What can I expect from an ABS hammer in?

[Chiro75]

I just found out today that the ABS is holding a big event in Fruitport, MI, which is less than an hour away from my house. Sounds like a good opportunity, but looking at the ABS website I couldn't really figure what to expect. The info on their site seemd geared toward buyers rather than makers. It also said "tailgate sales welcome" and said that everyone who registers gets table fee included. My questions:
1) Are all the seminars geared toward makers open to the public (i.e. should I waive the registration fee and just show up like Joe Public? I am comfortable selling my knives over the internet, but not at a table with pros, so if the registration fee is more for people who want to sell, it would be money wasted for me)?

2) If i do this, can I still bring a few knives along in case someone wants to buy one?

3) What can I expect from the seminars? Is a hammer in something you walk away from with a forged knife in hand, or is it more watch & learn?

Just curious. Thanks!

 

[anvilring]

<center><font face='Arial' color=indigo size=3><b>Greetings Dr. Steve. I recently attended the spring hammer-in at the Washington Forge with my father and here's what I can tell you...<P>
First of all, yes you could just show up as "the public" and probably no one would say a thing, however, this is a group of "gentlemen", really, in the true sense of the word. My gentle advice is to pay the fee for a number of good reasons: the least of which "without support, things of this calibre come to an end". Once you've attended, I believe you will agree, that is an unconscionable thought.<p> The hammer-ins are a grand affair. There's no pagentry here really, just a bunch of people keen on the art of bladesmithing, but once you've attended, you'll come away with new friends and ideas you had'nt before and new found enthusiasm for this craft of knifemakeing, it's just plain magic! Even my Father, who is no bladesmith but none the less a lover of things edged, commented on how much he enjoyed the trip to Washington. From a tecnical point of view, I, an experienced bladesmith, learned no small number of tricks while attending but that's not the real story.The commradery and flavor of this Ho- Down is the thing I attempt to convey because that's where it's at! cannot recount the new friends and aquaintences I made there those two days. I'm headed back this fall for a damascus class with none other than Steve Dunn, a fellow, had I not met at the hammer-in, I'd never have known. Steve is a master ABS smith with the most dramatic damascus patterns I've ever seen. Haveing met him at the hammer-in, I deduced: he is not only talented, but an excellent teacher ( the two are not always bedfellows), thus, I was able to virtually select my own teacher; how else would I have accomplished such a thing? These are the sorts of people that show up at a hammer-in<p> I heartly admonish all who have never attended such an event to do so; our's is a small community, we owe our support to what stands for infrastructure: the ABS, the GUILD and the various state organizations.<p> Do'nt tear down the fence, get out your nails and hammer....and keep it up.




compliments & regards,
mitch<p><img src=http://www.main.com/~wilkins/knife/forums/wash01.jpg><p>My Dad and an unnamed attendee standing by the "one inch rope" at the back of the forge... what ARE they talking about??? knives ya think??

 

[C L Wilkins]

Steve,
I briefly met Mitch and his Dad at the hammer-in up in Washington this past May. Nice folks, even for Wilkins'! For one, it is nice meeting folks with the same interest and you can learn an awful lot. When you get to sit across the table from Bill Moran and watch him do silver inlay or meet such colorful folks as Clyde Fischer, well it is worth twice the price of admission.

I am sure that you could just show up unregistered but that would be in poor taste. I guess its a matter of scruples. The ABS has done a considerable amount for the promotion of bladesmithing and deserves our support. This organization has been very open with sharing information and promotes that. I haven't met that many mastersmiths but of the ones that I have, they all have been willing to give a little something back. We should too, that's what its all about.

C Wilkins