2015 ABS Knife Auction

2015 American Bladesmith Society Knife Auction

Blade Show - Atlanta, GA - Saturday - June 6, 2015

Top makers in the world of bladesmithing have donated an exciting set of auction knives for the American Bladesmith Society Annual fund raiser at the 2015 Blade Show and International Cutlery Fairin Atlanta, GA on Saturday, June 6, 2015 at 10AM in RM# 103 of the Galleria. There are seven knives pictured including the The Order of the Mystic Brotherhood (TOMB) knife. Additionally, there will be a Master Smith folder of the year by Master Smith Steve Dunn (not shown). Of the seven knives pictured, there is one damascus bowie knife, one goblin damascus folder, one Persian styled damascus fighter, and four forged high carbon bowie/fighter style 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.

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.

This year a new category was added to recognize the talents of our international ABS bladesmiths. The International Auction Knife by an ABS Master Smith was added to showcase the talents of a growing number of ABS ranked smiths worldwide.

Let us take a look at these fantastic knives.

ABS International Master Smith Auction Knife of 2015

Maker: Kevin Harvey, Master Smith

Kevin describes his auction knife in the following manner, “I particularly enjoy Bowies, fighters and daggers with the most part being Bowies. I wanted to do something unusual, but remain true to the historical and old-time feel that a lot of my knives tend to have.” The curvaceous lines of this style of dagger appealed to me and I enjoy the challenge of complex dagger grinds. I always knew that I wanted a fine, intricate Damascus pattern, that although not wootz per say, would have the appearance of the old style crucible steel that was made in India. One thing led to the next and when I found the beautiful Indian Kashmiri shawl I knew that the engraving had to be fine floral. Many old daggers had bone handles which could quite likely have been camel, cow, water buffalo or horse. I have chosen giraffe shin bone as a material since it is an excellent bone from my native South Africa. Incidentally the Afrikaans word for giraffe is “Kameelperd”, meaning “camel horse”. Kevin did the coloring and stabilizing himself. This is a magnificent knife with an intricate Damascus mosaic pattern. Phenomenal work.

ABS Master Smith Auction Knife of 2015

Maker: Doug Noren, Master Smith

Doug Noren’s custom bowie is big and beautiful and comes with a custom presentation case. Overall in length, this large bowie is 17.5 inches with a blade of 12 inches. The steel on this almost classic bowie is 5160 AISI. The nickel silver guard on this bowie is S shaped with unique bronze stars on the tips of the guard. The handle material is an English walnut burl with mastodon ivory inset slabs anchored with silver pins. The pommel of the knife has a mastodon washer and is capped with nickel silver knob. This is truly a unique piece with clear artistic elements in the design. Additionally, there are three inlays on the blade with one on each side of the ricasso and one inset along the spine. Each of these are sterling silver and the inlay engraving is by Nathan Dickinson (Cadet, MO). The presentation case is Yucatan Rosewood with brass handles and hinges, ebony feet and knob. A masterpiece.

ABS Journeyman Smith Auction Knife of 2015

Maker: Peter Crowl, Journeyman Smith

Peter Crowl makes an incredible knife and this piece showcases his talent. Peter used 1084 AISI steel to forge this 9 and 3/4 inches long, deferentially heat treated magnificent bowie knife. The guard on the knife is 416 stainless steel which has been hand filed. The groove filed into the guard has been given a mirror polish. Behind the guard rests a spacer of 416 stainless and sandwiching a silicon bronze spacer. The 3 piece construction with the bronze spacer nicely complements the coloring of the handle. Peter creates a bowie that exudes strength and balance. He goes to the extra work to use internal pins connecting the guard, spacers and handle material insuring the strength of the whole piece. The handle on this fantastic piece is stabilized Curly Koa wood reaching a total length of 5 inches. The knife comes with a sheath of Peter’s making.

ABS Board of Directors Auction Knife of 2015

Maker: E. Jay Hendrickson, Master Smith

Jay’s 2015 Auction knife is beautiful example of the high art of bladesmithing. Jay describes this knife as a “coffin handle spearpoint bowie knife”. The blade length is 9.5 inches and the steel is 5160 AISI. The overall length of the knife is around 15 inches. The handle on this masterpiece is curly maple and it is embellished with inlayed fine silver wire with exquisite silver scrolls on the flats. Both the guard and cap on the butt of the handle are brass. The guard is carved and elegant with a brass spacer shaped to provide a secure grip. The whole ensemble is complemented with a wood lined leather covered sheath that includes a raised pattern with a brass stud and swivel. A double strap closure holds the knife securely in the sheath. Superb.

ABS Board of Directors Auction Knife of 2015

Maker: Dan L. Petersen, Master Smith

This is one of Dan’s gentleman’s bowie fighters. This knife has a dramatic Damascus blade composed of multiple contrasting Damascus patterns made from W2 and a modified L6 steels. The patterns in the blade are bold jelly rolls paired with a mild W pattern. In between each of these paired patterns is a tightly detailed W pattern. The exceptional bowie blade is approximately 8 inches in length. The buttcap, guard, and spacer are all Damascus made from the same billet. The only exception was the addition of a 1/8 thick nickel spacer just behind the guard to separate and give contrast between the guard and larger damascus spacer. Overall, Dan describes this as a patchwork pattern providing contrasts that alternate the bold and finely detailed. The handle material is pitch black gabon ebony. The black handmade leather sheath is wood lined and hand stitched by Dan.

ABS Board of Directors Auction Knife of 2015

Maker: Harvey Dean, Master Smith

This is Harvey’s magnificent “El Diablo Fighter”. Sleek lines and impeccable craftsmanship can be seen in this beautiful knife. The blade is forged from 1084 high carbon steel. The fantastic double sculptured guard is made from 416 stainless steel. To complement the whole knife is a sheep horn handle. The sheep horn handle is of a mortis tang construction and it is secured by two stainless steel handle bolts. This is an incredible knife from an incredible bladesmith.

ABS TOMB Auction Knife of 2015

Maker: Wade Colter, Master Smith

Each year a member from The Order of the Mystic Brotherhood (TOMB) also donates a knife of exceptional quality. This knife was donated to TOMB as part of a small collection of knives owned by the late Bud Branch, a member of TOMB . It seems fitting that one of the excellent pieces donated by Bud would be used to help raise funds for an organization he supported. The TOMB knife is one of Wade Colter’s classic goblin friction folders. Wade is quite literally famous for his exceptional folders. The carving is fantastic and the blade has a Damascus ladder pattern. The blade’s tang has been drawn into intricate blued metal curls for ease of opening and to provide a secure open position stop for the blade. The stag is nicely figured. This goblin folder has an ivory center piece set off by steel frame. Look close and you can see goblin face has ruby eyes.

The 2015 American Bladesmith Society Knife Auction will be conducted at the Atlanta Blade Show on Saturday, June 6, 2015 at 10:00AM in Rm# 103 of the Galleria.

ABS YouTube Channel video below about the making of the 2015 International Master Smith Knife by Kevin Harvey, MS.

Click below to view the video.

[media] http://www.youtube.c...h?v=wrrQMuWKJkw [/media]

*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.*