Are there any titled smiths that prefer stock removal?

cotdt

cotdt

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Oct 2, 2006
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It seems like all the bladesmiths who've spent years mastering forging technique stick with forging. Are there any that prefer stock removal?
 
I'm not sure what you mean by "titled smiths". If they are ABS members then they'll probably prefer forging. There are many well know and respected makers who exclusively stock remove, but I don't know that any of them would get on too well with a JS or MS title.
 
AcridSaint said:
I'm not sure what you mean by "titled smiths". If they are ABS members then they'll probably prefer forging. There are many well know and respected makers who exclusively stock remove, but I don't know that any of them would get on too well with a JS or MS title.
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So if an ABS Mastersmith uses stock removal, would he be considered a traitor?
 
cotdt said:
So if an ABS Mastersmith uses stock removal, would he be considered a traitor?
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No. just that the majority of the blades made they forged. I have done both, but I'm not a JS yet either. I've seen some really nice knives done in stock removal from some ABS makers
 
My father is known for forging damascus but prefers stock removal.
 
There are a fair number of smiths who forge complicated damascus and then make the knives via stock removal. The reason is so that they won't disrupt the particular pattern Cliff Parker told me that he traditionally forged composite (multi bar, ert)billets to shape, but that he cuts out and stock removes his picture mosaic damascus blades.
 
I wouldn't know about the traitor thing, I'm not involved with the ABS. I will say that I like to grind knives - one reason is that I like to hollow grind.
 
Many bladesmiths will occasionally make a blade from a stainless
grade, or one of the many grades of air hardening steel that are
suitable for knives. It isn't a betrayal.....actually its more like making
best use of the tools we have available.

Many of us forge because its an additional art form, and/or because
we prefer a grade of steel that just isn't available in flat stock....like W2.

The ABS has prefered that members use forging as their primary
method,which makes sense, but doesn't attempt to limit methods
to forging only.
 
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