Georgia Knifemakers Donate to North Carolina Community College

From Montgomery Community College:

At a recent meeting of the North Carolina Custom Knifemakers Guild, (NCCKG) over 60 craftsmen from around the state gathered to present a hydraulic forging press to Montgomery Community College’s (North Carolina) continuing education department.

The press was donated in memory of Georgia knifemaker John Poythress, charter member and founding president of the Georgia Custom Knifemakers’ Guild.

Poythress was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2005. His long-time friend Tommy McNabb, was instrumental in arranging the donation. McNabb is a professional custom knifemaker, NRA knifemaking instructor at Montgomery, and member of the NCCKG. He met Poythress at a knife show in Georgia and the two became friends after Poythress joined the NCCKG.

Poythress would travel from his home in Swainsboro, Ga. to Montgomery Community College to take knifemaking classes. He was an avid custom knife enthusiast and member of the NCCKG before he chartered the Georgia guild. Many other Georgia guild members also attended knifemaking classes at the college, leading to a decision to donate the press to help the college with future classes. The North Carolina guild members presented the donation on behalf of the Georgia guild in Poythress’ memory.

Knifemaking students will be able to use the press to flatten and shape hot metal pieces quickly, saving time in the classroom. Classes range from three to four days in length and students leave the class with a custom knife they make themselves.

“The forging press will greatly enhance our students’ ability to complete their projects in a short amount of time,” said Gary Saunders, Montgomery Community College’s dean of continuing education.

The college has been offering NRA Short-Term Gunsmithing, Knifemaking and Armorer’s Courses for over 20 years. Students from across the country and other parts of the world come to Montgomery County to learn these specialties from well-known craftsmen. The college is one of only four in the country offering these classes, sponsored by the National Rifle Association.

For more information about the 2011 NRA short-term classes at Montgomery Community College visit www.montgomery.edu/cenra.htm.