Bill Burke 30th Annual Demonstrating ~ Damascus Steel Batson ... · taught Damascus steel and folding knives both in the US and Italy. Jim Crowell Demonstrating ~ Forging, Grinding

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

15

Bill Burke

Demonstrating ~ Damascus Steel

I have been making knives since 1998, received Ms

stamp in 2008. I make most kinds of cutlery using

carbon steel and my own Damascus.

30th Annual Batson

Bladesmithing Symposium &

Knife 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……..Damascus Steel

Rick Dunkerley……........Liner Locks James Crowell...Forging, Grinding

& Heat Treat James Batson….Heat Treating 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

mailto:[email protected]


16

Rick Dunkerly

Demonstrating ~ Liner Locks

I started making knives in 1983 and made stock

removal knives until 1990. Started forging my knives then

and passed my ABS Master Smith test in 1997. In 2006 I was

awarded the “Maestro” rating by the Italian Knife Maker

Guild. In 2014, I was inducted into the Montana Circle of

American Masters by the Montana Arts Council. In 2016, I

was voted in as a member of the Art Knife Invitational.

My focus is on Damascus steel folding knives although I do

produce a few fixed blade knives each year. My knives have

won over 25 national and international awards. I’ve also

taught Damascus steel and folding knives both in the US and

Italy.

Jim Crowell

Demonstrating ~ Forging, Grinding & Heat Treating

James Crowell began making knives in Mt. View, AR in

1980 and is a past Ozark Folk Center, State Park, Resident

Blacksmith and Knife maker. He earned the distinction of

Master Bladesmith from the American Bladesmith Society

in 1986 and was certified as the first, non founding father,

Instructor for the American Bladesmith Society (ABS) that

same year.

Jim is a long time faculty member of The Bill Moran School

of Bladesmithing at Texarkana College and teaches all over

the country at seminars and “Hammer-Ins”. His flawless

work, regarded by many as among the best hand forged knives

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.


17

Joe Keeslar

Demonstrating ~ Handles and Guards

After a stint in the United States Marine Corps, Joe completed

his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Industrial Arts Education at

Murray State University with majors in Wood and Metal. He

then taught Industrial Arts at Murray High School for the next

twenty-three years, retiring in 1993.

Joe’s love of crafts began at a very young age. He tooled

leather as a teenager, made his first knife in 1962 and built his

first Dixie Gun Works kit long rifle in 1964. Active in black

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 knife making.

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.

Jim Batson

Demonstrating ~ Heat Treating

Jim Batson learned to Forge and heat treat blades from

Elmer Sybold in Mineral Wells, Texas in November of 1976.

Made Damascus steel with Daryl Meier in 1978 and joined

the ABS in 1981. Became a Master Bladesmith in1993.

Started the Alabama Forge Council with Gavin Harris and

John Beckworth in about 1985. Started inviting Nationally

known Bladesmiths to Bladesmithing Symposium at his forge

in Madison, Alabama 30 years ago. Jim moved the event to

Tannehill State Park for the 8th Annual Batson Bladesmithing

Symposium.


18

Lin Rhea

Demonstrating ~ Skeleton knives

I’m Lin Rhea. I’m a member of the American Bladesmith

Society rated as Mastersmith. I’m currently working as the

historic blacksmith for the Historic Arkansas Museum in

Little Rock, Arkansas. I study the old blacksmithing

techniques used by past masters and try to enlist these in

my knife making today. I share as much as I can by way of

videos, photos, and social media. I’m privileged to be allowed

to instruct knife making classes at various locations around the

country. This has allowed me to make lifelong friends as well

as help form a network of creative thinking which I hope will

continue to thrive.

Mickey Wise

Demonstrating ~ Rendezvous Knives

Unfortunately Mickey did not have any photos of his work

by the time we published this but we do have a couple of

still photos of him demonstrating at the 2014 Batson Blade

Symposium. Alabama Forge Council has a video of Mickey

Wise’s demo and Steve Dunn’s demo (in the same DVD set)

for sale. The 2 DVD set is $10. and its contents are listed as

“handles, guards and blade making”. Contact AFC Treasurer,

Judd Clem to purchase the video. [email protected]

Mickey lives in Alabama and has a long time connection to

the Batson Blade Symposium. Mr. Wise will be demonstrating

Rendezvous knives.

The X Rhea Bowie. Photo by Lin Rhea.


19

Butch Sheely

Demonstrating ~ Hawk Forging

I started bladesmithing and blacksmithing in 1982, after

getting involved in historic re-enacting. For the next twenty

plus years I forged knives, tomahawks and various other

items, mostly for re-enactors. Ten years ago I started

bladesmithing and blacksmithing full time. I take great pride

in making the best knives and tomahawks that I can, starting

with forging, grinding, and heat treating and including the

hand sewn leather sheaths. I have always enjoyed traditional

style knives, axes and hawks. I believe this goes back to how I

got started in re-enacting.

