Zack

I am on the Board of Directors and I can confirm that at the January 2013 board meeting in San Antonio there was a vote to eliminate cutting competitions at all ABS events.

Yes, Zach. No more cutting competitions at ABS events. Too much liability involved.

Brion

Thanks for the confirmation. What a bummer!

I'm sure it's been considered, but why not institute some kind of waiver policy for participants and audience members?

Zack:

I have drafted several liability waivers for different ABS activities and events since I have been on the Board of Directors. My experience has been mixed as to whether a sitting ABS Chairman decides to use waivers and whether the waivers are actually distributed and signed at an event.

In addition, we now have hammer-ins and events in numerous states and the contract law surrounding the interpretation of waivers varies from state to state. There were also many other issues involved in the Board's decision.

Thanks Dan. Yeah, I figured it had been carefully considered, and I certainly understand how complex contract law can get.

Of course you all didn't want to lose cutting competitions any more than the rest of us, and I am certainly not in any position to second guess the board's decision.

It's just a shame, is all. Thanks for the info.

Zack

I agree. It's a shame to lose the competitions. I think one reason I make the knives I do is because of the competitions. A knife's use plays a huge part in the design and I just cant separate the two. The competitions made me test and actually use a knife with a purpose in mind. This will put a lot more responsibility on an individual maker to set up cutting stations at his shop to make sure he is making knives that will cut. Yet with all his testing, he still has nothing to compare his with.

Those of us who were able to compete against one another learned faster because of the pool of information all in the same time and place. We could weed out poor technique and concentrate on comparing knives. I think we've lost something unique.

While I too don't like to see the cutting competitions go away, I understand the reasoning behind it. In this sue happy world, I would rather see the competitions stopped than to see the ABS destroyed in a lawsuit where someone got hurt, or worse yet, the person sponsoring the hammer-in taken for everything thye own in a lawsuit.

One of the safest competitions (in my opinion)that I have been to was at the Little Rock show this year. They had Lexan panels that seperated the cutters from the crowd. I would be interested if anyone has any information on how this competition was held from a liability standpoint or how any other competitions are held in this respect. If we do some brainstorming with competitions that are working, we may come up with something that hasn't been thought of.

Brian

I did not mention it but I do understand why the ABS has opted not to sponsor the competitions. My comment was more of a lament I suppose. I feel that it makes for a sterile environment for learning. But I do understand.

I want to clarify my comments a bit.

I am curious as to if anyone has knowledge of handling events like a cutting competition. Are there insurance companies that will insure a single event for a one time fee?

While I understand the reasons for this, with this large group, I thought someone might have experience that is outside the more traditional methods.

Brian

Brian, I think your question is becoming clearer. Here in Little Rock, there are several races run for various causes. How would the liability or lack thereof be toward the race promoters? Is there any comparison ?

Back in the good 'ole days - when men were free to pursue life, liberty and happiness...

Now we got lawfare so I have to say "don't try this at home - you could be arrested for wastin' good whiskey." wink wink

With any problem, there is an answer, personally I don't think the answer is to simply "stop" the cutting competitions for fear of litigation. If in fact we lived our lives with this mindset we wouldn't be able to get out of bed in the morning. Maybe we should glean some info. from the shooting sports. They compete state to state, and my guess would be have a heavier liability concern then "cutting" sports have.

If liability insurance or bonding is the issue, the cost could be assimilated through the ABS dues/entry fees etc. If in fact we are going to limit our activity to no risk, no liability endeavors then the very basis of what we do will jeopardized... as what we do by its very nature is "dangerous", especially to civilian bystanders.

In no way am I trying to be confrontational, but I sincerely hope that in the near future this issue can be readdressed.