What's in your style?

[gables]

I have just finished one of Ed Fowler's books and it has really propelled me with new enthusiasm and direction. I am very new to knife making but I am a tireless researcher and put a lot of effort into achieving a new level of craftsmanship and style in each knife.

I like the look and feel of French trade knives. As I work on my knives, however, I realize that I need to begin to change my style towards a more classic ABS type of blade to meet my junior smith goal. The challenge for me is to find an aesthtic that makes me proud of my originality yet appeals to those ABS norms and standards.

Who has inspired your direction and style? What defines your style? What are your knife making goals?

[Lin Rhea]

gables,
           I see that you're not very far from the SW corner of Arkansas. Have you attended the Bladesmithing school in Old Washington?

From experience, I can tell you that the ABS is more concerned with performance, fit and finish over style for the most part unless that style hinders the performance, fit, or finish. As you progress you will lean towards a certain style, but this may evolve as you go. Some styles dont lend itself to the ABS tests so I would not spend a lot of time on them till after you get your stamp, whether it be your Journeyman or Mastersmith.
     I've had several influences. My original teachers, of course, Greg Neely and Joe Keeslar. No doubt Jerry Fisk as well, but I dont particularly try to immitate their knives. I did at first, but now I find that my taste has evolved or has been refined to where I use my own "eye" for design. You too will develope an "eye" for shape, flow, etc which will boil down to your style.
      If you have not attended many ABS functions, I HIGHLY recommend you do so ahead of the time you start making your JS knives. Find out who the judges are and study their knives (most have websites). You will then see what they consider normal. Those judges are a cross section of the ABS.
       Above all do not embroil yourself in any politics. There are those individuals in every organization. Take the good and weed out the bad and stay positive.  
                   Lin

[gables]

Lin,
Thanks for the feedback. Hammerins and school in Old washington are on my agenda for the next couple of years as vacation and finances permit. I also plan on the February hammer in in New Braunfels with Stout and Dean. I have looked at every web site for every junior and master smith I can find and have developed a huge research binder of photos and articles along with several Center Cross and ABS videos. I feel like it is all slowly sinking in and improving my work.

[Kevin Evans]

Gabrial I think Lin pretty well covered everything ,You might want to go ahead and join the organization if you think someday you want to be a Journey Smith,there is a waiting period.
Its a worthwhile organization even if you don't.

Don't forget have fun and make every knife just a little better than the last.Kevin

[Scott Roush]

Nice post. I've been going through this myself and really started thinking about it after the last ABS hammer-in.  I started to realize that I just haven't been making enough of the style of knives that will prepare me for a going for a JS.  i.e ricassos, guards, hidden tangs.  

And great point on finding out what they want.  At the Ohio Hammer-In, I missed the ABS judging talk so I cornered Doctor Batson and had him look at some of my knives from that perspective... very humbling!

[Steve Nuckels]

Gables, I'm an ABS member/apperntice smith and attended the ABS Introduction to Bladesmithing which was a great experince. I have completed 15 knives of different designs.  At this point I have no style, but have many influences.  Being from Maryland I love W.F. Moran knives, and naturally A.G. Barnes and E. Jay Hendrickson.

Also many makers here influence me as well. I plan on attending more ABS schools and Hammer-ins

My goals are to learn the science and make clean well make knives of any style.

An interesting road travled, and I've just begun.

Steve
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Potomac Forge