ABS World Championship Cutting Competition – Atlanta‘2005

[PiterM]

ABS World Championship Cutting Contest, Atlanta ‘2005 - full report (*)

(*) Disclaimer: if you notice any misstatement in my review please, be so kind to send me an email or priv message so I can correct it. Well, I’ve been VERY excited during this contest so mistake is always possible…


I’ve missed that last year. But this time I’ve planned my Blade Show well so there was no way I could miss the cutting contest! Here I’d like to address my thanks to Jerry Fisk for the support and time for discussion about bladesmithing.

OK, when I left the hotel building I met them right in front of the door. left to right:

Dan Farr | Reggie Barker | Dickie Robinson | Daniel Winkler | Adam DesRosiers

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MS Jerry Fisk led the contest in an awesome way. Fully professional approach, but still a lot of humor. Jerry, you were great! Anyway here you can see Jerry giving last directions to the ABS smiths on how to take care of safety issues, where to put the table, etc.

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The cutting table… last adjustments & rope-hanger installation:

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And here we go! All five guys are ready, knives on the table. Let the contest begin!

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Here Master Smith M. Williams explains safety rules during the competition: “… and you can start only after CLEAR ‘GO’ from the judging official!”

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In the meantime all knives has been measured for blade length (10” maximum), overall length (15” maximum) and belly positioning (only 20% of the blade as far as I remember).

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Jerry explains all the contest rules and safety aspects to the people watching the contest. The last thing he wants is someone on the line, where a chipped tip of razor sharp blade could fly fast enough to go through someone’s torso. It’s not a poetry contest after all…

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Adam: “Reggie, old buddy, this time watch my rope cutting technique”. Reggie: “wanna bet? I’ve cut more rope than yo’ve seen in your whooole life kid!”

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Getting ready for 2x4 cutting…

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Dan Farr starts… wow, that was just seconds!

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Reggie… that was a blast! Just a couple of blows and 2x4 is in two pieces! Take a close look at how clean the cut section is! That’s what I call technique, speed & accuracy!

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Adam was also fast as hell. Under 6sec’s as far as I remember. OK, well done!

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Dickie Robinson. Clean job on the 2x4, just what you expect from a guy with his experience. See the log flying? Cool?

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And Daniel, my personal favorite of them all. First a bit of “zen” before delivering first blow with his awesome ancient-style competition bowie. BTW, that was great to see EXACTLY his kind of knife and sheath in this contest. And the performance of that blade was jawdropping! Be sure Daniel’s work not only looks fine, but it can cut as hell.

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Of course after EACH competition cut the knife is closely examined my Master Smiths, and finally head blade judge MS Joe Flournoy tells if the blade is OK, without any chips and without rolled edge. Daniel’s bowie, as you can see, passed with flying color. BTW, this step belonged to Adam at just below 6 sec. cut! Yeah…

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Next: “gardener’s cut”. Simply all they needed to do was a clean cut through an apple, which was put on the Coke can. To get 5 points they were to cut the apple without moving the can, which should still stay on the table after the cut. That requires excellent accuracy and of course razor-sharp edge… after cutting through 2x4 log! So that’s in fact not as easy as it may look. First cut belongs to Reggie…

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Job well done!

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Next is Adam… passed!

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Dickie Robinson also scored 5 points here.

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Daniel… well, you can see by yourself. His smile and flying half of apple say everything.

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And the last one… Dan Farr. Cut! Apple in two halves, but, wait a second… can swings, and… oh no, hits the table. Too bad for Dan.

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Rope cutting, another (after 2x4) classic point for all contests of that kind. Anyone could pick the number of ropes (1,2 or 3) and the score was 5 points per rope IF you cut them all. If not all are cut than… zero points! So sometimes it’s better to get easy 5 than try the luck with 15. Dan, Adam, Reggie and Dickie asked for 3 roped, Daniel for two.

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Adam starts… SLASH! Well, almost… the third rope is still there, just touched. Zero points.

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Dickie… and a miss. The cut delivered just above the ropes and he only cut the main one.

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Daniel, two ropes. No luck… maybe the edge was not so aggressive at this point? Or maybe he just hit the ropes with the knife too close to the tip of blade? Who knows? Anyway, zero!

