ABS 2013 Master Smith Folder by Jerry Lairson, MS

Top masters in the world of bladesmithing have donated a series of art knives for the American Bladesmith Society Annual fund raiser at the 2013 Blade Show and International Cutlery Fair in Atlanta, GA on Saturday June 1^st at 10:00 am. This event promises to be even better than the auction last year. Collectors and aficionados of high end custom knives will have an exclusive opportunity to view and hear detailed descriptions by the makers themselves of possibly the best knives at the entire show.

When Jerry Lairson was asked by the ABS to build the Mastersmith folder for 2013 he jumped at the chance. For Jerry, and ABS Master Smith, this commitment to make the MS Folder for 2013 was a challenge and a journey towards excellence. Jerry stated that, Jerry Lairson, M.S. “In first place it was a great honor to be allowed to build this knife. In the second place by accepting I was forced to go ahead and do something I had wanted to do for a long time.” This thing Jerry had wanted to do was to design and build a folder especially suited for dressing deer sized game. Jerry indicated that he “started forging the damascus for this folder on November 27 2012. I finished the knife on January 5 2013. I knew nothing of building a folder when I started but I had enthusiasm and some good friends who were great folder builders and they were willing to share their knowledge. I worked on this knife on my seventieth birthday, Christmas day and New Year’s Day. I was obsessed, possessed and having more fun than I had had in a long time.” The first blade Jerry made didn’t turn out just the way he wanted it so he put it in a vice and broke it to make sure he did not succumb to temptation and use it. Jerry went back to the forge and the second attempt was right on target. When he was ready to assemble the knife he discovered that the handle scales he had fitted to the knife a few days earlier had shrunk. The temptation was great to use them. They were beautiful and expensive but he put them aside. This knife had to be perfect. He searched through my handle material and found perfect curly maple handle material that if cut correctly would perfectly match the Damascus pattern. The Damascus frame, inlaid handle, and Damascus blade are a perfect match. This is 300 layer Damascus of 1084 and 15N20 forged in a tight ladder pattern. The main spring is of the same Damascus but in a twist pattern. Jerry indicates the pin and pivot area are larger than normal for added strength. There is both complexity and symmetry in this elegant folder that can get the job done and look great in the process.

Jerry indicates that “building this knife was like riding a long, long, long stretch of white water rapids. Sometimes it was scary, but I was always excited to see what was waiting around the next bend. To quote an old Willy Nelson song, ‘It’s been rough and rocky travlin but I’m finally standin upright on the ground.’” This is an exceptional folder and as a first for this master smith, one that will be highly valuable as a collector piece.