ABS Forum???

As a forged blade collector and enthusiast I would warmly welcome and ABS forum - particularly one that catered to collectors. And as for generating exposure for the ABS and its members, I'm all for that too.

I can't seem to comprehend or reconcile some of the opposition to this idea. On the one hand it is suggested that there would be little interest and on the other that it would significantly detract from other forums. Huh? How can something that would attract little interest possibly detract from other forums?

I have little doubt that there would be significant interest - and as for detracting from other forums could that argument not be made against the existence of every specialized forum on BF? I'm not going to repeat all the points already stated by Keith, Anthony et. al., but I think a compelling case is made for such a forum. And besides, I want it:)

Cheers,

Roger
 
Stock removal as a hobbyist is my primary interest, but I have an urge to hammer damascus, and just haven't gotten to it. I enjoy the mix of the two methods all in one place as it is now.
 
Hi all,

I agree with some of the points made for having an ABS Forum, but the Custom and Shoptalk Forums are already in place to cover these issues. Adding a new forum probably wouldn't add to the content on BF.C, just shuffle it around a bit.

Also, having a specifically ABS forum may or may not attract more ABS smiths to this site, but what about any other organizations or makers that forge their blades? Would a generic forged blade forum make more sense so as not to limit it soley to ABS members?

If there's enough member interest for a new forum it's just a matter of flicking a switch, let's just make sure that it's an issue that generates enough traffic to support it, or one that is potentially being hampered by not having an adequate outlet.

-Jose
 
I don't think some of you understand. What Anthony is suggesting is a forum where the ABS makers and collectors can communicate at anytime. IT WOULD BE LIKE AN ON-GOING KNIFE SHOW! That appeals to me. I talk to makers just about everyday...some people don't have that luxerey; time being a factor. The makers could post their latest work or idea and WE wouldn't have to wait till the next show to see or hear about it. THAT APPEALS TO ME!

I went to the Blade Show for the first time last year. THE BEST PART OF IT FOR ME WAS THE FELLOWSHIP WITH THE MAKERS; not the knives! But remember...I COLLECT PEOPLE! ;)

Anyway, I could be wrong, (sometimes I am) but I think you would have more ABS makers participate if it was an ABS forum. I mean, I live in a house, but I don't go to home improvement shows.:D
 
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!Anthony, I saw your blade. IT IS HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That appeals to me.:D It made my knife look medium sized. You are going to love it! A KILLER chopper. I'm down for one too!;)

I know what we should do; You work it out with Flatgrind when you could come to his shop, I'll meet you there and will pull another marathon week-end getting both finished! Yeah, I know; that's a killer idea!
 
I didn't really say it was a bad idea,as I said good or bad..

My only thing is why do we have to have a new forum just for us ABS guys to talk to collecters when there are so many hreat makers in shop talk that could benefit from the collecters knowledg,Like I said before,they used to hang out there and don't now...just what will be discussed here,and can the abs memebers only post pic's for the collecters to see Reneber in the custom and general area this is called advertising,between us makers it really isn't because we are showing other makers our work and not trying to sell....The forum may be a great idea and hopefully it will attract more ABS Members to the site,can anyone use this forum and show there work to the collecters and discuss them with them also?
Just some thoughts..
I will agree to throw the switch and give it a trial run to see what happens,if it doesn't work the switch can be thrown the other way also..


Heck lets just try it and see.
Bruce
 
Here is part of an email I received from one ABS Mastersmith. I am sure there are many others that feel the same.

Keith,

An ABS forum appeals to me. I very seldom get on the blade forum
because there's not much that interests me. If there were and ABS forum I would get on more and even participate.

You're right I did sign onto the blade forum in 2000 but I hadn't
logged onto the forums in a long time. Then you mentioned the Bowie # 1 topic so I began logging on to read it and other topics.

A lot of the stock removal and tactical stuff on the forums is just not of any interest to me. I'm a metal masher from way back and will be one till I die. If you're looking for my vote for an ABS forum count me in.

Let me know what happens with the idea.
Click to expand...
 
Quote"An ABS forum appeals to me. I very seldom get on the blade forum
because there's not much that interests me. If there were and ABS forum I would get on more and even participate."

"A lot of the stock removal and tactical stuff on the forums is just not of any interest to me. I'm a metal masher from way back and will be one till I die. If you're looking for my vote for an ABS forum count me in."


Isn't that great, he's not interested in helping anyone else out, unless it's an ABS thing. Maybe!!

That second part is the type of nonsense that many makers, myself included, have been fighting for years. More divisiveness, great!
Ed Fowler pegged it right.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=245980
 
Wow, Mr. Hull, you have just decided that maker wasn't interested in helping anyone out because he wasn't interested in knives other than forged ones? How presumptous!

You must have ESP!

On another note, I propose that the forum be titled
American Bladesmith Forum. It does not need to be an "offical" ABS forum, because that would surely require the BOD to agree on something. In a short time, I would bet that the traffic will be high enough that it would become the de-facto ABS forum.

