Testers Needed!

joshsmith

joshsmith

Joined
Mar 31, 2005
Messages
646
I am looking for any potential ABS Journeyman Smith or Master Smith that feels they are ready to complete the performance part of their test to consider contacting me about testing at this years Big Sky Country Bladesmithing Conference.

Last year four makers tested for and passed their performance tests at my bladesmithing conference. It was an awesome experience for the makers as well as the attendees.

The advantage for you, the tester, is that you will have the chance to impress some top collectors watching your blade perform. You will also have the choice of about 15 master smiths that will be present to test you. If your blade performs well you will be the talk of the conference.

The disadvantage of testing in front of 125 people is......well you can only imagine.:D

I am asking for this because it will only increase the excitement of the conference and that is what I'm focused on. I'll even buy your 2x4, a good hard one!!

Thanks,
 
Guys, don't let josh fool you on the 2 X 4 thing he leaves them on the roof of his shop to dry them in the 100 degree heat it don't take long it is like cutting steel beams by the time he takes them down................
 
Erik Fritz said:
Guys, don't let josh fool you on the 2 X 4 thing he leaves them on the roof of his shop to dry them in the 100 degree heat it don't take long it is like cutting steel beams by the time he takes them down................
Click to expand...

He's not joking. Last year I let them bake up there for four day before the test. No soft boards here! Erik should be proud of the way his blade performed.
 
I witnessed Eric slicing through the boards like butter. He was sweating it too but easily passed. Performing in front of that many bladesmiths takes some guts but pays off with respect. Its exciting for everybody.
 
No guarantee just yet Josh, but if I can cobble one together by then... I'd like to do a test with a damascus blade :)
 
Nick,

Make sure you do a 1095 blade quenched in water with a 80 degree temper for 30 minutes. We'll be sure to have some entertainment.

By the way muscles are you strong enough to bend your blade?

It would be great to have you bring a blade. In fact if a maker wants to bring one just to show off I'm good with that. I'd just like for the collectors to witness these works of art in action.

I hope you make it Nick.
 
80 degree temper HA! Like that would hold an edge ;)

The idea of doing the Ms performance test in front of all those people makes me nervous just sitting here by myself! :eek: It would be neat... if all went well :)


Keith... the only reason I wasn't there last year was the fact that I got a new boss about a week before the hammer-in and he denied my already approved time off. The only thing I've got going this summer is about 4 hours of classes a day... so unless something tragic happens I will be there. :)

Josh, I might be able to bring that 1095 water quench blade, but we'll have to get Erik to bend it! :D
 
Nick,

It would be awesome to have you test here. Don't worry, if your blade shatters like a piece of fine china we'd take it easy on you. I wouldn't even sharpen the edges of my vise to a razor sharp edge.

Be nice to Erik. He is fragile.
 
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