2014 American Bladesmith Society Knife Auction

Blade Show - Atlanta, GA - June 7, 2014

Top masters in the world of bladesmithing have donated a series of art knives for the American Bladesmith Society Annual fund raiser at the2014 Blade Show and International Cutlery Fair in Atlanta, GA on Saturday June 7th at 10:00 am in Room #103 of the Galleria. This event promises to be even better than the auction last year. Collectors and aficionados of high end custom knives who attend the auction will have an exclusive opportunity to view and hear detailed descriptions by the makers themselves. This is your chance to view some of the best and most exclusive art knives of the Show.

There are six (6) knives including the TOMB knife. These include: a classic bowie with a dramatic hamon by Master Smith Brion Tomberlin, a damascus folder by Master Smith Mike Vagnino, the damascus “gent’s bowie” by Master Smith Wade Colter (TOMB), an African Blackwood Keyhole fighter by ABS Journeyman Ken Hall, a gentleman’s bowie by Master Smith Greg Neely, and a slip lock damascus folder by Master Smith Daniel Warren.

Each year the ABS gives the opportunity for bladesmiths to submit knives for its annual auction. One master smith and one journeyman smith are chosen to do a fixed blade, one master smith to do a folder, and two or more directors from the ABS board to do a knife of their choosing. Additionally, a member from The Order of the Mystic Brotherhood (TOMB) also donates a high end knife.

Let us take a look at what some generous and committed bladesmiths have donated to the annual auction and fund raiser for the American Bladesmith Society.

2014 ABS Master Smith Knife of the Year - Brion Tomberlin, Master Smith

Master Smith Brion Tomberlin made the 2014 ABS Master Smith knife of the year. It is a classic bowie with a blade of 1095h. The blade length is 10 inches and has been heat treated with Japanese methods to produce a distinctive hamon. The blade has been polished to accentuate the dramatic and very visible hamon or hardening line. The blade is almost two inches wide with the spine being almost 3/8" thick at the ricasso. There is a pronounced distal taper and the clip is sharp. The guard is an “S” shaped half penny design hand forged from 416 stainless steel. The guard has small pennies designed to improve the flow of the entire knife. The spacer is a three piece set with the two outer spacers being 50 thousandth 416 stainless steel and polished. The inner spacer is 1/4" 416 stainless steel that has been hammer peened. The handle is sambar stag from India. The buttcap is also 416 stainless steel that has been fileworked to match the contours of the stag. The knife turned out very well and balances right at the plunge area. The accompanying sheath was made by Larry Parsons. Fantastic work!

This is the ABS YouTube Channel video of Brion Tomberlin describing the features of the knife and how he made it, Click:

2014 ABS Master Smith Folder of the Year - Daniel Warren, Master Smith

Master Smith Daniel Warren was selected to make the 2014 ABS Master Smith folder of the year. Daniel Warren is known for his high quality folders. This is a slip joint folder with all damascus fittings and a beautiful damascus blade. The handle is fossilized ivory with fantastic coloring including browns, tans, and greens throughout. The damascus bolsters have a spider web like pattern and the pivot pin sits in the center of the bolster’s pattern. This is an excellent piece by a new master smith who had distinguished himself by winning the B. R. Hughes award for the best knife submitted by a Master Smith candidate in 2012. This is a great folder.

2014 ABS Journeyman Smith Knife of the Year - Ken Hall, Journeyman Smith

This is Ken Hall’s African Blackheart Keyhole Fighter. Ken’s knife is hand forged and differentially heat-treated. The W2 steel blade has a complex undulating hamon line created through Ken’s differential heat treatment. The guard is one of the striking visual pieces on this knife. It is made from 410 stainless steel and extends dramatically down the handle almost to the midpoint. This heart shaped keyhole guard embraces the highly polished African Blackwood handle. Overall the knife comes in with a total length of 13.5 inches. The blade length is approximately 8.5 inches with a width 1.7 inches. A beautiful sheath accompanies the knife. This is another excellent specimen.

2014 ABS Board Knife #1 of the Year - Greg Neely, Master Smith

Master Smith Greg Neely’s knife is a gentleman’s bowie, with hand-rubbed clip-point blade, forged of 1084 steel. The blade is differentially tempered, with soft back and hard edge. It has the lines of a southwestern bowie knife profile, as the clip is curved and the spine leading into the clip has a slight upsweep. The handle of the knife is of mortised-tang construction and is made of sapelle bubinga, which is the rarest type of bubinga (African). The guard and spacer are made of 416 stainless steel and were fileworked (grooved) and edges polished to 8000 grit by hand with abrasive papers. Overall, this piece shows the attention to exquisite detail and artistic design for which Greg is known. A handmade leather concealment sheath accompanies the knife.

2014 ABS Board Knife #2 of the Year - Michael Vagnino, Master Smith

Master Smith Mike Vagnino calls this model his Velox folder and it is a frame lock design. The blade on this folder is a combination of 1080, 1095 and 15n20 steels. The damascus pattern is exquisite showing an integration of various patterns including ‘”W” patterning and others. The frame of the handle is 1/8" Titanium. The “stand-offs” are also made from Titanium. The overlays are carbon fiber and the folder’s Clip is made from stainless steel. This is part of Mike’s Custom Tech line (MV2). This is a fantastic folder from a great master smith.

2014 TOMB (The Order of the Mystic Brotherhood) Knife - Wade Colter, Master Smith

This is an ivory handled bowie by Master Smith Wade Colter that is decked out in a ladder pattern damascus. This impressive bowie has sharp lines with a dramatic and convergent point. The off-white fossilized walrus ivory handle matches perfectly with light reflecting and highly polished fittings. The etching and finishing of the damascus blade is a very light gray in color blending with the overall color scheme. In this knife we have aspects of coloring and tone adding a signature effect to the overall presentation of the knife. Wade describes this as a “gent’s bowie” with leanings to pre- 1835 American period. All fittings are sterling silver have a high polish including the “S” shaped clam shell guard. Of note is the use of a highly polished habaki which encircles the ricasso. The overall length is 12.25 inches. This is a beautiful and original piece.

*A copy of the current financial statement of the American Bladesmith Society, Inc. is available by writing American Bladesmith Society, Inc., P.O. Box 160, Grand Rapids, Ohio 43522 or by calling (419) 832-0400. Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Maryland Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis MD 21401, (410) 974-5534.*