To become a Master Bladesmith requires a total of at least 5 years apprenticeship and journeymanship. First there is a three year apprenticeship with the American Bladesmith Society before you can do your cut and bend test which requires you to cut through a 1”, free hanging sisal rope with one swipe, cut through a 2”x 4” pine beam twice and without sharpening your knife you must still be able to shave arm hairs. The last test is to put the knife in a vice and bend it to 90 degrees without it breaking. You have to pass this test with a 10” knife that you have forged and finished yourself from carbon steel. You then have to submit in person 5 knives to a panel of judges at the annual Blade Show in Atlanta U.S.A. If your work is good enough and you passed the cut and bend test you will get your Journeyman Smith rating. Two years after being a Journeyman you can do the cut and bend test again with your own damascus knife and submit 4 damascus and carbon steel knives along with a set piece damascus quillion dagger, in person to another panel of judges at the Blade Show in Atlanta and if your work is of exceptional qualilty you will receive your Master Bladesmith rating. There are only around 100 Master Bladesmiths in the world.

James,

Thanks... For those of you that don't know, GEC is coming out with a new pattern called the French Kate.  YEA!!!  Named after quiet a feisty yound lady..Here is her story...

FRENCH KATE is all we know her by, but in the 1860's Pennsylvania oil rush region, she was a prominent business figure and well known lady of the evening. She met up with the infamous BEN HOGAN, an enterprising gentleman but one of questionable repute. They became involved romantically and also partnered in several business ventures. Particularly the famous brothel on Babylon Hill near Tidioute, PA where they made several thousand dollars that Hogan then squandered in New York. Kate was not pleased and ended their partnership by trying to shoot Hogan but her aim was poor as she only winged his ear. Thus ended their relationship, but for a short while in the oil boom town days, the notorious philanderer Hogan stayed loyal to the harlot Kate. Hogan must have been really inpressed with her . . . . . . .

I have been unable to find the source of this but I would sure love to read this book...

Bits from my book on this subject.. which I only started because ignorant people kept asking if I was the first such, or the only.. I've never cared; I do a thing because it interests me.
We women have been smithing since long before males began.. the legends of Charis, the Mediterranean female patron of artistry, smithcraft, & healing predates Vulcan by at least 2,000 years; & that of Brigit/Bride(Breed, not "bride") predates that of Loki by about 4000 years.
In 1910, the 12th Census of blacksmiths was done by the U.S. government & at that time, there was something like 197,238 blacksmiths, divided into such categorys as founders, cutlers, surgical tool-makers, etc., etc. - & of that number roughly 394 were women.
Looks don't matter except in your iron, fellas.. Ability counts far more & the iron doesn't give a hoot what the smith looks like.
As for these women are "hot" - all blacksmiths are hot. If you can't take the heat, stay away from the fire..
In the Black Country of Wales, women made chain in their forges next to their cottages - up thru 5/8" - diameter stock from whenever chain was invented; and the song "rock-a-bye baby" refers to the rock / bellows handle, from which they hung baby cradles because it kept the infants quiet while they worked. The standard diet of the time for such people was sops & beer, cradle to grave, so no one lived very long unless the woman was a real workhorse & insisted on having a kitchen garden. Today, women still make chain of stock thru 5/8" diameter in that area, & men still make it in the diameters above 5/8", but the links are arc-welded instead of forge-welded.
How long have I done this? Since I was 7 - when it was great fun in part because it drove my birther bananas that she couldn't make me into a frilly waste of time & space. Now I'm a great grand-mother, although not all that chronologically old, & when I competed it was in open competition, where, at my best, I stood 9th in the world by 1/2 point from first (first, not 8th..). And as the winner pointed out (apologetically), I wasn't busting myself to beat them, they were hauling freight to not get beaten by a 'girl', even if that 'girl' was me. Since 1/2 point from 1st to 9th is hair-splitting & I've never had much patience for such, I quit competing after that, & just went back to making beautiful iron, which I & the 17 men who worked for me put in 12 countries. Did we make a big noise about it? Only where it counted - with potential clients.
I've taken cheshli from boneheads who 'think' that women 'can't' do a creditable job of this for women who haven't been born yet.. and while my shop is now closed, I still do - mainly when I fire up the forge at some public place and - in the supposed Age of Enlightenment - some bonehead says "a woman blacksmith?? NAAH!" It's one of those "consider the source & rise above it" things.

