The BLADE Blogs

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

Moran School of Bladesmithing
Texarkana College
Washington, Arkansas

Directions: Google Maps

For more Information Contact:
B.R. Hughes at (903) 838-0134 or Email BR

Registration:
$55 Registration fee can be paid in “Event Registration” in the ABS Store or contact Cindy Sheely, ABS Store Manager at (419) 832-0400 or Email Cindy

 Offered by the American Bladesmith Society, Inc.

June 5, 2010, Gilbert, AZ: Knife Rights is pleased to announce that Evan Nappen is the inaugural recipient of its Freedom’s Point™ Award which was presented to Evan at the Sharper Future™ Awards Breakfast on June 5th during BLADE Show in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Freedom’s Point™ Award is to be given annually to honor a individual citizen who has demonstrated their commitment to a Sharper Future™ by leadership in the fight to protect or enhance our knife rights.

Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter said, “Evan Nappen is being recognized for two significant contributions during the past year. Last summer, when U.S. Customs was attempting to redefine what a switchblade was in a manner that would have adversely impacted 80% of the knives sold in the U.S. today, Evan volunteered to develop Knife Rights’ official response to U.S. Customs. He put together an excellent legal brief clearly exposing the fallacies and inconsistencies of Customs’ position in a matter of a few short days.” That effort eventually resulted in Congress passing an amendment to the Federal Switchblade Act exempting assisted opening and one-hand opening knives.”

Doug continued, “Every legislative initiative requires someone local to lead the charge. In New Hampshire, it was Evan who worked long hours to rally support for the Knife Rights bill introduced by Representative Jenn Coffey. It was Evan who spearheaded the fundraising effort. It was Evan who organized the testimony in front of the committees. We would not have been so successful in New Hampshire if it weren’t for the leadership and hard work of Evan Nappen.”

The Knife Rights Bill passed in New Hampshire legalizes switchblades, dirks, daggers and stilettos.

Knife Rights is America’s Grassroots Knife Owners Organization™, working towards a Sharper Future™ for all knife owners. Knife Rights is dedicated to providing knife owners an effective voice in public policy.