Just got home to Aiken from the ABS blade symposium in Clyde, NC. It was fantastic, learned how to refine my Keeslar style forging from the man...Mr Joe Keeslar. Reconnected with Master Smiths...Jason Knight & Burt Foster. They are now my mentors/teachers in Cutting Competitions...more on that later
Met a bunch of Trad Gangers including a new friend and roommate Wayne Martin from Greenville, NC. Wayne (former stock remover bladesmith) forged his first blade in the green forge area. I hope he posts some pictures of it. Also met a bunch of bladesmiths that are Traditional Bowhunters. Hopefully they will show show up here as I gave them all invites.
Back to Never Say Never...
This was my 3rd GSMBS. I've made many friends there especially with some of the best bladesmiths in the country. I've always said I'd never go for a Journeyman's rating being too old, my style of smithing is not necessarily ABS, and I don't even sell my knives. So I Never (there's that word again) joined ABS. This year I did join as a collector but that doesn't allow you to accumulate the necessary year requirements for taking a rating.
Well I changed my opinion. You can have any style a bladesmithing and apply the techniques from what ABS is instilling in their bladesmith. Long story short, I re-enter my membership as an apprentice. I'll probably take a 2week week ABS school session to potentially allow me the opportunity to try for a journeyman's rating in a 2 years period. Now that I'm nearing retirement I need some new goals...tippit