coordinator of. I feel honored that Jim Batson has confidence in me. With the great example Jim has always given, we have a great group of demonstrators lined up this year. If you have never attended the Mid American, I think you will enjoy the experience. The facility at the Miami County Fairgrounds is great. The Southern Ohio Forge and Anvil organization, SOFA, is our host. Sofa also hosts the Quad State Round-up every September, which draws close to 1,000 blacksmiths and bladesmiths, so they are very experienced with large hammer-ins. This makes the ABS Mid American an easy task for them and they take very good care of us.

There are two main forging stations; each with either coal or gas forges. Each station also has its own air hammer. The area for green coal, or hands on forging, has a number of coal forges with all of the hand tools required. The classroom sessions are in a large air conditioned hall, we also use this same building for the knife show, auction and the cutting demonstration. It is always a dilemma to choose what to watch or participate in each day, demonstration, classroom or hands on, but what a great dilemma to have. You see the great line up of demonstrators, some familiar some new, so I think we will enjoy learning all the techniques and ideas.

We will start our weekend on Thursday with registration time and the optional demonstrator’s dinner. Let the office know if you are able to attend so we can give an estimate to the restaurant. All are welcome and we will introduce the demonstrators and guests and enjoy a meal together.

The Auction and knife show on Saturday afternoon, August 25, is the only time that we are open to the public. We have done what we can to advertise and bring in the public so we have a better possibility of having buyers for the knife show.

Please be sure to bring items for our auction. Any items made by the demonstrators at the event, blades, etc. will be in the auction. Please be generous in your participation as it is what keeps the cost of registration down and allows us to bring in great artists.

Come prepared to have an energy filled weekend of learning. This will be your opportunity to learn from Masters, Journeyman and very talented piers. We all will have a chance to learn from each other as we enjoy this weekend.

Thanks and we will see you there. Butch Sheely

Hi Guys,

I am hoping that if there is anything from the store you want brought to the Mid American, to save your shipping costs, you will let me know in advance. I don't carry very many garments, so if you want shirts let me know.

Also, if you are sure you want an event shirt let me know the size to put back for you so you are sure to have it. This year the knives of J Neilson, Joe Keeslar and Pete Crowl will be featured. The art is being worked on now and I have not set a color for the shirt yet. I would love some input on the color you would like. I try not to order too many so we don't have dated shirts left over, so let me know what you want for size and quantity as soon as you can and we will do our best to have them. There were a few guys at the New England event that did not get the shirt they wanted as I ran out of some sizes. I also don't order small, medium or 4X unless I have an advance order for them. Thanks for your help. Cindy

Hello all, sorry I'm running a bit late jumping on here, trying to clear up some more orders before heading out to Ohio. I'm thrilled to be doing demos at the very first hammer-in I ever attended many years ago. The facility is great for both teaching and learning and there are going to be a wonderful group of folks there as well. I'm pleased to be teaching damascus since this is what brought me into forging knives and the ABS as well. We'll go through the basics of laminate damascus including proper preperation and setting your welds. Building layers, pattering, etching and I'm planning on doing some examples of canister welding as well.

I'm looking forward to a good time and a lot of information flying around the fairgrounds!

The 8th Mid America Hammer-In is underway today on Friday, August 24th.

Cindy Sheely just me an email and said that Joel Worley passed his Journeyman Smith Performance Test at the Mid America in Troy, Ohio. Master Smith Kevin Cashen administered the Performance Test.

Congratulations Joel!!!

I just received a report from Cindy on the Battle of the Bladesmiths today at the Mid America and it was a hotly contested competition with the evening temperature at 85 degrees. Bill Wiggins finished first with a "very fine knife" but the votes went to Joel Worley.

The final results were:

First place - Joel Worley

Second Place - Bill Wiggins

Congratulations Joel and Bill!

I understand that we will be seeing some of the photos taken at the competition posted on the ABS Forum.

Cindy is taking photos on her IPhone at the Mid America Hammer-In and emailing them to me. I will post the photos as I receive them:

Saturday, August 25th - Knife Show

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Pete Crowl, JS Demonstrating

Thanks for the updates Dan, I really enjoy them. kinda bummed that I'm not there because of last minute glitches and we all know "you can't be everywhere".

Paul:

I am sure that you were missed at this year's event as you attend every year. Sally sends her regards to you and your wife.

Cindy just sent me an update on today's events. Thank you Cindy!

Tonight the Cutting Competition was held at the Mid America and Lon Humphrey took first place honors.

Joel Whorley earned second place honors in the Cutting Competition

Butch Sheeley and Joe Keeslar at the Mid America

Thanks for the updates Dan and Cindy. This is the first time in many years that I missed this event and although not the same as being there, it helps <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

Brian