I am surprised that the most resistance to the forum idea is coming from the "Shop Talk" forum, namely other makers.
What gives, its not your bandwith we would be using...It is Sparks.
 
Anthony,
What gives is that there is a forum that already exists, this one, that they, and you, could have been posting on for years. Did you bother to read the thread I link to Shop Talk? My resistance is based on institutional memory and what we makers that have supported this forum have been through.
I still stand by my prima donna comment. Read that email that Keith posted. IMHO, it says it all.
 
Originally posted by Mike Hull


Isn't that great, he's not interested in helping anyone else out, unless it's an ABS thing. Maybe!!
Click to expand...

Were do you get that he's not interested in helping anyone from what he said? It couldn't be that he doesn't find those topics to be of interest to him, just like he said?

I knew Ed would not support an ABS forum. This is one time I Ed and I are going to have to agree to disagree.

A heated debate; I love it.
 
Quote" I very seldom get on the blade forum
because there's not much that interests me. If there were and ABS forum I would get on more and even participate."



Here's where I get the idea. He finds nothing of interest here, like helping other makers. But if there were an ABS forum, why then he would participate.
Don't you think this is the type of prima donna nonsense that Kit was warning about? I sure do.

Out of curiosity, why are ABS members going to get to post photo's on their forum, and regular makers can't post them on the Custom forum. Shouldn't the ABS people be made to post their photo's in the gallery, like the regular supporting makers that have been here for years are obliged to? :confused: :rolleyes:
 
Kit, this maker is far from a prima donna. Read into what he said whatever you will. He has spent a great deal of time educating and informing myself and many others that have dealt with him personally in the past.

Anyway, I still don't see how an ABS forum would in any way hurt the Shop Talk forum. It is strong enough to stand on its own.

Now I am going to do a little assuming (I know, I know) of my own. It seems to me that a lot of what I am reading is a fervent dislike of the ABS as an organization. I knew that this existed and now I think I am getting to see some of it. I know this is not the case in most of the opinions I have seen so far, but it sure does seem to the reason behind some of them.
 
Originally posted by Mike Hull


Out of curiosity, why are ABS members going to get to post photo's on their forum, and regular makers can't post them on the Custom forum. Shouldn't the ABS people be made to post their photo's in the gallery, like the regular supporting makers that have been here for years are obliged to? :confused: :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I agree with this 100%. There should be no different rules for one forum over another. The same rules of picture posting that are in place for all the other forums should be in place for an ABS forum as for any other. Pictures are allowed in all the other forums as long as they are not posted as an advertisement for selling the pictured knife. Heck, I have seen hundreds of pictures of knives in Shop Talk.

Aye Captain, this ship is drifting of course.
 
What gives is that there is a forum that already exists, this one, that they, and you, could have been posting on for years. Did you bother to read the thread I link to Shop Talk? My resistance is based on institutional memory and what we makers that have supported this forum have been through.
Click to expand...

Kit,
Why would I post on the Shop Talk Forum? (or read it for that matter)
It is a forum about knifemaking. I have little interest in making knives or learning how to make knives. I vastly prefer telling people how to make knives :)
 
Hi all,

I still don't quite understand why you'd want to create another forum and limit it solely to ABS members. With proper use of the subject heading, the existing Custom and Shoptalk forums are adequate venues for any information exchange that has been mentioned thus far, at least in my opinion.

However, if it's just that I'm not grasping the points being made, and a new forum dealing specifically with the forged blade or maker/collector discussions would benefit BF.C, why limit it to members of the ABS? What about all the smiths out there who forge their blades but don't belong to that organization, or the collectors who buy knives from Guild makers, or who collect art folders or fixed blades, etc...

It's not like the Shoptalk and Custom forums get so much traffic that it's difficult to keep track of the threads. Maybe we should be thinking of a way to divert some of the traffic from the blade discussion forum? :D

-Jose
 
Jose, the ABS forum would not be limited to ABS members. It would be open to anyone that wanted to participate. It is just that it would be moderated by an ABS member or two and it would be there to discuss the forged blade. I would not want this forum to exclude non-ABS bladesmiths. That would take away from its value as far as I am concerned. There are many non-ABS smiths that have every bit as much talent and make knives that are as good as any ABS member.

I still see no problem with a forum that is specific to the forged blade. If having forums that are specific to a certain topic is wrong then we should not have a traditional knife forum, or a balisong forum, or a custom forum for that matter because they are only for people interested in those knives. If you go to the custom knife forum and ask about production knives, you will be directed elsewhere.
 
Again, why has this new forum not been started? Spark said that it was only a matter of flicking a switch. Like somebody already reminded us, it's Spark's bandwidth. Nobody will be excluded. Everybody will be welcome; but if it's not your cup of tea, then simply don't go there.
 
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