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Dan, show them! Show them all! SLASH! And one rope is still not cleanly cut to the end… zero again.

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Reggie. Three ropes. Well, as far as power and accuracy goes it’s really hard to beat Reggie. Concentration… and wow, what a powerful slash! That was lightning fast. All three ropes are cleanly cut, just take a look! At last a clean cut… and spectacular one too! And of course Reggie is in a very good standing after this step. Reggie to Adam: “Seen that? That’s how we cut ropes up in Springhill my boy!”

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This was funny. “Mouse Trap”. there is a board, there is a “mouse”, there is a hole and there is a knife. Hit the mouse and cat in two to get 5, just kill it but leave in one piece to get 3, cut-off the tail to get one, and zero if you miss. But if you hit the pulling-metal-tape than you score… -15 points! Good that nobody hit it

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Dickie Robinson… and a clean cut!

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Again… knife examination by Joe Flournoy:

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Dan delivers a blow… but he misses!

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Daniel… just a scratch?

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Reggie, of course clean cut! He is incredible!

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Adam: “wow, that mouse was FAST…”

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Bottles cut… everyone could make a choice of 3 to 5 bottles (5 points each). Adam Des Rosiers went for 5, and the rest “just” for 4 bottles. Daniel starts with a powerful hit! Water splashes around! Did he cut them all? Did he?

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Well… of course he did! One of the officials: “Jerry, don’t get too excited! Wanna drink to cool down a bit?”

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Dan scored all four, well done man!

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Reggie goes for four as well… and delivers devastating blow! All bottles cut! Reggie, oh man, you have some skills!

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Adam goes for all or nothing… 5 to cut… blow! And job well done.

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Dickie Robinson… 4 of 4 cut in half!

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OK, Jerry says - time to count the scores boys!

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5th place… Dickie Robinson!

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4th place…Dan Farr!

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3th place… Daniel Winkler!

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2nd place… Adam Des Rosiers!

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1st place, title of 2005 ABS Cutting Champion and gorgeous belt buckle goes to Reggie Barker! Clear hands-down win! And he’s also the first one who’s scored that title for the second time in a row! Contest is over…

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And here once again, my favorite maker of all the contestants: Daniel Winkler, and his awesome competition bowie!

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And of course Reggie Barker - ABS Cutting Champion of 2004 and 2005

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Hope you’ve had fun reading through it

(*) Disclaimer: if you notice any misstatement in my review please, be so kind to send me an email or priv message so I can correct it. Well, I’ve been VERY excited during this contest so mistake is always possible…

 

[joeshredd]

Piter - Thank you for bringing Blade alive!!
Roger (and others!) brought us the show; you brought us some real MEAT!!!!
Excellent pics and commentary from someone who appears to have traveled quite some ways to experience this!
Great stuff!

 

[edgetrip]

Awesome thread, thanks so much.

 

[Buddy S.]

Right On Piter,I felt like I was actually There.I think you win 1st place in the Blade 2005 Threads contest(If there was one ).Thanks

 

[DGG]

This I must say was the best thread I've ever read on BF. Thanks for posting it and the enjoyable commentary accompanying the pictures.

 

[RWS]

This is fantastic! Great pics and recap.

I'm strongly considering going to Blade next year but with all of these great show reports you guys do, I may not need to.

I agree, Daniel is a favorite knifemaker of mine as well.

 

[PiterM]

Thanks a lot guys! It's my pleasure

I like Daniel's work, but I must admit that all five showed amazing skills at both bladesmithing and knife handling.

And Reggie... after that all... well, I have GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT for this man! And for his knives of course!

 

[Stephen F]

Superb post Piter - Thanks, makes up for the fact that I left my own camera behind.

Stephen

 

[hdwrlover]

Thanks for the excellent professional photos. I went to a seminar and missed the competition.

 

[RogerP]

Fantastic pictorial review! Since I didn't get to see the cutting competition, I am VERY appreciative of this excellent report. THANK YOU!

Roger

 

[NickWheeler]

Great review!!!

Only one question or point... you don't look very happy to be there

-Nick-

 

[Stumpy]

Fantastic job Piter.Thanks for the great read.