Saturday at the blade show...

8:00 a.m. Randall Knife Society—Room 103
10:00 a.m. 30-Minute Yoga Intro For Deep Relaxation & Stress Reduction—Jot Singh Khalsa, Room 110
10:00 a.m. How To Throw Knives & Tomahawks—Bobby Branton, The Courtyard
10:00 a.m. ABS Auction, Room 103
11:00 a.m. The Good, Bad & Ugly: 30 Years of Knifemaking—Ed Fowler, Room 110
11:15 a.m. Authentic Renaissance Swords & Fencing—John Clements, The Courtyard
11:30 a.m. Bladesmithing For Kids—Wes Byrd, Joe Keeslar and Larry Harley, Room 108
12:00 p.m. Buck Collectors Club—Room 103
12:00 p.m. How To Texture Knife Handles—Jens Anso, Room 110
12:30 p.m. How To Forge Knives—Jay Hendrickson & Tim Carr, The Courtyard
1:00 p.m. What’s Hot NOW in Loveless Knives—Dave Ellis and Louis Chow, Room 108
1:00 p.m. Countering Terrorism: Get Your Mind Right—Ernest Emerson, Room 110
1:45 p.m. Japanese Sword Demonstration—James Williams, The Courtyard
2:15 p.m. Got Liberty? How To Repeal Anti-Knife Laws—New Hampshire Rep. Jenn Coffey, Room 108
2:45 p.m. Bomb Squad/EOD Knives—Les George, Room 110
4:00 p.m. The Lockbar Stabilizer—Rick Hinderer, Room 108
4:15 p.m. 9th Annual BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competition—BladeSports International, The Courtyard

Years ago, in ancient Japan, the ladies of the court wore fabulous kimonos, some of which are preserved in museums and cultural exhibits. One very interesting part of the elaborate dress was the dagger that was discretely tucked into the folds of the obi, (the wide sash), that the lady wore about her waist. I assure you that it was not merely a decoration!

In our current day, the concept of a "ladies" knife has fallen by the wayside.  The so-called feminist movement has made it politically incorrect to use such a label on an item,.  It is interesting to note, however,  that there are still knives that are advertised and sold as "gentlemen's knives".  What do you think??

We have all had a good time looking and sharing the three knives Dellana listed earlier.  I was looking at her sight and there are a few more I would love to share. The detail is amazing and the use of materials we dont see everyday in the knives we collect and use.  (I want one)

I posted this on Blade Patterns this afternoon and it got me to wondering..What was your first "love"?

The blade Pattern that started me collecting was the wharncliff.  The Case Classic 55 patterns with the wharncliff blades secured me as "hooked".  It is said the blade pattern was developed by Lord Wharncliff...Lord Wharncliffe thought up the concept from the want of

"..a knife that is more for cutting, than poking.."

This novel concept later developed in the Americas, with "hawkbill" &  "sheepsfoot" blade configurations

or so they say....

Stephen,

It is generally about 95 degrees out when we fish, but an offshore breeze sure feels good when it comes by

Robert,

The ladies all did well.  I have lots to tell and will be sharing as the week goes on.  I will tell you 10 hours of knives on Friday and 9 hours today.  My feet are a little sore but I am one very happy lady!

