I would like to see blade finishing. There are several different finishes. I have taken several ABS classes and none have covered this. I finish my blades in preparation for handles and guards but would like to know the best practices way to do it.

Knifemakers:

Bruce Bump, Tool & jig making

Daniel Warren, Grinding

Jason Knight, Large knife forging

Jim Crowell, Heat treating with a torch

Jim Rodebaugh, Small knife forging-hidden tang

Burt Foster, Knife photography

Something that I believe might prove to be popular is how to start up a first shop including tools needed & where to find them. Which tools are necessary and which can be added later. Shop layout. How much lighting and electrical should you have when building a new shop. What's the minimum size for a shop building? How many windows & doors and what size, etc.

I know that you asked for demos and not seminars but this might fit in.

Gary

I have yet to attend an ABS hammer-in so I am painfully unaware of how they are set up and what happens at them. However, I do have some experience with ABANA hammer-ins and I know that the more popular things that occur at them are the open forge and the forging competitions. Open forges are self-explanatory. They usually happen after the main events/demonstrations/dinner and who ever wants to participate is welcome to come in and hammer away. This usually takes a few people willing to lend a forge and anvil for the weekend so there are plenty of workstations available or staging at a venue that already has the classroom setup with multiple forging stations.

The forging competitions usually go something like this: Contestants all get the same size piece of steel and have to forge an item (of their choice)out of it in a specific amount of time. The finished forgings are displayed either that same day or the next. Attendees post votes for the "best" and the winner gets a prize. How that would work in the context of the ABS might take some creative thought. However, it would give some of these bladesmiths the opportunity to either show off or advance their hot work skills. It would also give lesser smiths a good look at more experienced smiths at the anvil.

Joshua, I have attended 3 hammer-ins, and have heard attendees talk about the lack of any hands on activity. That being said, I do not think it would be feasible due to the numbers of attendees, and the lack of space at the locations. The ABS classes are limited to 10 students usually and the students end up sharing forges and grinders.

I would like to see a demo on shaping handles and guards.

Thanks for asking for our input!

Bob

I don't know if this is viable but I think it would help in bringing new members in. I would like to suggest either a demonstration on how to make a gas forge or a course where people work together to build their own gas forge that they could then take home. In setting up the course, people who are interested in building a forge could prepay the cost for purchasing the necessary supplies. While this is not knife making, if could provide people with more of an incentive to become bladesmiths. Just a thought. I also need a gas forge and would attend one in my area for this alone.

I know time is usually an issue But I know that I have been to several Hammer in and went to a class to see how something was done and the instructor had already done most of the work prior to the class and just demonstrated the last few steps. this was often dissapointing because I need to see how they got to that point not how to finish it from that point. I would like to see the demos be from start to finish.

My short list:

1. Throat & Tip Sheaths

2. Handle carving/scrimshaw (Ivory, antler, or bone)

3. Simple engraving/carved or otherwise embellished hardware.

4. Leather tooling

5. Handle material dyeing and stabilizing.

6. The 150 square foot knife shop.

Steve,

There are some great ideas here.

Last weeks Hammer-in was bar none the best I've been to. All we wanted to do was get home and try out what we learned.

List of Makers for future events: Kyle Royer (Bring him back everyone that I spoke with enjoyed his demo)

One thought: It need not be a hands on demo for everyone, (pick folks at random to set a billet), but a number of people would of liked to see a simple Damascus forging demo. Many of the folks there had never forged a billet.

I like Gary's idea too. If nothing else anvil placement to forge, a grinder discussion (pros and cons of grinders), oh my favorite lighting in your shop.

Dave from Diller

This is an excellent topic for discussion.

I'd like to ask the question from a slightly different perspective. Not being a knifemaker, when I've been asked to demo at hammer-ins and such I've done a few different things like knife photography on the cheap, marketing for the knifemaker, and (most often) some aspect of 19th century bowie knives, which is what I collect. I have approached bowie knives from a number of perspectives including the work of specific makers (mostly Samuel Bell), the evolution of bowie designs over the years, historic construction techniques, etc. and I always try to show a lot of photographs and bring along some genuine specimens for folks to handle and photograph.

Working off that same theme, is there anything else that folks would like to see or learn about antique knives -- bowies or even antique slipjoints or other things. I feel like I keep doing the same things over and over, and would love to have some more ideas to incorporate. The goal here is to give you access to some knives that could serve as a source of inspiration in your work, and to help you gain a better understanding of the originals.

Thoughts?

Mark

|quoted:

some aspect of 19th century bowie knives, which is what I collect. I have approached bowie knives from a number of perspectives including the work of specific makers (mostly Samuel Bell), the evolution of bowie designs over the years, historic construction techniques, etc. and I always try to show a lot of photographs and bring along some genuine specimens for folks to handle and photograph.

Mark

You know my love of the 19th century Bowies and I for one would love to attend one of your seminars some day. From a maker's perspective something that would be a great addition would be to have x-rays of the knives as well as photos. Many times the handle construction can be obscure but this could answer many questions.

Gary

Mark, You're on my short list of potential demonstrators for the Heartland Symposium. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

|quoted:

You know my love of the 19th century Bowies and I for one would love to attend one of your seminars some day. From a maker's perspective something that would be a great addition would be to have x-rays of the knives as well as photos. Many times the handle construction can be obscure but this could answer many questions.

Gary

Thanks Gary, that's the sort of input I'm looking for. In very few cases do we have x-rays available, but I could certainly draw sketches of how the knives were assembled. There really weren't that many different ways it was done although you do encounter a few strange variations along the way. Honestly, today's methods are fundamentally better than the old ways in most cases -- but it's still nice to have an understanding of how things were done, if for no other reason than to know what the original really looked like. You can always build a reproduction with the same exterior appearance and different guts if that's what you prefer.

|quoted:

Mark, You're on my short list of potential demonstrators for the Heartland Symposium. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

I'll do it, just get me out there! I'll be OK with your private jet... <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//biggrin.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />

Mark

|quoted:

Thanks Gary, that's the sort of input I'm looking for. In very few cases do we have x-rays available, but I could certainly draw sketches of how the knives were assembled. There really weren't that many different ways it was done although you do encounter a few strange variations along the way. Honestly, today's methods are fundamentally better than the old ways in most cases -- but it's still nice to have an understanding of how things were done, if for no other reason than to know what the original really looked like. You can always build a reproduction with the same exterior appearance and different guts if that's what you prefer.

Mark

Thanks, Mark. I look forward to it. With my reproductions, I have always tried to build them as much like they were first done as possible and this would be a big help in doing so.

BTW:--I'm getting close with my latest project that I alluded to earlier with you. I'll try to post something soon.

Gary