I passed... my ABS test that is...

anvilring

anvilring

Joined
Nov 29, 2000
Messages
2,869
I went down to master smith Greg Nelly's shop on Sunday for my cut'n bend and finally passed. I'm relieved. Greg is a really super person and on my last visit (a failure...) he told me what he thought I should do to to solve my problems and of course he was right. I passed easily this time. I've had an off'n on relationship with the ABS for the past several years with a divorce and several family trubs but for the most part I've found everyone more than willing to help out and offer advice to the new people. Now it's off to Atlanta for my JS. I've been to that show several years back so I'm looking forward to this summer and hope that I pass. What if we had a Q&A mixer somwere?? so's we know who we's talk'n to!! Something to think about.... We could have it in one of our rooms. When I've had enough to drink, I just go to sleep; ya'll can just tell me what happend later.
Now, just visiting a master smith's shop is always a privledge; you can learn something just standing there!! Greg is such a gentleman, always willing to share. He showed me a bowie he's working on with a stag stick handle he's useing that he "soaked" in potasium permanganate. Now, I've heard pp dised here and there as a dye, myself included. However I've always just like, "dipped" in pp. Greg says he soaked it for 10 min. or so, well.... what'da know!, I soaked a test tyne in the damn stuff for 10 min. or more (dipping just usually renders things a funny purple color) and holy cow! what a shade of deep chocolate!! Will wonders never cease? And I passed my cut'n bend did I tell'ya that?? OK... so what happens if we "soak" maple or some such for a spell?? , does Raymond Richards do this cause that's how it looks!! Is that "maple magic" stuff I've heard of here on Q&A have pp in it??

So, here's my test blade with blued iron guard.... I could't take Greg an ugly knife....... at least not REALLY ugly!
 
Congratulations. It's always nice to hear a Texas neighbor do good. I never been to a knifeshow other than the rinky dink one here in Waco. it would be nice to go and see a real show.
 
A BIG THUMBS UP from me..Congrats also...
Heck now you learned me something,I have always just brushed that stuff on with no luck,guess I should try soaking it now and see what I can come up with,Again CONGRATS!!!
Bruce
 
Really, it's good to get that out'a the way so's I can now get busy on my knives for the judging. On the potasium p. stuff. Damned it doesn't work just like Greg said, it just takes a while... I'll post the test "tine" I did this morn tomorrow, it's just... "chocolatey" cool!! I'm gonna soak some maple in it'n see what she does.

regards, mitch
 
Mitch,

Great job on the cut/bend test, good luck with your presentation blades in GA! :D

Larry T

Member of NECKA & NCCA
 
Congratulations! For the sake of us newbies, that does it take to pass the ABS? Is it just the cut and bend, or are other tests also involved? Can any Master Smith pass an applicant? I would be really interested in some details.

Thanks,
Dave
 
Sure any master smith can oversee your cut and bend test. Once you've pass that however you must submit five completed knives for judging at the anual ABS meeting which just happens to be during the 'Blade Show", held each summer in Atlanta GA. This year it's June 6th and 7th I believe. Here's a link to the journeyman smith's test page and the requirements for the cut and bend along with the guidelines for the knives to be judged.

regards, mitch

http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ABS_JSTest.htm
 
HEY! Super-congrats to you, Mitch! I look forward to meeting you in Atlanta this year. Big thumbs up to ya!

Hey 30-30 Dave... check out the ABS website. All the info you seek is there, brother. ;)
 
Hi Mitch,

I took a look at the test criteria. Do you do the shaving test After the wood chopping? That would indicate one heck of a knife, that's for sure. None of it looks easy, and that makes what you accomplished all the more impressive. Again, congratulations and hope to meet you at one of the shows.

Jeff, I should have thought of that. I will go to it and do some reading, one can never learn enough. Especially a new guy.

Dave
 
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