Most prestigious knifemakers organisation

golok

golok

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Oct 20, 2000
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I was told that one of the most prestigious knifemakers' organisations is the American Bladesmith Society.

How do the knifemakers qualify for membership? Are the tests they have to undertake stringent?

I understand that there is no age limit but generally the members of the ABS are veterans of the trade.

Up till now, how many members are there in the ABS?
 
You can read all about the entrance requirements for the American Bladesmith Society here:

ABS web site

I am not so sure about calling it the 'most prestigious' knifemakers society. Many members of the ABS are also members of the Knifemakers Guild, and there are many fine knifemakers who do not belong to either organization.

The ABS deals with a specific category of knives, forged blades. It has specific performance requirements for attaining various levels of recognition (e.g. journeyman and master). It has a strong emphasis on teaching and improving the art of bladesmithing. But if a maker works primarily in stainless steels and stock-removal techniques, ABS membership is probably not going to be a goal. There are many more makers of stock-removal blades compared to the numbers of forged blade makers (smiths).

Some collectors like myself focus on forged blades, but I also have knives made by ABS Mastersmiths which are NOT forged blades. I think the ABS is a great organization which does a lot to teach and promote the art of the forged blade. If you are buying the work of an ABS Journeyman or Mastersmith, you can rest assured that the maker knows what he is doing, and is striving to perfect his art. I attach more value to the work of ABS Mastersmiths compared to other knife makers. But many of them are also members of the Knifemakers Guild.

If you talk to many knife makers, you will find that there is a lot of disagreement about the value of Guild and ABS membership. It seems that some feel the performance requirements for both organizations could stand some re-evaluation. Some of the old time members of the ABS seem to think it is getting too easy to achieve the Master smith rating. Similarly, some of the members of the Knifemakers Guild seem to feel that organization's purpose and meaning also needs some re-thinking.

There are many fine knife makers who do not belong to either organization. As a collector of knives, I attach a lot of importance to the history, integrity, and knife making philosophy of an individual maker. His or her standing or membership in a professional society like the ABS or the KG is only part how I evaluate the desireability of a makers knives. I want to know a lot more than 'are you a member of the ABS or KG?'.

Paracelsus
 
As usual, very well said Para. Thank you!
 
An applicant must complete a three phase qualification procedure based on 1) ABS membership and forging experience; 2) forging a test blade that will pass the cutting, chopping and bending tests; and 3) making finished knives that pass the examination by the ABS board of judges.

I. This applicant must be a regular member (apprentice smith) of the ABS for at least two years prior to earning his jouneyman rating.
II. The applicant must forge a test blade about 10 inches long and present the blade in person at the shop of an ABS master smith for testing.
A. All cutting, chopping and bending tests must be performed by the applicant.
B. The blade must first cut free hanging, 1-inch hemp rope about 6 inches from the loose end, completely severing the rope with one stroke of the test knife.
C. The applicant, using the same test blade, must then cut a two-by-four in two at least twice. Upon completion, the test blade must be capable of shaving hair from the applicants arm.
D. After the cutting and chopping tests have been completed, the applicant must clamp the blade in a vise and bend the blade to at least 90 degrees. The blade must not break. The edge is allowed to crack, but the back must remain intact.
E. The master smith may require the applicant to forge a blade in a given style to demonstrate that the applicant knows the proper techniques of forging a blade to shape.
NOTE: If the applicant does not successfully pass the above tests, a six-month waiting period is required before retesting.

As you can see the tests to become a journeyman smith are very demanding.

I do not know all that goes into the final tests that a journeyman smith goes through to become a master smith, but I am sure that they are just as demanding.
 
Since we are getting into some of the detail of the tests. There is also another part to the qualifications of Journeyman and Master Smith qualifications that involve the submission of 5 knives that are judged by A.B.S. members.
 
ABS and the North Carolina Knifemakers Guild
Both are true guilds. They teach there members.
 
Interesting points Para, and I do agree. However, personally I feel that there are a few makers that have held their MS stamp for a long time that don't put into their knives the care that they did to become an MS.

There are far more that produce in every knife a thing of function and beauty approaching perfection, so this isn't any sort of flame or the like, just a thought...

Nick
 
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