Topic: Master Bladesmith ABS Knife of the Year (Auction)
As most of you realize and some may not, a tradition was started around 1990 or so. The ABS Board decided to invite those smiths with a MS rating to submit a knife for the Annual ABS Auction that is held at the BLADE Show each year. In 1989 there were less than twenty ABS Master Smiths. The first group was asked to volunteer to submit a knife for Auction and then after that group had the opportunity it was opened up for all subsequent Master Smiths to submit their name for the drawing.
This has turned into a major marketing and publicity event for both the maker, their knife, and the annual ABS auction. There is likely no other knife related annual event that is so well advertised. The photos are professionally done, the write ups on the knives are of high quality, and each of the three major knife publications run extensive coverage. Finally, the Blade Show does a fantastic job of advertising this also. If a maker is looking to get his name out for high end artistic work, this is the opportunity. Of course, your name needs to be drawn and you need to submit your name to the ABS.
Finally, you should know that the sale of these knives greatly affects the ABS. Aside from dues, the money raised at the annual auction is central to the running of the ABS, its website, and other operations. Because the ABS is a not for profit organization with an education mission, knives donated at auction can be claimed as a charitable donation.
We would like to revisit the list of ABS Master Smiths. It has been awhile and things change for people over time. This is strictly a voluntary act. So we are going to start with a clean slate. Even if you have previously indicated that you were interested in being chosen to make the ABS MS Knife of the Year, we need to have you submit your name and indicate an interest in producing an ABS Master Smith Knife of the Year or the ABS Master Smith Folder of the Year.
There is also an opportunity for our Journeyman Smith to participate and we invite them to volunteer and submit their names for the ABS Journeyman Smith Knife of the Year.
There are two categories Master Smiths can submit under. Master Smiths may also submit for both or just one.
Category A: Master Smith Fixed Blade Knife of the Year
Category B: Master Smith Folder Knife of the Year
There is one category for Journeyman Smith to submit under.
Category A: Journeyman Smith Fixed Blade of the Year
To submit your name please contact Cindy Sheely at [email protected] , you can contact me at Dan Petersen at [email protected] with any questions about this programs.
Thanks,
Dr. Dan L. Petersen, ABS-MS
ABS Auction Coordinator
