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Bituminous Bits ~ Journal of the Alabama Council JAN/FEB 2018 ISSUE Bill Burke Demonstrating ~ Damascus 30th Annual Batson I have been making since 1998, received Ms stamp in 2008. I make most kinds of cutlery using Bladesmithing Symposium and my own Damascus. & Show Celebration

On April 6-8, 2018 At Tannehill Ironworks at Exit 100 off I-20, 11 miles west of Bessemer, AL

Demonstrators Dinner on Thursday Evening is Free to Everyone

Registration Fee is $75 to AFC Members & $100 for others includes one-year membership fee in AFC

Demonstrators Bill Burke…….. Rick Dunkerley……...... Liner Locks James Crowell..., Grinding & Heat Treat James Batson…. Extravaganza Joe Keeslar………..…...Handles & Guards Lin Rhea...... Skeleton knives Mickey Wise….Rendezvous Knives Butch Sheely………Hawk Forging Bill Wiggins…...Handle Shaping Billy Ray Hughes...Judging Billy Bates…...Engraving Colonel Tim Ryan….Auction Mel Pardue…………. Automatics Kenny Rowe………Leather Sheathes Tommy McNabb...Inlays & Silver Sheathes Mark Haddix …….….……..…Youth Hands-on Neil Faulkenberry…..…………Adult Hands-on

There will be a charge of $10 per 2-hour class for Hands-on Forging Knife Show Fee & Tannehill State Park Fee are included in Registration Send your name, address & phone number with registration fee & if you plan to attend dinner To: Judd Clem 111 Yorkshire Dr, Athens, AL 35613 or contact by phone 256/232-2645 or by e-mail, [email protected]

Bring items for Auction, Tail Gate Sales & Knives for Knife Show & Heat Treating

15 Bituminous Bits ~ Journal of the Alabama Forge Council JAN/FEB 2018 ISSUE

Rick Dunkerly Jim Crowell Demonstrating ~ Liner Locks Demonstrating ~ Forging, Grinding & Heat Treating

I started making knives in 1983 and made stock James Crowell began making knives in Mt. View, AR in removal knives until 1990. Started forging my knives then 1980 and is a past Ozark Folk Center, State Park, Resident and passed my ABS Master test in 1997. In 2006 I was and Knife maker. He earned the distinction of awarded the “Maestro” rating by the Italian Knife Maker Master from the American Bladesmith Society Guild. In 2014, I was inducted into the Montana Circle of in 1986 and was certified as the first, non founding father, American Masters by the Montana Arts Council. In 2016, I Instructor for the American Bladesmith Society (ABS) that was voted in as a member of the Art Knife Invitational. same year.

My focus is on Damascus steel folding knives although I do Jim is a long time faculty member of The Bill Moran School produce a few fixed knives each year. My knives have of Bladesmithing at Texarkana College and teaches all over won over 25 national and international awards. I’ve also the country at seminars and “-Ins”. His flawless taught Damascus steel and folding knives both in the US and work, regarded by many as among the best hand forged knives Italy. produced, has appeared in every trade publication and is in collections throughout the world. He has won many awards including the first American Bladesmith Society Bill Moran Knife of the Year, the Blade Magazine Best Forged Knife and was the winner of numerous American Bladesmith Society Cutting Competitions. Jim won the first World Championship ABS cutting competition in 2003 at the Blade Super Show in Atlanta Georgia.

16 Bituminous Bits ~ Journal of the Alabama Forge Council JAN/FEB 2018 ISSUE

Jim Batson Joe Keeslar Demonstrating ~ Heat Treating Demonstrating ~ Handles and Guards

Jim Batson learned to Forge and heat treat from After a stint in the United States Marine Corps, Joe completed Elmer Sybold in Mineral Wells, Texas in November of 1976. his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Industrial Arts Education at Made Damascus steel with Daryl Meier in 1978 and joined Murray State University with majors in Wood and Metal. He the ABS in 1981. Became a Master Bladesmith in1993. then taught Industrial Arts at Murray High School for the next Started the Alabama Forge Council with Gavin Harris and twenty-three years, retiring in 1993. John Beckworth in about 1985. Started inviting Nationally known to Bladesmithing Symposium at his forge Joe’s love of crafts began at a very young age. He tooled in Madison, Alabama 30 years ago. Jim moved the event to leather as a teenager, made his first knife in 1962 and built his Tannehill State Park for the 8th Annual Batson Bladesmithing first Dixie Gun Works kit long rifle in 1964. Active in black Symposium. powder buck skinning, he built Pennsylvania flintlock rifles, pistols, fowling pieces and accessories.

