Hi Jim,

Good to see you on the forums. Looking forward to seeing some of your work posted here. Welcome aboard!

Gary

Good evening!

I attended the Great Smokey Mountian Hammer-In and then went on to take the 2 week Intro Class at Haywood with Burt Foster and Jason Knight. They are both great instructors. Burt made two knives as part of his program and raffled them both off to the class members. In a later post I will show you the one I won.

I have never forged or grinded before. I got the bug and with Bill Wiggens help bought a gas forge. Then went to Kayne and Son to get hammers, tongs, gloves, apron, and a bunch of small things. On the weekend between week 1 & 2, I went to a tractor auction in Asheville and got a leg vise. I had a lot of fun with the guys in my class and have made some great friends. Oh, I also made a few knives.

David the Instructor for the HCC Blacksmithing program was a great help in advising on anvils and equipment purchase information.

On the way home to Florida I stopped by both Culpepper's and Pop's, had to buy supplies, spent quite a while at Pop's. He is great to talk with and his shop is in the most rememberable place (hope I can find it on my next trip to Georgia)

My next purchase will be a grinder, KMG or maybe a Bader (I'm headed to CA for a few days and need to wait till I get back so I can be home when it arrives).

As soon as I unpack I will post some pictures.

Met a few other members and the NC folks are very frindly!

Glad to be part of a group willing to share and educate!

Welcome George and glad to have you on board. Sounds like you had a really good time. The class with Jason and Burt was a great one I am sure, both are really good instructors and people.

If you have any questions, just post away and we will do our best to answer them.

Welcome again.

Brion

George welcome to the American Bladesmith Society and the ABS Forum. It sounds like you have seen the ABS' s mission of education first hand. Please post any questions that you have on the ABS Forum and I know our members will provide advice.

Hello fellow ABS members, and any other fine folk. I began forging my first knife about a year ago, and, although I have yet to finish my second, I must admit I'm hooked. My goal is to be a master smith one day, and I hear this is the place to do it. A big thanks to all of you who pass on your knowledge of the craft! In the future, I hope to get to know many of you by attending as many events and classes as I can (especially when I am enrolled at Haywood). Until then, I will have to ease that God given urge to forge blades by tinkering in my parents' garage.

Nothin' like fire & steel!

~Josh S.

Nice to meet you as well!

Welcome, and you are correct, the amount of knowledge and helpful smiths here is astounding.

Josh:

Welcome to the ABS Forum. Please ask questions and let us know how we can help you. The mission of the ABS is education.

Welcome Joshua. Good to have you here. If you have any questions or comments, post away. That is what we are here for.

Welcome again.

Brion