Whether you arrived via search engine or you meant to be here, thanks for stopping by. I'm John Pozadzides and, among other things, I'm an apprentice member of the American Bladesmith Society. Since I was a child, I've always had a facination with knives. I suppose it's because the blade is one of the most useful tools mankind has devised. Our ancestors used it to put food on the table, and today people still can't go a day without using at least one... from the razor we shave with, to the scissors we use at work, specialized blades are a part of our daily lives.
As with everything, there are those among us that have mastery over the knowledge surrounding blade making. They are the roughly 100 Master Bladesmiths of the ABS, and they are among the last of the great blade makers. Luckily, they are also some of the most sincere and generous people I've ever met and their stated goal is to "...diligently, reasonably and responsibly work exclusively for the purposes of promoting and advancing the art and science of the forged blade and other implements. And also to inform and educate the public in respect to bladesmithing, metal forging and heat treating processes, knife and tool design and fabrication, related arts and other areas in which the Society has expertise."
Now, that last paragraph may seem like a blatant kiss-up, but if you take the time to explore the information I've documented and presented here I think you'll find that it is actually an understatement. I know of no other skill, profession, or art where the greatest masters have publicly pledged to teach anyone and everyone their very craft - much less even establish their own college! And I feel incredibly fortunate to have benefited from the generocity of so many. I've already learned a lifetime worth of knowledge, and I'm only just getting started.
There are also many great Bladesmithing references on the web including:
This page last updated 5/1/2005
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