Inspired by Bill Moran, Joe began making Damascus in the mid-seventies. In the early 1980’s he attended an ABS Ham- mer-In at Washington, Arkansas.He immediately joined the ABS, due to its focus on education, and promptly switched from rifle-making to .

Joe received his Journeyman Smith rating in 1987 and Master Smith rating in 1989. He has been a frequent Instructor at the William F. Moran Jr. School of Bladesmithing, Haywood College and New England School of Metalwork. His work appears regularly in important knife related publications and on the internet. He received BLADE Magazine’s Industry Achievement Award in June 2013 and an Aldo and Edda Lorenzi Award in June 2015.

Joe has authored three very successful books: “Handles and Guards,” “Forging and Finishing the Brut de Forge Knife” and “Making Leather Knife Sheaths.”

He served on the Board of Directors of the ABS from 1991 – 2015 twice as Chairman (2003-2007 and 2013-2015). In 2011 was named to the American Bladesmith Society Hall of Fame. The ABS twice recognized his exceptional service with the Don Hastings Award. In 2015 he was honored with the Paul Burke Lifetime Achievement Award.

Since retirement from teaching, Joe has added a French connection to his resume. He with wife Suzanne exhibited at the Thiers Knife Show from 1995-2017 and have become acquainted with a number of fine French and European knife makers. Since 2000 Joe has been instrumental in the creation of an ABS bladesmithing school at Ostiches, Belgium, as well as the addition of several European Journeyman Smiths and Master Smiths to the ABS rosters.

17 Bituminous Bits ~ Journal of the Alabama Forge Council JAN/FEB 2018 ISSUE

Lin Rhea Mickey Wise Demonstrating ~ Skeleton knives Demonstrating ~ Rendezvous Knives

I’m Lin Rhea. I’m a member of the American Bladesmith Unfortunately Mickey did not have any photos of his work Society rated as Mastersmith. I’m currently working as the by the time we published this but we do have a couple of historic blacksmith for the Historic Arkansas Museum in still photos of him demonstrating at the 2014 Batson Blade Little Rock, Arkansas. I study the old blacksmithing Symposium. Alabama Forge Council has a video of Mickey techniques used by past masters and try to enlist these in Wise’s demo and Steve Dunn’s demo (in the same DVD set) my knife making today. I share as much as I can by way of for sale. The 2 DVD set is $10. and its contents are listed as videos, photos, and social media. I’m privileged to be allowed “handles, guards and blade making”. Contact AFC Treasurer, to instruct knife making classes at various locations around the Judd Clem to purchase the video. [email protected] country. This has allowed me to make lifelong friends as well as help form a network of creative thinking which I hope will Mickey lives in Alabama and has a long time connection to continue to thrive. the Batson Blade Symposium. Mr. Wise will be demonstrating Rendezvous knives.

The X Rhea Bowie. Photo by Lin Rhea.

18 Bituminous Bits ~ Journal of the Alabama Forge Council JAN/FEB 2018 ISSUE

Butch Sheely Bill Wiggins Demonstrating ~ Hawk Forging Demonstrating ~ Handle shaping

