I think this is a fantastic topic.

I am also going to go out on a ledge, here, and personally ask some newer generation JS/MS "graduates" to come and post their comments as to why they DON'T participate here.

I may get absolutely no response, at all, but I'm going to try.

I'm having trouble formulating anything fluent so I'll just write down some thoughts I have, some that relate directly, some that just touch on the issue of participation. I don't know if any of it will help or not.

I believe we have a lot of watchers that lack the confidence to actually participate. They don't feel like they can contribute so they sit quietly and try to pick up what they can in information and techniques. These are the ones I try to help with the works in progress using photos and videos. My mental block with technology has hindered my efforts. I hope yall know that and that I do try. I will re double my efforts,.. again,... and try to apply posting techniques that will work better.

I think we'll have to build excitement to get good participation in the sense that folks reply and ask questions and give their anecdotal experiences on the matter. This will mean posting meaningful and clear information and techniques that inspire and are not the same old things that most of them already know. Yes, we need to show and discuss the basics but can we show the basics in a new way?

Illustration: Forging is basic, right?, but when have we seen a video of better forging techniques? When I saw Nick's video, I snapped a picture of the monitor showing the youtube channel and the title of the video and sent it to my "students". They can watch the video over and over with me telling them what to watch for. In my opinion, that is what we need as content on the forum. That is exciting. That will prompt participation from student level members. (Actually, in my opinion, we all can learn from that video and exhibitions on that level. We are bladesmiths but smithing seems to be a weak point in some of our skill sets.)

When a student takes a forging course, for example, there is only so much time these students get to spend with the hammer in instructors and then they go home and a lot is either forgotten or negatively influenced by poor equipment or bad habits or, even worse, local guys who don't take any ABS courses and know just enough to be dangerous. When left to their own devices, they don't progress much in between hammer ins or classes. The ABS forum can shine during these "in between" times.

We do, of course, have some who have worked tirelessly to create tutorials and videos and post them for our benefit. As someone who has dabbled at this myself, I can testify to the hard work and time involved. The current generation of bladesmiths are getting more and more tech savvy and it will be up to these to carry the forum. Might as well face that and move forward. We do, after all, have exceptionally skilled people that can teach the different aspects of knife making without burdening the old timers with this so much.

Here's and idea: Team posting. Form a two man team to conduct tests, and provide results. Or simply compile photos to illustrate a technique. Or some application of this idea of team effort.

Another idea: The Handles and Guards book by Joe Keeslar. When one of us use a technique mentioned in the book, provide photos of the WIP along with the book opened to that page. Or some variation to tie the book in with our project.

Incidentally, whenever someone comes to me wanting me to teach them knife making, I let them know clearly that I am willing to do that but I expect something from them. I expect them to join the ABS and buy the Handles and Guards book. And if possible they should take a forging course.

This forum has the potential to be the absolute final word in traditional knife making. The ABS site without the forum is pretty static. The forum is the moving, changing, growing, living part of the site.

Typically you see the same names associated with the forum which makes me wonder just how many of the membership actually views it. Is there any way to get an actual count of the percentage of ABS members who will visit the forum on a regular basis?

Maybe this is the place to have those who visit the forum but don't participate on a regular basis to let themselves be known.

Gary

I finally got logged back on after a long and frustrating fight with my bad memory and the password problem.

I outlined some of these ideas with Dan Cassidy in an email before I got logged back in.

As a full time maker, my time to spend on the computer is short. I'm a knuckle dragger, and easily frustrated by any technology invented after the hammer. As such, it is difficult for me to find the motivation to randomly check in on the forums to keep up with new topics and threads. One thing that I find helpful on other types of forums is to get email notifications when there are new comments on a thread I am following. I dont know if that is an option on this forum, but it would help me stay interested. One other item to consider is that our forum is small and exclusive because it is just for us. This may be hindering it if more activity is desired. Like many of you, I often resort to google searches when I am seeking specific information on something. Other forums pop up frequently in those searches, but not this one. Is there some linking thingy we could do to make it appear in those searches?

Once again, I remember the days before the ABS website, and even though I don't use it often enough, I really appreciate it.

Glad to see this topic come up. I for one check in to the ABS web site most every day. I don't always log in. I see what was added,or discussed.

If there is something I can add I will.

I have used computers for years, but I only know what I have to know to get the job done. I get frustrated tying to learn something new,such as

posting photos and doing WIP reports. I have learned over the years that you half to have the want to's to get something done.

I think most of us would rather spend that valuable time in the shop.

I appreciate those that do share there ideas and WIP on this forum!

I don't know how much interest there would be, for an evening tutorial on photos and videos at hammer-ins.

Just a thought!

Russell

Also glad to see this topic come up and like Lin has said I am one of the watchers who probably lacks the confidence to participate in most discussions and feel my work is not yet at a level to post my knives for a critique. I check this forum most days and love the wealth of information that is available and to date I have only had to ask one question because I can usually find all the information I need in previous threads or posts from the more experienced makers.

The monthly topics are usually a great source of information however it seems some topics are followed more keenly then others. I learned so much from the METALLURGY OF STEEL topic and keenly waited for replies to the METHODS OF FLUTING A DAGGER HANDLE topic but sadly no one replied.

