Finally- the official news on Ashokan 2010!

K

Kevin R. Cashen

Joined
Sep 9, 2003
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So many people here, and elsewhere, have been asking about the Ashokan seminar after the schedule inversion it did with the sword weekend that I thought I would post this message to let everybody know that that Ashokan 2010 is now set and ready to go!

With the scheduling rework that moved the sword Ashokan to 2011 instead of its planned time this year the folks in the NEBG had to scramble to pull together a regular bladesmithing seminar and that is the reason for the delay in this information. Fortunately they were able to just tap into the lineup that would have been next year and still get most of the demonstrators.

Anyhow you can find all the information about this year’s seminar here:

http://www.ashokanknifeseminar.com/


The Ashokan Bladesmithing Seminar is one of the oldest and most prestigious knifemaker gatherings in the country. It is presented by The New England Bladesmith’s Guild, a group so dedicated to sharing only the best information free of political agendas that they have no dues, membership lists or bylaws but exist solely to offer the best bladesmithing seminar around.

Located in the beautiful Catskills Mountains of New York the Ashokan campus offers a setting that is worth the trip alone, but anybody who has been there will also tell you the food is worth the trip. So if you are just thinking of giving bladesmithing a try, or have been at it for 50 years this is one not to miss. No organizations to join just free sharing of information and good times.
 
How quickly will it fill up? I see that's it's limited to the first 90 registrants. . . . Wow, cheapest flight to Albany is $475. . . .Hope the food is worth it, hehe.
 
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zaph1 said:
How quickly will it fill up? I see that's it's limited to the first 90 registrants. . . . Wow, cheapest flight to Albany is $475. . . .Hope the food is worth it, hehe.
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It's a really good weekend. As for the food, all I have to say is "bowls. of. bacon." :)

In all seriousness though, the staff at Ashokan is fantastic, the food is top notch, and the makers present for this even make it one of the most worthwhile hammer-ins I've ever gone to. The fact that it's a small gathering means that you have unprecedented access to everybody there. It really is a treat.

-d
 
Dekelbaum? Doing a demonstration? Wow, must've been pretty hard-up to scrape that low...

...you sure you don't want Mace and Spangler to do their sock puppet routine again, instead?
 
Huzzah, I plan on being there. I even hope to have a ballock dagger made... though we're into the 7th month and i havent finished a new knife yet this year =/ Been SOOO busy with other stuff, and my 'free' shop time has been spent making pens (who'd have thunk, i've made more money selling hand made pens in 7 months than i've made with any metal work in 4 years)
 
Matthew Gregory said:
Dekelbaum? Doing a demonstration? Wow, must've been pretty hard-up to scrape that low...

...you sure you don't want Mace and Spangler to do their sock puppet routine again, instead?
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Yeh, REaLLY hitting the bottom of the barrel :D NOT!!!!!! Great lineup!!! I'm no old hand, but I see some names I know and do not know, both very good things.

I don't really want to think about what Mace and Mike DO with tubesocks.....
 
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Justin,
Remember that real men wear kilts.....even around Sam.
Day sporrans would be advisable, as dress sporrans might be a bit much for Sam and some of the others to take. Don't want to get accused of molesting any wee critters.
Since my supply of 100 year old scotch is becoming more limited ( I have been nipping a taste now and then), we may have to divvy out the first drams to those in kilts, and then see how far the rest goes.

Sam is right, Rob is not so bad ..........for a guy with holes in his head.
 
I was kidding, of course...

This year's lineup looks strong - I really can't wait to see Jerry Rados again. The attention to detail and fit and finish of his work is incomparable:

turkish-folder.jpg
 
Deker- Is your talk going to cover any of the basics on steel selection and stuff? I've got a project in mind for the future, and no clue at all about what steels should be chosen for good damascus...
I've been trying to come up with a way for us to roast up some coffee on site, and coming up snake-eyes. Any thoughts?