In the urban dictonary a dellana is described as follows:

I did not get a chance to speak with Lynn Dawson but I did speak with her husband a couple of times.  This is a family business started by Lynn's father and uncle some 40 years ago.  After graduating from high school Lynn apprenticed with Barry Dawson.  She works with many different materials , from Micarta to rare natural woods and Ivory. She uses 440C, ATS34, 5160, and also works in high contrast Damascus. Lynn prides herself in the diversity of her designs.  Her husband could not say enough about her devotion  to the knife making trade and community.  I was impressed that she creates her knives from start to finish, taking them through each step including the heat treatment process, with care and skill.

Her husband tells me they have 2 little girls that are itching to get out to the shop also but at 3 and 5 they are still a bit young.  New lady knife makers from a fine family of knifemakers?  We can only hope

Robert,

I have invited them and many more also.  I sent you a message yesterday about a cajun knife maker I met.  Do you happen to know who he might have been.  I wanted to share a story he told me

Just got home from the BLADE Show!!!  It was a great show!

Jan - it was awesome to meet you and your husband!!!  Thanks for stopping by and talking!!!  Wish I'd had more time to socialize!!!

And I have to say that I'm blown away by your post below - I'm blushing!!!!  And I swear I was NOT the person that posted that definition of "Dellana" in the Urban Dictionary!!!  I thank you for posting it so I know it now - makes me smile!!!  And all you wrote, too!!  Many, many thanks!!!

Thanks also, for the photo and mention about the book!  We are very pleased with it.  If anyone would like to order one, they are available through BLADE magazine's BladeShop.  

All the best to everyone!!!

"Comment by stephen tungate on June 9, 2011 at 5:45pm

dellana what kind of steel do you use in most of your knives?"

Stephen, I apologize for not answering sooner, but I was locked in the shop until we left for the BLADE show!  So here's the answer now.

I forge all my own Damascus and use a combination of W-2 and 203E steels.  I like the look of 324 layers so that's what I make and then pattern to ladder, raindrop or whatever I'm in the mood for.  I may then cut a wedge out of the finish billet and forge weld a wedge of W-2 to create one of my composite blades.  I really like the look and cutting qualities of this combination. 

Thanks for asking!  :-)

Just a thank you to another family willing to spend time with us and tell us a bit about their business, Premium Knife Supply.  For those just starting out putting knives togeather, The Metzger family makes those dream blanks come true. Reasonably priced 440C stylish blanks with a few carbons thown in.  Thier mission:

In business since 2005, our mission is to provide the best variety of knife blanks and accessories in the industry.

When asked what Mrs Joy Metzger thought about the business she made me laugh, Men like knives like most women like shoes, who knew?  Thanks for the time togeather and the smiles

Team,

Please welcome our newest member Michaela...Thanks for joining.  Tell us about your knife collection

On the American Bladesmith Society end of things, a highlight was the husband and wife team of Adam and Haley DesRosiers winning the B.R. Hughes Award and the George Peck Award, respectively, for the best respective knives by ABS master and journeyman smith applicants. Also, Bert Gaston won the Don Hastings Award, Julie Britton the Margaret Moran Silver Slipper Award, and Kyle Royer the Bill Moran Award for the society’s best annual knife done in the style of a European quillon dagger. Also, the announcement was made that Michael Price, Joe Keeslar and Jim Schmidt would be among those who would be inducted into the ABS Hall Of Fame in August.

Congratulations to all

Have one more that you from the blade show.  Mike at Wood Labs.  Thanks for all the time you spent with us making sure we got the best wood we could afford.  I know morw about stabalizing than I did before and what to look for.  I appreciate the knowledge

Robert,

Thanks we are beginning to grow some :).  I am working on some more women makers but while doing that I ran across one of Audra Drapers knives and just had to share it because it is wonderful!!  There is an article on her in the Women Makers and Bladesmiths above but CHECK THIS OUT

James,

You are welcome.  We would love to see some of your knives

Miss Jan, here's the new cabin with me and my lovely granddaughter, Kelly.

Robert,

Thats the perfect place for her.  Not big enough to get lonely in and close enough to Pawpaw to feel just like home.  Now she needs one of them carbon steel family knives to live in her new home with her