Hi all.
My name is Matthew Parkinson and I have been a full time blacksmith, bladesmith and sword maker for the last 15 years. My shop is a partnership with three other smiths, our ironwork Comp is Falling Hammer Productions ( http://www.fallinghammerproductions.com/) and we produce high end railings and other ironwork. Our blade/armor is done under the name Dragons breath forge.( http://dragonsbreathforge.com/) each of us with in the shop has our own area of interest, my own area of interest is viking style pattern welding and ornamentation, along with sword, knife, and Axe forms from the dark ages through the early renaissance.
I went to school for machining and then taught my self, first blacksmithing and later bladsmithing, this involved a lot of wasted steel and reading anything I could on the subject. For the last 6 years I have been teaching both blacksmithing and bladesmithing. First in my own shop then at the brookfield craft center in Brookfield CT, for the last year or two I have taught at the Guilford arts center. I have also taught at peters valley craft center two years ago, and have been asked back for this summer.
My own path in this business has been very insular and focused on renn faires and western martial art groups. I have come to a point that I want to join the larger community of bladesmiths so I have finally joined. I hope you all can learn from me and my work as I plan on learning from yours.
MP
Matthew:
Welcome Matthew to the ABS Forum and the American Bladesmith Society! I saw your new membership and the registration for the ABS Forum come through in my email yesterday. As you can see there is a lot of information on the ABS Forum and many experienced members available to offer advice and answer your questions on bladesmithing. You have an impressive resume and I hope that you will share some blacksmithing techniques and tips with us. All of us want to learn as much as we can.
Please also take advantage of our other internet services with videos on the ABS YouTube Channel and photos and videos on the ABS Pinterest site. You can click on the links that I inserted for you.
Dan Cassidy
Journeyman Smith
Send an email to Dan
Welcome Matthew!
Make yourself at home, and if you have any questions please post them.
If you care to share some of your knowledge please post that as well.
Best Regards,
Mike
Mike
Welcome Mathew. It is good to have you here on the forum and in the ABS. I look forward to seeing your work and learning more about viking blades. Viking swords are one of my favorites along with japanese blades.
Welcome aboard.
Brion
Brion Tomberlin
Anvil Top Custom Knives
ABS Mastersmith
Welcome Matthew!!
I look forward to seeing what you can teach us about forging!
Welcome Matthew! I don't have much to offer in the way of teaching as I do not know anything, but there are many mastersmiths here who do. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> They are quite friendly and willing to share their knowledge.
Cheyenne Walker
Apprentice Smith
