My vacation this year is being spent in lovely Washington, Arkansas, a historical village kept like the mid 1800 and reputedly the place where Jim Black made the first Bowie knife.

The ABS with Texarkansas College runs a series of class here in an old 1800s house with a pair of shops in the back. A half dozen gas and coal forges under a huge hood and all the accessories are available. Except for the first day, the weather has been nice and moderately cool.

Class started out with a lecture on metallurgy and techniques, and then moved to demos. After each demo, we attempted to duplicate it. Washington is just outside of Hope and that really was a sign.



Above Greg Nealy (the instructor) demos forging a hunter. Below, my classmate from Minnesota straighten the spine of his knife on the anvil.



After three days, I have 2 blades and have made enough errors I should be buying Greg booze. Tomorrow I start on a bowie.


Picture from my Blackberry so it's suboptimal.