ABS school in North Carolina

[North]

October 6 – 17 of this year, an ABS Introduction to Bladesmithing course was held at Haywood Community College in Clyde, North Carolina. I believe that this was the first time that the ABS has taught this course in a location other than Washington, Arkansas. The instructors were Master Smiths Greg Neely, current ABS chairman and Joe Keeslar, former ABS chairman. Their assistants were Journeyman Smiths Dan Warren and Bill Wiggins.

The school has a well equipped shop. The students had access to 10 coal forges, 5 new gas forges, 1 air hammer and 2 mechanical hammers, 6 new Bader Variable speed grinders and ample hammers, tongs, anvils, etc.

The students learned to forge, grind and heat treat blades, and each student made a blade that passed the ABS Journeyman Smith performance test. Their knives had to cut free hanging hemp rope, chop a 2 x 4 in two twice and bend 90 degrees without breaking.

Haywood Community College and the ABS will be offering courses several times in 2009. Interested parties can contact Bill Wiggins at wncbill@bellsouth.net

David Burnett working at a coal forge.

Students watching Greg Neely grind.

Students working in the forge room.

Keeslar forging.

Dan Warren and Bill Wiggins.

The class.

Bill

 

[Kevin Jones]

Thanks for sharing Bill. I had no idea the ABS had started a school in NC.
Good news.

 

[John White]

For anyone who has ever thought they might like to try forging and finishing a blade, let me say that an ABS class is more fun than the much mentioned barrel of monkeys, if said monkeys are waving pieces of red-hot steel. You'll learn more in two weeks than in two years of solo effort, and enjoy it more than most two week vacations.
Try it, but beware, it's addictive!

John

 

[Robert Dark]

I have met and talked to Joe Keeslar several times. He can offer more information in 5 minutes than you can learn in 5 years on your own.

I like to think of Bill Wiggins as a personal friend. He has offered so much valued advice over the last few years. Bill is a super nice guy and has a way about him that just makes you feel right at home.

Those "Students" were very fortunate to have those two guys showing them the ropes.

Congrats to all.

Robert

 

[wiggins]

Bill, thanks for taking the photos and then posting them. It was a great class!! For the first class at Haywood Community College, I thought it was pretty neat to have the ABS Chairman and first past Chairman as instructors. The ABS is happy with HCC, and HCC is happy with the ABS, so things are looking good for the future!!

We are in the process of scheduleing classes for next year. Looks like 4 intro courses and two handles and gaurds classes. Hopefully, the next intro course will follow the Symposium in March. Can't let the cat out of the bag for another day or so, but we should have some super talent lined up to demo.


Robert, its not that far up to NC for you. Try to make it if you can. We will have a big time!!

Bill Wiggins

 

[So-Lo]

I need to start saving now

 

[jjtjr]

I was lucky enough to attend last December's ABS Intro to Bladesmithing course in Old Washington, AR, taught by J.R. Cook MS and Jerry Fisk MS. Among my classmates were Bill Wiggins, Dan Warren and Ron Boydston all from the Canton, NC area. Bill was allready an ABS Journeyman smith. He was attending the course with Dan and Ron who had been making blades for a number of years. The course was great even though I had no intention of becoming a knifemaker. The main reason was my classmates. I learned alot and we all had alot of fun. Dan and Ron received their JS certifications at this year's Bladeshow.

I also attended the Smokey Mountain Hammerin organized by Bill Wiggins last March. It was a great event. I was really impressed with the facilities of Haywood Community College. They had everything on site that you could need to learn Blade forging.

Anyone who has a chance to attend either next years Hammerin or one of the ABS classes at Haywood College should sign up as soon as possible. It is a great facility. You will learn alot and have a ton of fun.

Jim Treacy