I realize that most of the experienced makers are busy in the workshop trying to make a living from their knives so my thanks and appreciation goes out to all the makers who do contribute as the information is very helpful! I realize as I am writing this that if less experienced makers like myself have nothing to contribute to a thread we are following we should at least contribute with a thanks to the people that have posted to let them know that their efforts are appreciated.

Ways to improve participation could be to make the forum available on phone apps like Tapatalk where you get notifications on new topics and threads you are following on your mobile phone, I have searched these apps but cannot find this forum available? Another way to get more participation could be for the forum to send email notifications on monthly topics to all members or members at a certain level asking if they have anything to contribute to a certain topic but this may be considered junk mail or spam by some?

I think a lot of good questions are simply never asked because of fear or embarrassment. I know that I've held back from posting a question due to that nagging thought that I should probably know this already - I don't want to display my ignorance to all of my peers and role models! Now no one (other than maybe Kevin) can possibly know everything there is to know about bladesmithing, and even seasoned masters may from time to time have some simple questions that would make for a great discussion topic, but oftentimes they would rather ask those questions in private than in a public forum where all the world can see what they don't know.

I get that. So maybe instead of asking those question publicly, we can all make a bigger effort share the answers once we've figured them out. Because how often has it happened that we've been at a hammer-in or a friend's shop and seen something that made us think "wow, that's so obvious! Why didn't I think of that? I wish I had learned this years ago!" Well this is our opportunity to share that newfound tip or technique with some of the other folks out there who maybe haven't learned it yet. "I'm sure most of you already know this, but here's something I recently learned that I found really helpful..."

I'll make more of an effort to do just that.

But there's still something very important missing from this forum, and that's the participation of collectors and users of forged knives. At present, this forum is very much oriented towards the making of forged blades, which is great for us makers, but also very limiting. Because when it comes to the design, use, history, materials, and other aspects of forged knives, the users and collectors can sometimes be far more knowledgeable than the makers themselves (they also have fewer hang-ups about asking questions and sharing opinions).

Without these users and collectors, none of us would last very long in this business. They're a critical part of our community, their opinions are important, and I think there should be a place for them here, whether they're an ABS member or not.

So maybe instead of asking those question publicly, we can all make a bigger effort share the answers once we've figured them out.

If ANYONE has any trepidation at asking a question publicly, I would be more then happy to do my best to help via Private message. I certainly don't know it all, but if I don't know the answer, I will either find out, or direct you to someone who does know. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

I can remember a time in my knifemaking career when I wanted so badly to ask a question(s), but the fear of being embarassed kept me from doing so. What that means is I can relate! Personally, I think that once an individual achieves a JS or MS rating, one of their DUTIES is to help others to achieve the same. I'm sure that many of the MS hear the same questions over and over, and some might get flustered by that (at one time I did too), but for me, the solution was taking a personal inventory of where I came from, and remembering what that road was like, doing so reminds me that each question comes from an individual who is likely right now, where I was then.

|quoted:

..........doing so reminds me that each question comes from an individual who is likely right now, where I was then.

The more that philosophy can be shared by all, the better this forum will be.

If only we could get those who have been here the longest to participate with that attitude.

Thanks, Ed.

I think Lin is correct. I feel like I have very little to contribute at this stage of my education as a bladesmith. I have been hesitant to ask questions as I thought others may think they are trivial or that I should know that.

One of the reasons that I don't post pictures is the size requirements. I have to really work to get the size of the file down and still have pictures that have some decent size and quality.

Another problem I see is the competition from other forums and facebook. There are several other blade forums and facebook has a lot of posts from ABS bladesmiths. Myself, I feel more comfortable with the information from ABS bladesmiths than from other sources.

|quoted:

... Now no one (other than maybe Kevin) can possibly know everything there is to know about bladesmithing,...

<img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//biggrin.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' /> Among the many things I don't know is what makes busy forums busy and slow forums slow, if we all put our heads together we may figure some of it out.

Ed Caffrey said: Personally, I think that once an individual achieves a JS or MS rating, one of their DUTIES is to help others to achieve the same

I agree completely with the quote by Master Smith Ed Caffrey above.

I have posted on numerous occasions that our mission is preserving and promoting the ancient craft of forged knives through education, testing and certification. We can only accomplish our mission and achieve these goals with our Master Smiths and Journeyman Smiths helping other members and actively participating in our educational programs.

I totally agree with Ed. My belief has always been that once I achieved my JS and MS I wanted to pass what I learned onto others. I have been able to do that partly through this forum. I wish others would feel this way. I also want to say that there are no stupid or embarrasing questions. Ask away. They may have been asked before or in a different way, but we will be glad to keep on answering them.

Brion

I do not have any good reason why I do not take part on this site other then I have very little time to be on line I am a member of the CKCA and I do not go to there site I started going to Blade forums years ago I post in the hand made section and have got to know lots of the folks from there. but I do want to do my part and if folks are going to make a push to make this a place where we can share are love for knife making and get to know each other a bit better then I will make an effort to check in and be apart of the fun as you all know I do believe in the ABS and what the group stands for. I see the names of the folks that have chimed in on this and I know all most all of them some very well. Dan thanks for your work on this