I caught a candid shot of two beefy participants(Mace Vitale & Dave "Banana Hands" Sylvester) for the cutting competition as they brandished their awesome cutting machines!!

Ayup, great time had by all! If I don't have my gosh darn performance test knife ready for next summer's hammer-in I'm walking the 2.5 hour drive from my folks' in NH to the hammer-in in Auburn Maine. (Please don't quote me on that. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//ohmy.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':o' />)

BTW, you ain't seen funny until you watch a bunch of muscle heads go from manic chopping to attempting to do delicate little lunge-thrust-jab fencing maneuvers with the tips of their choppers in an effort to pierce a small apricot sized water balloon hanging from a sting. It was HILARIOUS! <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//tongue.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':P' />

Here is video of the cutting competition, I got almost all of the cuts. I apologize if I spelled anyone's name wrong. Enjoy

Cutting Demonstration Video

[media] http://www.youtube.c...h?v=GhlL1wLuZxw [/media]

Thanks for posting that Barbara! It was almost as much fun seeing it again as it was the first time, especially that darn water balloon thrust-jab maneuver! <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//tongue.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':P' /> <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//tongue.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':P' /> <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//tongue.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':P' />

Definitely, thank you for posting this Barbara. That water balloon stab was great. I especially love the contestants hip action, too funny.

Thank you again.

Brion

Master Smith Lin Rhea took some great photos and videos at the New England Hammer-In and you can easily view them on his Flicker site.

Just CLICK this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/36496110@N00/with/5971296219/

I was just in contact with Dereck Glaser at the New England School of Metalwork in Auburn, Maine and next year's ABS New England Hammer-In is set for: July 13-15, 2012

Mark your calendar!