2017 American Bladesmith Society Knife Auction

Blade Show - Atlanta, GA - Saturday - June 3, 2017

Top makers in the world of bladesmithing have donated an exciting collection of auction knives for the American Bladesmith Society Annual fund raiser at the 2017 Blade Show and International Cutlery Fair in Atlanta, GA on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at 10AM in RM# 103 of the Galleria. This year we have several ABS international smiths who have graciously volunteered to make knives that must be considered high art. There are seven of the eight knives pictured below including The Order of the Mystic Brotherhood (TOMB) auction knife. Let us take a look at what some generous and committed ABS bladesmiths have donated to the annual auction and fund raiser for the American Bladesmith Society.

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 MS director from the ABS board volunteers to do a knife of their choosing. Other submissions are pre-approved and represent the art of the forged blade.

As in recent years there is also an International Master Smith knife for the auction. This year we have a collaboration knife by a Belgium Master Smith and French Master Smith selected for this category. We also added an ABS International Journeyman Smith for 2017. As in past years there is a TOMB, The Order of the Mystic Brotherhood, knife.

Finally, we have two superb knives that were donated to the ABS in honor of the late John White. John White was a highly acclaimed award winning ABS Master Smith who also was a mentor to many. In his honor, Jean Louis Regel and Veronique Laurent have each submitted a knife for the auction. Both had indicated that they wanted to honor John White and have the proceeds be used to accomplish the ABS’s educational mission.

Let us take a look at these fantastic knives.

2017 ABS International Master Smith Knife of the Year

Makers: Jean Louis Regel and Veronique Laurent, Master Smiths

This knife is a rare collaboration knife between two of Europe’s finest Master Smiths. This is a stunning take-down bowie knife. The blade has a beautiful spider damascus pattern and a unique fuller type groove that not only follows the spine of the blade but defines as it curves the ricasso. Striking and unique. Guard and spacer are carbon steel. The little spacers on the handle are titanium. The wood handle material is ebony with brown and black striations. The accompanying sheath is beautiful and sets off the knife with cow and crocodile leather. Jean Louis Regel made the damascus and forged the blade. Veronique Laurent did the heat treatment, grinding, and guard/spacer set up on the handle. Then Jean Louis made the handle. The sheath was a combined effort. Magnifique!

2017 ABS Master Smith Knife of the Year

Maker: Dr. Dan L. Petersen, Master Smith

This is a large knife with a blade over 11 inches in length and close to 16 inches overall. The blade is made from W2 steel and has a hamon, or temper line, which resembles some of the more historic hamon patterns on Japanese blades of this type. The knife has a stainless guard and butt cap with several hundred incised cuts on the surface of the stainless steel fittings to add texture. The handle is a burl wood Dan Petersen has been saving from over 15 years ago. Dan indicates that over the last several years he became enamored with the Japanese naginata. The naginata was a spear with a blade often near a foot in length or longer. The naginata shaped blade was often narrower at the guard and widened noticeably along its length. The blade would then taper to a slightly upswept shape and a sharp tip. Dan indicates that the increasing width of the blade gives it a larger sweet spot when cutting or chopping. He also stated, “this may be the best cutting knife I have ever made”. There is something special when you can look at a knife blade and trace it lineage back 600 hundred or more years. Dan wanted to indicate that his love of the naginata blade pattern is something he shares in common with Master Smith Brion Tomberlin who he considers a highly talented bladesmith.

2017 ABS Journeyman Smith Knife of the Year

Maker: Matthew Parkinson, Journeyman Smith

Matthew Parkinson describes his knife as a “modern take on a medieval knight’s dagger. Matthew’s knife has a 9 inch damascus blade with an overall length of 15 inches. The blade of this superb dagger is made from a “crushed W’s pattern” billet and formed into a “serpent ladder pattern”. As you look down the length of the blade, the patterning tightens and becomes visually more dense intentionally showing the smiths skill with forging damascus steel. Fittings show the end grain Ws of the billet and demonstrate a harmonious and intentional complement to the blade. Fittings on the dagger are made from the same billet of damascus which used 1080 and 15N20 steels. Matthew describes his dagger with the following statement conjuring images of chivalric, medieval romance, “the dagger like the sword summons imagery in our minds that represents strength, balance, power, fairness and justice for all.” Clearly this is a blade to hold and remember.

