What's the difference between a journeyman and a master smith?

D

Dago Red

Joined
Jun 16, 2008
Messages
987
Hey guys,

I did search and didn't find this. If I'm looking at pictures on the forum of knives that are very drool worthy, what is it that separation or the difference between the journeyman and the master? I see some knives marked JS and some marked MS that frankly I can't see a difference in. But likely that is just not knowing what to look at or is it something that you can't tell without having it in person to see the details?

Thanks guys. (it does'nt change my enjoyment of a person's knives by the way, just sometimes I see a JS marked knife and think,"really, looks like they're ready for a new stamp")

Red
 
http://www.americanbladesmith.com/index.php?section=pages&id=178

That page has the information and requirements to pass the Master Smith testing, you can also find the Journeyman test information on their page. If you really read it over, you'll start to see the difference.

There are also a few youtube videos on the subject, one guy I remember watching forge his Journeyman test blades and going through with the tests etc.
 
Read the link to the ABS above, but in simple terms.


The JS passes a quality and performance test by peers on mono steels.

The MS passes a quality and performance test by peers on Pattern welded or damascus steels
MS is obtained after the JS and there is a jump in quality from one level to the next.
 
The possibility exist, that changing logos, JS to MS, might bring with it a more quality product; but it ain't necessarily so.
 
Prestige, as well. That said, I know of several journeymen with great name recognition and high demand- compared to the long list of Masters whose names I wouldn't recognize.
 
Thanks very much guys, it reminds me of the custom gunmakers guild. you have to pass tests to become a member, but there are guys that do fantastic work that aren't member. And members that...... :)

I like that the tests for knives though do have some performance portions. I remember watching a JS I think youtube where they had to bend the knife blade 90 degrees and return to straight. i'd never do that to my knife but at least I know that the guys that passed know what it takes to make a blade that's heat treated and relieved properly and so on.

Red
 
It does not have to return to straight ( and almost never does). The test is to bend 90° and not break. It can stay at 90° and still pass. Just prior to the bend test, the same knife has passed a series of chopping and cutting tests without any edge damage or loss of sharpness.
 
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