I started bladesmithing and blacksmithing in 1982, after Growing up in a family of hunters and outdoorsman I getting involved in historic re-enacting. For the next twenty have always been interested in knives. With custom knives, plus years I forged knives, tomahawks and various other I started as a collector. While visiting a local maker became items, mostly for re-enactors. Ten years ago I started interested in making my own knives. As a stock removal bladesmithing and blacksmithing full time. I take great pride maker, I was at The where I saw Bill Moran and in making the best knives and tomahawks that I can, starting Jay Hendrickson doing a forging demonstration. I walked with forging, grinding, and heat treating and including the straight back into the show and bought my first forge. hand sewn leather sheaths. I have always enjoyed traditional After making the decision to become a bladesmith, I enrolled style knives, axes and hawks. I believe this goes back to how I at The Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing. I have taken got started in re-enacting. both the Intro and Damascus courses. In 2006, I earned my JS rating and I am currently working toward my MS rating. I joined the American Bladesmith Society in 2005, after I am lucky to live in Western North Carolina with my attending a number of ABS hammer-ins in Michigan and wonderful wife and three great kids. They have all been very Ohio. In 2009 I was awarded my Journeyman rating from supportive of my knife making and ABS projects. I have been the ABS. My long term goal is to achieve the Master Smith fortunate enough to work with the ABS and the Haywood rating. I have received the Antique Association Community College to help establish Hammer-ins as well as Award for “THE BEST BOWIE” displayed by a Journeyman ABS sponsored knife making classes here in the southeast. I Smith at the Blade Show in 2011, 2013 and 2014. I have won am looking forward to being part of the ABS for years to the “BEST HISTORICALLY INSPIRED KNIFE” at the 2015 come. Arkansas Custom knife Show and the “BEST PERIOD PIECE” in 2008 and 2010 at the Ohio Classic Knife Show.

Most of the working knives that I make are forged from 5160. I also use 1084, 1095, W2 and 52100. The majority of the Damascus that I make is 1084 and 15N20. I use only natural materials for handles, including wood, stag, antler, horn and bone. I believe that the appearance and feel of natural materials fit the style that I make.

I have demonstrated at a number of American Bladesmith Society, Inc. Hammer-ins, since 2010. I have also demonstrated several times for the Alabama Forge Council, the Batson Blade symposium and for the Southern Ohio Forge and Blacksmith Quad State in 2015.

19 Bituminous Bits ~ Journal of the Alabama Forge Council JAN/FEB 2018 ISSUE

Billy Bates Mel Pardue Demonstrating ~ Engraving Demonstrating ~ Automatics

I have been engraving about 25 years. When I’m not I made my first knives in 1957. Most were made from old engraving I’m either working at my regular job as a surgical cross cut saw blades. They were fixed blade hunting knives. I R.N. Or camping with my family. I look forward all year to worked for an engineering firm in Mobile, AL. for eleven coming to Tannehill. In all these years, I have only missed the years and made knives in my spare time during this period. very first Batson Blade Symposium. In 1968 I was offered job in Tampa, FL. Where we stayed till 1973. I built a home with a knife shop in back where I could spend more time making knives and have the equipment I really needed to make knives.. Still… I only making knives part time until I met Mr. Frank Cenrtofante, a well Known knife maker at that time. We became friends and over the next year he encouraged me to join the Knife Maker’s Guild.

In 1974 I applied for Guild membership and was accepted. Over the next couple years Frank Centofante, helped me, encouraged me and advised me of the proper equipment needed to make knives. There is no way I can repay Frank for all the help and encouragement he gave me over the next two years.

In 1976 I was accepted as a voting member of the guild. I continued making knives in my spare time. By 1978 my knife making business had become a full time business. That allowed me to make the decision to sell my half ownership in the surveying and engineering business and we moved to my current location in Repton, Al. We built a house and shop and moved to Repton, Al.

Since 1974 I have attended every Knife Maker’s Guild show and served 14 years on the Board of Directors. The last 10 years of the 14 I served as Vice President of the Knife Maker’s Guild.

Over the last 24 years, I have worked with Knife Company as a knife designer.

I have taught Knife making classes every year for the last 20 years or so at the Batson Blade Symposium. Over a 5 year period I taught at the American Bladesmith Society school several times. In the last 25-30 years I have taught classes in my shop in Repton, AL. when time permitted.

