Should there be an ABS Certification Above "MS" ?

Should there be an ABS certification above "MS"?

  • I'm a Maker and I VOTE YES!

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I'm a Maker and I VOTE NO!

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I'm a Collector and I VOTE YES!

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I'm a Collector and I VOTE NO!

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
  • Poll closed .
Whether there should be a standardized testing and ranking system or not, is a very good question.

That's "THE" question.

However,… since one already exists, the only logical question is,… whether to leave it the way it is or try to build and improve upon it?!
 
NickWheeler said:
BTW Phillip, I didn't mean to imply AT ALL that you could not pass the Js exam. Your knives look great and seem to be getting more clean and crisp every time you post. I was just making a general statement about the big difference between theory and application.
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No problem, I didn't take it that way at all. And thanks for the encouragement.:)

I used to completely agree with your sentiments on the performance knife. But I now realize that it really isn't to try and prove that all or any of your knives will do the 90 bend, but that you have the control over the steel needed to make that one particular knife bend.
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Yep, I think that's the whole point, but it's not communicated well enough, in my opinion.

I personally don't really heat-treat any of my "daily" knives the way I did my performance knife. I focus much more on overall cutting than the bending aspect.

I probably shouldn't be posting when I haven't slept in three days! ;) :o
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About the only time I make a knife that will bend, is when I do a hamon. Hamons are worth it. :D

Get some sleep, and have fun in Atlanta! :cool:


Tai Goo said:
Whether there should be a standardized testing and ranking system or not, is a very good question.

That's "THE" question.

However,… since one already exists, the only logical question is,… whether to leave it the way it is or try to build and improve upon it?!
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Good point! Maybe we shouldn't have the performance test at all. After all, a stock removal knife could pass the chopping and bending tests just as easily as a forged one, given the applicable heat treat. If the ABS wants to promote forged blades, maybe someone should develop tests that would only apply to forged blades. Not sure what that would be.
And if the purpose of the tests are to ensure that the smith has control over the heat treat process, maybe they should include things like testing for Rockwell hardness, breaking the blade to examine the grain, things like that.
 
Phillip Patton said:
No problem, I didn't take it that way at all. And thanks for the encouragement.:)



Yep, I think that's the whole point, but it's not communicated well enough, in my opinion.




About the only time I make a knife that will bend, is when I do a hamon. Hamons are worth it. :D

Get some sleep, and have fun in Atlanta! :cool:




Good point! Maybe we shouldn't have the performance test at all. After all, a stock removal knife could pass the chopping and bending tests just as easily as a forged one, given the applicable heat treat. If the ABS wants to promote forged blades, maybe someone should develop tests that would only apply to forged blades. Not sure what that would be.
And if the purpose of the tests are to ensure that the smith has control over the heat treat process, maybe they should include things like testing for Rockwell hardness, breaking the blade to examine the grain, things like that.
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I for one,… would be curious about what the new “Grandmaster” would have to say?
 
I vote yes,

the ABS board should talk to Tai.
 
Not surprised by makers being overwhelmingly against the GMS concept. I only expected about 10-20% to be in favor.

Very surprised in the collectors vote however :confused: as I believe a new MS top tier designation would definitely benefit the collector.
 
Kevin Jones said:
Very surprised in the collectors vote however :confused: as I believe a new MS top tier designation would definitely benefit the collector.
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It wouldn't. Think about what the top frustrations with the MS designations are, and ask yourself whether an uber-MS ranking would solve it. The answer is no.
 
Joss said:
It wouldn't. Think about what the top frustrations with the MS designations are, and ask yourself whether an uber-MS ranking would solve it. The answer is no.
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Joss, I didn't mention solving anything, only giving the MS that wanted to achieve a higher level a chance to be recognized in doing so.

It has nothing to do with a JS wanting to stay a JS or certainly demoting a current MS or totally changing the ABS as we know it today.
 
I voted no as a collector, even though I only have 4 or 5 ABS knives.

I would guess this has been mentioned already, but maybe a good compromise be a requirement for some continuing education?

This is how many professional societies keep their members current (Professional Engineers for instance).
 
If we had taken this poll 10 years ago it would have been 99% “NO” clean across.

Give it 5-10 more…
 
…Until there’s a forge in everyone’s back yard,… the job ain’t finished!
 
Broos said:
This is how many professional societies keep their members current (Professional Engineers for instance).
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how many jobs out there are based on "old tec" to keep a skill set alive
sure you can go high speed low drag and there are ABS members that are pushing for it some what
to me the abs is more of keeping the bladesmith art alive while. the members that strive will aways be saught after fro they're advancing ways
 
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