International Cutting Competition

Brett,

I will be involved as much as I can. I think it will bring in LOTS of new customers, spawn new interest in our industry and show what custom knives can do.

As a single influence, I think this will be the biggest one since knife shows.

I am sure there is a negative somewhere, but I am not aware of it at the moment.

BTW, the Fall Hammer in is weekend after next (Oct 30-31)at the Bladesmith school in Old Washington. Lots of fun, knives, smoke, noise and a cutting comp. at the end.
 
I can certainly see how this would be a good thing for the industry - cutting competitons are a great way to generate interest and enthusiasm and to bring "non-knife" people into the fold. I have to admit that I find the idea of being able to compete with someone else's knife personally appealing - watching the competitors at SOS sure made me want to grab one of my bowies and have at it. Who knows - maybe this will generate orders for "competition knives" from makers. I had a conversation with John Fitch at SOS about why more makers don't sell their competition knives. John said he gave a lot of his away to family members. Regrettably, I could not convince him that we were related. :cool:

Could this be a negative?:

"ABS cutting competitions are restricted to ABS members using forged blades they have made themselves. Under a recent ruling of the ABS Board of Directors any cutter who competes for cash awards is considered a professional and at that point is unable to compete in future ABS competitions, as they wish to remain an amateur competition.
However, this will not affect an ABS member's status as a Journeyman or Master smith in any way, per an interview with ABS President Joe Keeslar on October 7, 2004.


If this is correct, then an ABS maker who chooses to compete in the ICCT will be prohibited from future ABS competitions and will be forced to make what appears to be an "us or them" choice. It sure wouldn't benefit the future ABS competitions to have the ranks of their top cutters thinned as a result of that. If anyone has more information or insight as to the position taken by the ABS, I'd be interested to hear it.

Cheers,

Roger
 
Roger,

Your quote from the ABS makes for a good discussion.

I can certainly understand the position the ABS has taken. The ABS is non-profit, and it's goal is to further the art and craft of the forged blade. The cutting competitions were and still are aimed at letting the participant learn more about making their knives perform. I actually think the ABS events will become a "minor league" for makers wanting to compete on a higher level. Nothing wrong with that IMO. It will provide more oportunity for makers to win competitions not dominated by a small group of experienced cutters.

I like the thought of a structure where makers can compete on a more leveled playing field. It will encourage more makers to compete, one by making more "room" to be competitive, and two by creating more interest in cutting knives in general. Kind of a "get with the program or get left behind" situation.

All in all, it is appropriate for the ABS to make the stance they have. By making the competitions closed to "Professional" cutters, they could be used in a very positive way to increase interest and the level of quality in forged blades for a long time without becomeing stagnant in the future.
 
Bailey,

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I can see where you're coming from. If the relegation of the ABS cutting competitions to the "minor leagues" relative to the ICCT events is an understood and accepted outcome of the position taken by the ABS, then I guess that's OK. I'll happily watch both the amateurs and the "pros" hack stuff up any day. :D

Cheers,

Roger
 
Let's see.... I think there have been a couple of threads going about this very subject... Gee... and we all thought we were on to somethin'!?!?!

LOL!!!! :D

I think this'll be great! I know Danbo would jump at the chance to swing one of his big choppers...and so would I (will my big Fitch chop as well for me as it did John?) Heck, I've got stuff from every category you could imagine and I think that would be a way too cool opportunity to really challenge my collection...

Can they come to Eugene??? :D
 
I think that this is excellent news. They are not only opening competition up to all levels but they are explaining what each test measures in real world performance.

The only thing I would like to see added to the site is the criteria for competition knives.

I hope that they will eventually have multiple competitions for different size classes. (9" Blade limit, 7" Blade limit, 4" Blade limit etc)
 
A few things I am wondering is who is putting this together and what the prize purse will be for the top cutters? The cuts themselves are basically a carbon copy of the ABS competitions, who regulates this? Who are the major sponsors? The site is bare bones and I guess is still growing.

Brett
 
I think it will be a good deal, and the knife industry will have something to evaluate their products against in the different catagories. I support it and think that the time has come for something like it.
The ABS could not do it because, like was said before, they are a non profit organization. The liability involved would also cause some concern with the organization. Jerry Fisk and Mike Williams have done a tremendous job in developing the different cutting tests and most have some real world use.
At some point in time, when a "forged knife" or a "factory knife" wins, it will still be debated as to whether it was the cutter or the blade that made the difference. :) I just love it, don't you?
Don't Try This At Home. :)
 
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