Too young to be a journyman? Any master smiths around?

Knifemaker87

Knifemaker87

Joined
Jan 2, 2006
Messages
1,073
hey i am a 19 year old aspiring smith and knifemaker....
am i too young to try out for journeyman? i dont think that i am ready yet... but that is what i am working on... also i like in Yorktown VA zip 23692... and i was wonderng if there are any other ABS members/master smiths in the area.
I have looked over the tests to be a journeyman and i dont know if my knives could take it yet... but i would love to be mentored...
thanks
~Chris
 
I'm no smith at all but, from here:

ELIGIBILITY:
A practicing Bladesmith may take the performance test with a Master Smith following two (2) years of membership in the ABS. However, an applicant is not eligible to apply for Journeyman Smith judging and rating at the Annual show and meeting, until he/she has been a member of the ABS for three (3) years. If the applicant has satisfactorily completed the "INTRODUCTION TO BLADESMITHING" course at the W. F. Moran School of Bladesmithing, the applicant may take the performance test with a Master Smith, following membership in the ABS after one (1) year. The applicant may stand for Journeyman Smith ranking at the Annual Show and Meeting after a minimum of two (2) years’ membership in the ABS.

NOTE:
The criteria of a minimum three (3) years of membership in the ABS, or two (2) years if the "INTRODUCTION TO BLADESMITHING" course has been successfully completed, is intended to ensure a minimum level of experience with the forged blade as well as a commitment to the heritage of the craft. While there may be other ways in which an individual can demonstrate such experience and commitment, this standard was adopted as an equitable and verifiable criterion within the ABS. These ABS standards are not intended to demean or diminish the skills or knowledge of others who have not chosen to embrace or attempt to meet the ABS requirements set forth in these procedures
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You should test your knives to the ABS criteria and see how they do. That would give you some idea on what needs improvement.

A practicing Bladesmith may take the performance test with a Master Smith following two (2) years of membership in the ABS. However, an applicant is not eligible to apply for Journeyman Smith judging and rating at the Annual show and meeting, until he/she has been a member of the ABS for three (3) years.

Josh Smith became a Mastersmith at 19, the youngest in the ABS.
 
The sooner you join the ABS the better. Your knives may well pass the JS test now but the 3 years will make sure of that. Very few testers fail if they are serious about performance. If you attend the Basic Bladesmithing course at the ABS school I believe you can shave one year off and test in 2 years. I however had no mentor and made test blades for 3 years.

I read your profile and besides spelling swords wrong It looks like you are well on your way.:)
 
Knifemaker87 said:
hey i am a 19 year old aspiring smith and knifemaker....
am i too young to try out for journeyman? i dont think that i am ready yet... but that is what i am working on... also i like in Yorktown VA zip 23692... and i was wonderng if there are any other ABS members/master smiths in the area.
I have looked over the tests to be a journeyman and i dont know if my knives could take it yet... but i would love to be mentored...
thanks
~Chris
Click to expand...

Chris

I'm located in Tabb Lakes. Give me a call most evenigs after 6:00pm . Jim Arbuckle 867-9578
 
heyyyyyyy yorktown!!!

im looking into the blacksmith shop up in CW for the summer, im not sure if they have some one in the ABS but they still have a master black smith atleast

-matt
 
I think Master Smith Burt Foster is living in VA now
Good luck!
Mace
 
SR_matt said:
heyyyyyyy yorktown!!!

im looking into the blacksmith shop up in CW for the summer, im not sure if they have some one in the ABS but they still have a master black smith atleast
Click to expand...

You'll learn a lot from the folks at Williamsburg if you can hook up with them. Ken Schwarz (the Master smith there) is a great guy and an excellent teacher (who originally learned blacksmthing from one of the guys who created the guild I'm a member of). I doubt he's an ABS member, but you should fully embrace any opportunity to study under him. He's an amazing 'smith and you will definitely be able to apply a lot of lessons learned from general blacksmithing to your bladesmithing.

Good luck!

-d
 
ya i got hsi name and i called up to the shop and left a message but im not sure if they got it, im gona call up again later and probably just go up and try to talk to them. surprisingly my dad was talking to the editor of a book he helped write for project managment and the guy used to be the master smith at CW so he got some names and stuff form him as well.

-matt
 
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