I joined the American Bladesmith Society in 2005, after

attending a number of ABS hammer-ins in Michigan and

Ohio. In 2009 I was awarded my Journeyman rating from

the ABS. My long term goal is to achieve the Master Smith

rating. I have received the Antique Bowie Knife Association

Award for “THE BEST BOWIE” displayed by a Journeyman

Smith at the Blade Show in 2011, 2013 and 2014. I have won

the “BEST HISTORICALLY INSPIRED KNIFE” at the 2015

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 Anvil Blacksmith Quad State in 2015.

Bill Wiggins

Demonstrating ~ Handle shaping

Growing up in a family of hunters and outdoorsman I

have always been interested in knives. With custom knives,

I started as a collector. While visiting a local maker became

interested in making my own knives. As a stock removal

maker, I was at The Blade Show where I saw Bill Moran and

Jay Hendrickson doing a forging demonstration. I walked

straight back into the show and bought my first forge.

After making the decision to become a bladesmith, I enrolled

at The Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing. I have taken

both the Intro and Damascus courses. In 2006, I earned my JS

rating and I am currently working toward my MS rating.

I am lucky to live in Western North Carolina with my

wonderful wife and three great kids. They have all been very

supportive of my knife making and ABS projects. I have been

fortunate enough to work with the ABS and the Haywood

Community College to help establish Hammer-ins as well as

ABS sponsored knife making classes here in the southeast. I

am looking forward to being part of the ABS for years to

come.


20

Mel Pardue

Demonstrating ~ Automatics

I made my first knives in 1957. Most were made from old

cross cut saw blades. They were fixed blade hunting knives. I

worked for an engineering firm in Mobile, AL. for eleven

years and made knives in my spare time during this period.

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 Benchmade 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.

Billy Bates

Demonstrating ~ Engraving

I have been engraving about 25 years. When I’m not

engraving I’m either working at my regular job as a surgical

R.N. Or camping with my family. I look forward all year to

coming to Tannehill. In all these years, I have only missed the

very first Batson Blade Symposium.


21

Kenny Rowe

Demonstrating ~ Leather Sheaths

I have been custom making leather gear over 40 years, 24 of

which have been full time. Sometime in the late 80's we met a

few custom knife makers and knife collectors and started

making custom leather sheaths for these guys. Ever since

then, our sheath business has been one of our biggest

businesses here at Rowe's Leather. We have customers not

only in the US, but also all over the world. Each year we

attend 2-3 knife shows, the Arkansas Knife Show in Little

Rock, AR in February, the Blade Show in Atlanta, GA in

June, and usually one other show depending on time and how

backed up we are at the shop. For several years, we worked

side by side with the ABS Bladesmithing School and offered

a sheath making class here in our shop in Hope, AR. I also

attend and instruct at Bladesmithing Symposiums such as

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 McNabb

Demonstrating ~ Inlays and Silver Sheaths

Tommy McNabb is a self-taught blacksmith since 1979. He

began making knives in 1982 when he hand-forged his first

knife out of Damascus steel. Tommy has studied knife making

and blacksmithing at the John C. Campbell Folk School with

Glenn Gilmore and at the Penland School with Daryl Meier.

He also studied with Jim Batson, Bill Moran, Don Fogg, Ron

Newton, and many other great knife makers. In addition to

serving as treasurer of NC Chapter of ABANA for 6 years,

Tommy is a founding member and served as the first president

of NC Custom Knife Makers Guild. In 1988 Tommy started

producing a line of knives for the hunter and sportsman. He

also fills custom orders for collectors and galleries that

include mother-of-pearl inlays, silver wire inlays and other

exotic treatments.

Photos by Rowe’s Leather

Tommy McNab in the shop. Photo by Trena McNabb.

Photo by Tommy McNabb.


22

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.

He has been inducted into the American Bladesmith Hall of

Fame and the Blade Magazine Hall of Fame.

Mr. Hughes taught and coached in the public schools for

ten years before joining the staff at Texarkana College in

Texarkana, Texas where he served as Instructor of Journalism,

Director of the Evening School and Dean of Students for

thirty years. During that time he was instrumental in the

establishment of the W. F. Moran School of Bladesmithing in

Washington, Arkansas, the first school of bladesmithing in the

world.

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.

Neil Faulkenberry

~ 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.

Mark Haddix

~ Youth Hands on Forging

Mark Haddix is the current Alabama Forge Council President

and long time AFC member. He has been forging with us

since AFC began in the 1980’s.

Mark’s interests and skillset are quite varied with regard to

blacksmithing and metal work. At a recent AFC conference he

demonstrated steel roses and steel magnolias and in the past

has demonstrated other types of functional forged work. He

has taught ‘Green Coal’ many times and is adept at teaching to

many different learning styles.

Steel rose by Mark Haddix.

Photo provided by Steve Alford.

BR Hughes

~ Judging

Documents

Bill Burke 30th Annual Demonstrating ~ Damascus Steel Batson ... · taught Damascus steel and folding knives both in the US and Italy. Jim Crowell Demonstrating ~ Forging, Grinding