2017 ABS International Journeyman Smith Folder of the Year

Maker: Bruce Barnett, Journeyman Smith (Australia)

Bruce Barnett created this excellent art folder. This is a 2 blade trapper and is the third ever trapper that Bruce has ever made as well as the first one he has done in damascus. This is Bruce’s 75 own layer mosaic damascus pattern. The steels are 1084 and 15n20 and heat treated to a RC of 59. The bolsters and liner are 410 stainless while the pins are 416 and nickel silver. Setting this off is a stabilized “Australian Ringed Gidgee” set of wood scales that have a beautiful curl grain pattern. The overall length on this folder in the open position is approximately 6 .5 inches. The action on the opening and closing of each blade is excellent. As anyone who appreciates custom folders knows producing a two blade folder of this type and of this quality is challenging. The damascus is beautiful and striking and this is a fantastic piece.

2017 ABS Board Director Knife of the Year

Maker: Greg Neely, Master Smith

[left] Greg Neely was tasked with making this year’s ABS Board Director Knife of the year. Greg chose to build his rendition of a Southwestern clip point gentlemen's bowie. Beautiful! The blade is forged, 5160 carbon steel. Greg states that the blade length is approximately 7 1/2 inches with a width of almost 2 inches. The knife is approximately 12 1/2 inches in overall length. The blade has been selectively tempered for a hard edge and tough, ductile spine and tang section. Greg’s blade has a unique hand rubbed surface with variations in grit finish for different areas of the blade. These variations in grit finish run from 600 grit to 8000 grit in this expertly hand polished blade. The handle was made using a Sambar stag taper, which is one of the dense, oily type commonly called "agate" stag. It has great color and character as well. The guard, the hand-filed spacer, and the buttcap are all made of 416 stainless steel. This is a wonderful piece.

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2017 Order of the Mystic Brotherhood Knife of the Year

Maker: Billy Bob Sowell, Master Smith

This is a beautiful folder in damascus with handle slabs of fossilized walrus bone. This excellent folder of Billy Bob’s is 3.5 inches closed with an overall length when in the open position of 6.5 inches. Exquisite craftsmanship with a damascus ladder pattern on both the blade and the bolsters. The pattern is just beautiful on this tapering and slightly upswept blade. Even the handle is visually striking with lines that show a symmetry between blade and handle. It is very difficult to create a folder with superb movement that also shows parallel lines through both its curves and straight lines. Many smiths refer to a beautiful knife as having great lines. This one does and it is just a very impressive piece. As noted in the introduction, this is the TOMB ABS Auction Knife for 2017. Each year the American Bladesmith Society has provided TOMB, The Order of the Mystic Brotherhood, the opportunity to auction a knife to raise monies for their organization. TOMB is a fellowship organization that uses its funds to support the ABS Schools.

2017 Special Commemoration Knives of the Year

In honor of the late ABS Master Smith, John White, who was a teacher, colleague, and friend, we have two superb knives that were donated to the ABS in honor of the late John White. John White was a highly acclaimed award winning ABS Master Smith who also was a mentor to many. In his honor, Jean Louis Regel and Veronique Laurent have each submitted a knife for the auction. Both had indicated that they wanted to honor John White and have the proceeds be used to accomplish the ABS’s educational mission.

Maker: Veronique Laurent, Master Smith (Belgium)

Veronique has created a beautiful damascus “D” guard bowie. This blade pattern is simply impeccable. While it is a large knife it is also a delicately designed and executed knife that demands to be held and moves gracefully through the air. The “D” guard is damascus as are the majority of the fittings. The handle is fossilized mammoth ivory. The construction of this knife allows the blade, guard and handle to be disassembled and taken apart by unscrewing the damascus nut on the buttcap. This is an exceptional piece from one of the greatest bladesmiths in Europe.

Maker: Jean Louis Regel, Master Smith (France)

Jean Louis created a beautiful take-down bowie that is an exceptional piece underlining the elements of high craftsmanship, beauty, and sweeping lines. In detail, it has a feather damascus patterning to the blade. The bluing of the guard, spacer, and butt cap blends the darkness of a damascus blade with an ebony handle. Even the attached tool for use in the take down of the blade is made to match the ebony handle and fittings. Take the blade apart and you find the high end craftsmanship where each piece of this frame construction fits precisely. Impressive.

*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.*