20 Bituminous Bits ~ Journal of the Alabama Forge Council JAN/FEB 2018 ISSUE

Kenny Rowe Tommy McNabb Demonstrating ~ Leather Sheaths Demonstrating ~ Inlays and Silver Sheaths

I have been custom making leather gear over 40 years, 24 of Tommy McNabb is a self-taught blacksmith since 1979. He which have been full time. Sometime in the late 80's we met a began making knives in 1982 when he hand-forged his first few custom knife makers and knife collectors and started knife out of Damascus steel. Tommy has studied knife making making custom leather sheaths for these guys. Ever since and blacksmithing at the John C. Campbell Folk School with then, our sheath business has been one of our biggest Glenn Gilmore and at the Penland School with Daryl Meier. businesses here at Rowe's Leather. We have customers not He also studied with Jim Batson, Bill Moran, Don Fogg, Ron only in the US, but also all over the world. Each year we Newton, and many other great knife makers. In addition to attend 2-3 knife shows, the Arkansas Knife Show in Little serving as treasurer of NC Chapter of ABANA for 6 years, Rock, AR in February, the Blade Show in Atlanta, GA in Tommy is a founding member and served as the first president June, and usually one other show depending on time and how of NC Custom Knife Makers Guild. In 1988 Tommy started backed up we are at the shop. For several years, we worked producing a line of knives for the hunter and sportsman. He side by side with the ABS Bladesmithing School and offered also fills custom orders for collectors and galleries that a sheath making class here in our shop in Hope, AR. I also include mother-of-pearl inlays, silver wire inlays and other attend and instruct at Bladesmithing Symposiums such as exotic treatments. Piney Woods Hammer In located in Washington, AR each spring and fall, and have attended numerous Batson Bladesmithing Symposium and Knife Shows in Alabama. Knife sheaths are absolutely one of our passions here at Rowe's Leather, and we take pride in our fit and finish, as well as the functionality and usability of each sheath.

Tommy McNab in the shop. Photo by Trena McNabb.

Photos by Rowe’s Leather Photo by Tommy McNabb. 21 Bituminous Bits ~ Journal of the Alabama Forge Council JAN/FEB 2018 ISSUE

BR Hughes Neil Faulkenberry ~ Judging ~ Adult Hands on Forging

I have been involved with the Batson Bladesmithing Symposium for 23 years. The work I do is 18th and early 19th century homespun knives and accouterments. ~ Neil Faulkenberry, Greenville, Alabama.

B. R. Hughes is one of the founders of the American Bladesmith Society and has held the office of ABS secretary for more than 30 years. He has served as head judge for the master bladesmith and journeyman bladesmith ratings for a number of years. B. R. has authored or co-authored five books on handmade knives and more than 500 magazine articles on this topic. Mark Haddix ~ Youth Hands on Forging He has been inducted into the American Bladesmith Hall of Fame and the Blade Magazine Hall of Fame. Mark Haddix is the current Alabama Forge Council President and long time AFC member. He has been forging with us Mr. Hughes taught and coached in the public schools for since AFC began in the 1980’s. ten years before joining the staff at Texarkana College in Texarkana, Texas where he served as Instructor of Journalism, Mark’s interests and skillset are quite varied with regard to Director of the Evening School and Dean of Students for blacksmithing and metal work. At a recent AFC conference he thirty years. During that time he was instrumental in the demonstrated steel roses and steel magnolias and in the past establishment of the W. F. Moran School of Bladesmithing in has demonstrated other types of functional forged work. He Washington, Arkansas, the first school of bladesmithing in the has taught ‘Green Coal’ many times and is adept at teaching to world. many different learning styles.

Colonel Tim Ryan ~ Auctioneer

Tim Ryan has held the auctioneer position for Batson Blade Symposium and for SBA Conference for many years. Known for his storytelling, wit and charisma, Tim can coax a dollar out of your wallet like a snake charmer. Enjoy the show! He is a professional and knows the worth of the objects he auctions so he will surely try to get a fair price for them to honor the makers and support the cause.

Items are donated and auctioned to raise funds for future educational endeavors related to bladesmithing. This is a great cause which is near and dear to your heart so give, give, give. You will see a return on your investment and maybe come away with a few handmade treasures. Support your hobby, honor friends and those who’s work you respect by bidding on their work. Steel rose by Mark Haddix. Photo provided by Steve Alford. 22