Hi everybody! Upon joining the ABS and ABS forums, it was recommended that I introduce myself, so here goes.

My name is Collin Miller, I'm located in Springfield, Missouri and I am currently sixteen years old. I made my first knife when I was eleven and haven't stopped since.

As a history enthusiast, My favorite styles to work in are blades from the Migration era, Vendel Period, and Viking era, occasionally venturing into Medieval and modern designs. I didn't discover bladesmithing through TV or the internet, nobody introduced my to the art, I was just a kid who liked to mess around and tinker with stuff. Soon after my first time heating up scrap metal in a camp fire and beating it with a claw hammer, 5th grade me realized this was something that I was meant to do.

I familiarized myself with the art of bladesmithing through articles, books, forum archives, and videos, learning through trial and error. I was very attracted to the work of smiths such as Jake Powning, David DelaGardelle, Peter Johnsson, Mastersmiths Don Fogg and Kevin Cashen.

In 2013 I joined Don Fogg's Bladesmith's forum, and I began receiving critique and advice on my work, which helped me learn faster and build connections with other smiths. Four years later, I am now working full time as a self employed, professional bladesmith.

Below are photos of some of my past work and a few pieces I have yet to complete.

A narrow sax I made as my interpretation of Beowulf's War-Knife. The size and proportions were based off of the the Nijmegen sax, with ornamentation inspired by artifacts from the Staffordshire Hoard. Materials are a San Mai blade I made from wrought iron and 80crv2, the bolster and butt plate are copper, a carved Cocobolo grip, and wrought iron pommel.

A three bar broad sax blade in the works. W2 edge bar, eight layer center bar made of 1084, 15n20, and 1018, with a spine forged of wrought iron.

A small Anglo-Saxon broken back seax in the works, 80crv2 and wrought iron San Mai blade, with a copper bolster, and boxwood grip.

The bolster was decorated and carvings designed with inpiration from the Trewhiddle find

And then the boxwood grip was carved

A wrought iron and 80crv2 San Mai EDC knife I made, with antique walnut handle and pouch style leather sheath

A W2 chef's knife with Ash bolster and Antique walnut grip

A few coffin style, frame handle Bowie knives I made back in 2015. Unfortunately, there were some quality issues with these due to my inexperience at the time.

Thanks for reading! I look forward in excitement to interacting with you all and learning from your work.