Haven't even begun to think about the ballock dagger... having a hard time getting behind this one, and what little time I've had has been spent working on the Bradley.

I missed last year's Ashokan (something I swore I'd never do), so I'm revved up about this year. Good times! Here are some shots of years past:

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bladsmth said:
Justin,
Remember that real men wear kilts.....even around Sam.
Day sporrans would be advisable, as dress sporrans might be a bit much for Sam and some of the others to take. Don't want to get accused of molesting any wee critters.
Since my supply of 100 year old scotch is becoming more limited ( I have been nipping a taste now and then), we may have to divvy out the first drams to those in kilts, and then see how far the rest goes.

Sam is right, Rob is not so bad ..........for a guy with holes in his head.
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Sam cant handle the kilt!

I'm going to bring a bottle of the Balvenie 'singularity' A single barrel 15 year Balvenie hand picked by the Loch & K(e)y whisky club I belong to in a trip to Scotland last year and bottled entirely for Julio's Liquors in Westboro MA. This was the first (and last) time that they've ever let anyone pick a barrel, and it's a great scotch. It even got 91 points in malt advocate's ratings, which lead to people trying to get it from all around, but all 250ish bottles sold out in the first month. I've got 3 of them on my shelf unopened =)
 
Matthew Gregory said:
Deker- Is your talk going to cover any of the basics on steel selection and stuff? I've got a project in mind for the future, and no clue at all about what steels should be chosen for good damascus...
Click to expand...

I'm going to fit in as much as I can into the hour they've given me! Steel selection is one of the key components to success, so it'll be in there for sure. I always try to make sure I don't just target knife steels too. There are some awesome combinations for non-edged items that shouldn't be overlooked if you're doing ornamental work, etc. If the stars align and I get some extra shop time before Ashokan I may even have some pretty neat "non-standard" stuff to show off.

My general plan is to discuss steel selection, preparation, hints on the welding process, some discussion of forging, and maybe some patterning if we have time. I'll be able to get some work done quickly so I can cover more bases since John Larson is bringing one of his 75lb Iron Kiss air hammers for us to use this year. ;)

Of course, if there's more people want to know than I have time for in the demo, just catch me later and I'll be happy to keep talking. :D

I've been trying to come up with a way for us to roast up some coffee on site, and coming up snake-eyes. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Have you tried the air popper route? I can comb the thrift stores...I've never roasted coffee before, but it's something I've thought about here and there. I'd love to see it done in some manner just to get an idea of what's really involved, etc.

Man, I'm really looking forward to this year!

-d
 
Yes, registration is by mail.

If you are attending as a participant, then the fee is $225, if you are just a guest of one of the participants ( spouse or such) or a student ( high school/college) the you would qualify for the non-participant rate.

Download the form, fill it out and send it in with the funds. If something comes up, and you can't make it, the fee is fully refundable as long as you cancel in advance.
 
bladsmth said:
Yes, registration is by mail.

If you are attending as a participant, then the fee is $225, if you are just a guest of one of the participants ( spouse or such) or a student ( high school/college) the you would qualify for the non-participant rate.

Download the form, fill it out and send it in with the funds. If something comes up, and you can't make it, the fee is fully refundable as long as you cancel in advance.
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Excellent! Thanks for the clarification.


Doc
 
Here's a few more pics from Ashokan past to whet the appetites of the un-initiated....

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Ric Furrer and Jerry Rados tend the wootz smelt

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Ric Furrer and (I believe) a smudgy Rock Barrett work some Tamahagane.

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Even Burt Foster is in awe of Burt Foster's work... :D (Also, note the adoring gaze from Matt Gregory in the background...Burt sure is dreamy isn't he Matt?)

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Kevin Cashen prepares to set a world record for blade flex...

I've got more, but I have to get back to work now.

-d
 
I wonder if I can write this off on my taxes as a work related seminar. . . .Can someone bring a laptop for me to look at so I can write it off?

Just put the check in the envelope, now I have to find a stamp(dang blasted snail mail!)
 
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