Spyken
The offical ABS cutting test are held at the ABS school in Washington AR [twice yearly here, and at Batson Symposium in Alabama, At the Michighan hammer-in as well as the North east hammer-in which will be held in Maryland this year.
There are always 5 events which the 2x4 chop is the only thing that is at all of them. The contestants really do not know what they are going to chop/cut till they get there.
The knives are required to follow the abs testing procedures for dimensions of the knife. That would be a max of 10 inch blade, not to exceed 15 inches overall length and not to exceed 2 inches in width. YOu have had to make the knife yourself, if for some reason of an infirmaity you can get someone to pinch hit for you in the cutting with your blade. But that has to be passed by the judges..
The 2x4 event will also be held in Atlanta but most of the other events they will not have seen before and must figure it out then. Some events are timed as well as for quality of cut.
Anyother questions just sling them out and someone or my self can answer them.
Edited to put more stuff in.
The steel they use is up to them. however 1084-5160 and 52100 steels are most often used.
The style of knife and its design is stricly up to them, if they think they can win with it bring it on.
Past winners are of course those listed on the above posting as they have gotten to the finals. Another past winner is Reggie Barker from LA as well as Larry Harley from TN and Dickie Robinson from TX.
These are ABS sanctioned cutting contest and are generally a lot of fun. Blades that have any defect in them during or after the events are disqualified. Blades are reguired to meed the size plus have one visable pin in handle and a thong hole with lanyard attached to it for safety. Sometimes the test are quite difficult. We have had as many as 3/4 of the contestants disqualified in a single contest. As well as sometimes, but rarely there is no one that gets disquaified.
j
Are you going to handycap John with a 3" max blade?? 
