American Bladesmith Society

The American Bladesmith Society, or ABS, is a non-profit organization composed of knifemakers whose primary function is to promote the techniques of forging steel blades.

The ABS has developed a system of ratings designating whether a member is an Apprentice, a Journeyman, or a Master smith.

[3][4] Within months, a handful of knifemakers had begun making Damascus blades: Bill Bagwell, Don Hastings, Michael Connor, and Sid Birt.

But the Society unanimously elected him “Chairman Emeritus,” meaning that he would serve on the board for the balance of his life.

[4] In 1988, on the grounds of Historic Washington State Park in Hempstead County, Arkansas, the ABS and Texarkana College founded a Bladesmithing School in collaboration with the Pioneer Washington Foundation and the Arkansas State Parks.

From 1988 to 2001, Bill Moran taught at least one class a year at the school, from basic knife making to the forging of Damascus steel.

[7] The American Bladesmith Society is now associated with Texarkana College in Arkansas, Haywood Community College in North Carolina, and the New England School of Metalwork in Maine which offer Bladesmithing courses taught by experienced ABS Master Smiths and Journeyman Smiths.

If successful, the applicant must submit 5 forged carbon steel knives for judging on symmetry, balance, and aesthetics.

The tests for Master smith include using a forged Damascus steel blade with a minimum of 300 layers and fashioned as a "stick tang knife" (as opposed to a full-tang) to cut a free hanging rope, chop through 2 2X4" pieces of lumber, and retain an edge capable of shaving hair.