2018 American Bladesmith Society Knife Auction
Atlanta Bladeshow - Saturday, June 2, 2018
10 a.m. Galleria Room #103
Top makers in the world of bladesmithing have donated a beautiful collection of auction knives for the American Bladesmith Society Annual fund raiser at the 2018 Blade Show in Atlanta, GA on Saturday, June 2, 2018 at 10AM in RM# 103 of the Galleria. Pictured below are five of the seven knives. 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. The Order of the Mystic Brotherhood (TOMB) knife is shown here as well.
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, but this year we have two Journeyman Smith knifes and a Master Smith Folder. Additional submissions are pre-approved and represent the art of the forged blade.
As in recent years there is also an International Master Smith knife and an International Journeyman Smith knife for the auction. Their knives are not yet available to view, check back soon for photos and descriptions.
Here is a look at these fantastic knives.
2018 Master Smith Knife of the Year
Maker - Terry Vandeventer
The blade is feather Damascus from 1084 and 15N20 steels. The blade is approximately 8 inches long and 13 inches overall length. The seashell guard and fluted spacers are Damascus. The file-worked spacer behind the guard and filed framed handle are both Argentium silver bordered by a thin copper shim. The scales are Woolly Mammoth ivory. I also make my own sheaths;dear skin lined with farm-raised sustainable Zimbabwe Nile Crocodile inlays.
2018 Master Smith Folder of the Year
Maker - Andrew Meers
The knife is 5 layer Gordians knot made of 1084 and 15n20. The blade is hollow ground until the tip which is flat ground. The blade also features decorative grooves and file work.The frame is made of stainless liners and chisel textured steel scales. The handle scales are gold lip pearl. The back bar features three yellow sapphires placed in the interior of the frame. The inlays are fine silver, Shakudo, and 24k gold. There is a hidden pocket on the back of the frame which features a fine silver inlay on copper.The theme of the inlays are based on a skull found in South Africa and how he potentially was eaten by an eagle.
2018 Journeyman Smith Knife of the Year #1
Maker - Greg Keith
This Bowie has a W2 framehandle with hamon, a10 3/8" blade. The double guard is stainless steelwith nickel silver spacer and filed nickel silver liners. The handle slabs aremade of fossilized mammoth ivory. It has a mild steelgrooved frame and stainless steel screws.
2018 Journeyman Smith Knife of the Year #2
Maker - Barry Clodfelter
This fighter (or short Bowie) is made from 312 layers of 1084 and 15N20 in a twist pattern with a blade length of 73/8â€. The handle is ancient Bog Oak carbon dated to 5460 years old and a guard made of 416 SS.
2018 The Order of the Mystic Brotherhood Knife of the Year
Maker - Red St. Cyr, Master Smith
The 2018 TOMB Knife ofthe Year is a Damascus-bladed Bowie, donated by the estate of the late Col. BudBranch, who was a hero of the Viet Nam War, a knife collector, a member of theABS, and The Order of the Mystic Brotherhood. Made by the late ABS Mastersmith, Red St. Cyr, the knife features a Damascus blade approximately 8†in length, a Damascus guard and buttplate, and a handle of cocobolo. St. Cyr was a member of TOMB, a fraternal organization devoted to the support of the American Bladesmith Society. He died in 2012.
2018 International Master Smith Knife of the Year
Maker: Sam Lurquin
A Sleek and elegantfighter with beautiful Hamon. Strongly name "Killer Instinct". Handle-Sculptured Fossil Walrus. Ivory Blade Steel- W2. Guard- Stainless Steel OAL-12" Blade- 7 1/4
2018 International Journeyman Smith Knife of the Year
Maker: Neels van denBerg
My 5th attempt at a symmetrical quillon daggerand I must admit that I had fun making her. It was a steep learning curveproving that I still have a lot to learn! It has been an absolute honor makingher for the ASB Auction and once again, thank you for the opportunity.
The blade is made from 110 layers nickel plated 1070 plaincarbon steel, twisted in a “tight – lazy – tight†pattern with a deep etch. Thering guard, spacers and pommel are all sculpted from phosphor bronze, beadblasted, aged and patinaed. The fluted handle is carved from stabilized AmboynaBurl and finished with fine silver twisted wire inlays. The scabbard has alaminated wooden core, wrapped in veg tan leather and stitched at the back. Thescabbard throat and tip is made from forged, filed and silver soldered brassalso bead blasted, aged and patinaed.
