BLADE Staff

Today BR Hughes and Mike Williams of the American Bladesmith Society announced the names of the Judges for the 2011 Atlanta Blade Show judging for ABS Master Smith and Journeyman Smith ratings. The judging will take place on June 10, 2011 at the Blade Show.

ABS Master Smith Judging Panel
Steve Dunn, Head Judge and Alternate Judge
Bert Gaston
Harvey Dean
J.W. Randall
Mike Vagnino
Wade Colter
Jason Knight
John Horrigan

ABS Journeyman Smith Judging Panel
B.R. Hughes, Head Judge and Alternate Judge
Mike Williams
James Rodebaugh
Terry Vandeventer
John White
James Cook
Jerry Fisk
Brion Tomberlin

You can now purchase tickets online for the BLADE Show. Just point your browsers here:

http://bladeshow.com/ehome/21409/30568/?&;

We’re re-designing Knife Showcase, so please bear with us as changes are made.

Thanks!

-Ben

July 15 through 17, 2011

Offered by the American Bladesmith Society, Inc.

Hosted by the New England School of Metalwork

Location:
New England School of Metalwork
9 Albiston Way
Auburn, Maine 04210

For more Information:
Dr. Jim Batson at 256-971-6860 or [email protected]

Registration Fee: $55

Pre-Register and pay the $55 Registration fee online in the Store

or Cindy Sheely, ABS Store Manager at [email protected] or (419) 832-0400

Event Flyer: TBA

Demonstrators:

Lin Rhea, MS – Forging, grinding, heat treating a camp knife to pass the JS Performance Test

Christoph Deringer, MS – Damascus steel

Dan Farr, JS – Handles and Guards, Blade Finishing

Mace Vitale, JS – Preparing for the Journeyman Smith Test, Auctioneer

Butch Sheely, JS – Forging Tomahawks

Schedule: TBA

Accommodations:

The Fireside Inn, 207-777-1777, 2 double beds, $60 plus tax, Washington St, Auburn, ME.
Ramada Inn, 207-784-2331. 2 double beds, $85.50, 490 Pleasant St., Lewiston, ME

Cutting Demonstrations:

Participate in the Cutting Demonstrations. Bring a sharp knife, 15” or less in length
with a blade no longer than 10”. The handle should be pinned & with a safety lanyard.

Please Pre-Register:

Get your $55 Pre-Registration Fee in early and plan to attend Demonstrators Dinner on Thursday night.
Please mail registration form & check to the ABS Store
or register through the ABS Store on the website.

Knife Showcase will be getting a redesign in the coming weeks. Not to worry, I told the workers to make sure they cover their shoes before walking on your carpet.

R. Lee “Gunny” Ermey, actor and star of the History Channel’s Mail Call and Lock N’ Load TV shows, will make a special appearance during the 30th Annual BLADE Show June 10-12 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.

Gunny will be at the SOG Specialty Knives & Tools booth Saturday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to sign autographs and help introduce his inaugural SOG collaboration knives.

A spokesperson for SOG for over one year now, the retired Marine staff sergeant collects knives and Japanese swords, among other blades. His breakthrough role was as Gunnery Sgt. Hartman in the Vietnam War movie, Full Metal Jacket. He also appears as the bald-headed psychoanalyst in the Geico TV commercials who throws the box of tissues at his “patient.”

For more information on the BLADE Show, visit http://www.bladeshow.com/.