KBCraig
NES Member
In various threads about knives and bladesmithing, I've commented about how fortunate I was to grow up and live so close to the epicenter of the hand-forged knife revival, at the time that it was happening.
Here are some astounding examples, and I'm honored to have met many of the names shown here, and even banged some hot steel with them (although they probably wouldn't know me from Adam).
55 Beautiful Custom Knife Photos: Highlights from The Arkansas Knife Show 2018 - Blade Magazine
Jerry Fisk had a humble little lean-to forge when I first met him. J.R. Cook Jr. ("Cookie") was an apprentice. Kenny Rowe (sheath maker), at one time made the full Sam Browne kit presented to every newly graduated Arkansas State Trooper. Jim Crowell swung a 12 pound sledge on a 10 inch handle to weld his Damascus steel, and I would not care to arm-wrestle him even 30 years later. He's a beast. Bill Hughes wrote for the Texarkana Gazette and chaired the Texarkana College/American Bladesmith Society program that created the joint school of bladesmithing at Old Washington.
This short sword by Cookie reminds me very much of one that Tim Zowada showed us in person at the Hammer-In where the Bill Moran monument was unveiled:
Zowada's was rust-browned, and thin and amazingly flexible, but would still pass the Master Smith test.
How did all this come to pass in Southwest Arkansas? Well, here ya go.
Arkansas bladesmiths lead world in knife-crafting knowledge
Here are some astounding examples, and I'm honored to have met many of the names shown here, and even banged some hot steel with them (although they probably wouldn't know me from Adam).
55 Beautiful Custom Knife Photos: Highlights from The Arkansas Knife Show 2018 - Blade Magazine
Jerry Fisk had a humble little lean-to forge when I first met him. J.R. Cook Jr. ("Cookie") was an apprentice. Kenny Rowe (sheath maker), at one time made the full Sam Browne kit presented to every newly graduated Arkansas State Trooper. Jim Crowell swung a 12 pound sledge on a 10 inch handle to weld his Damascus steel, and I would not care to arm-wrestle him even 30 years later. He's a beast. Bill Hughes wrote for the Texarkana Gazette and chaired the Texarkana College/American Bladesmith Society program that created the joint school of bladesmithing at Old Washington.
This short sword by Cookie reminds me very much of one that Tim Zowada showed us in person at the Hammer-In where the Bill Moran monument was unveiled:
Zowada's was rust-browned, and thin and amazingly flexible, but would still pass the Master Smith test.
How did all this come to pass in Southwest Arkansas? Well, here ya go.
Arkansas bladesmiths lead world in knife-crafting knowledge