ABS
Performance Test
MASTER SMITH APPLICANT
ELIGIBILITY:
Before standing for the performance portion of the test for Master Smith, the applicant must have been a Journeyman Smith for one (1) full year. The Master Smith applicant must have held the rank of Journeyman Smith for two (2) full years, before presenting his work for evaluation at the Annual Show and Meeting.TESTING CONDITIONS:
This test must be observed and administered by an ABS Master Smith.
The applicant must make prior arrangements with the Master Smith whom he/she selected to supervise the performance test.Any suitable location for the test is permitted, as long as it is mutually agreed upon by the applicant and the Master Smith supervising the test.
Either the supervising Master Smith or the applicant may request that one or more witnesses be present during any or all testing procedures. This must meet with the approval of the Master Smith supervising the test.
Reasonable and appropriate safety precautions must be followed. The applicant assumes responsibility for any injury incurred while performing the test. The applicant is further responsible for providing all safety equipment such as, but not limited to; safety glasses, a heavy shop apron, leather gloves, etc.
The applicant must have personally forged and performed all work on the test blade, with no other person physically assisting in its construction or heat-treating.
Only forged blades may be tested. Applicants for Master Smith rating must test with a pattern welded Damascus blade per the test knife specifications.
Once the test begins no work, not even light stropping, may be done to the test blade.
The applicant alone must conduct the test of the blade s performance under the supervision of the Master Smith. No other person is to conduct any portion of the test, including the supervising Master Smith, except for the rope-cutting test as specifically provided in the rope cutting procedure. A special exception may be obtained for an applicant who has a disability that requires accommodation in order to perform the test. Such an exception must have prior approval from the Chairman of the ABS.
TEST KNIFE SPECIFICATIONS:
Overall Length of Knife: Maximum fifteen (15) inches.
Blade Width: Maximum two (2) inches.
Blade Length: Maximum of ten (10) inches from point to the beginning of either the guard, bolster, or handle of the blade.Handle Configuration:
The Master Smith applicant must test with a "stick tang" knife. Any handle configuration is acceptable with or without a guard, bolsters, ferrule, etc. Handle material is irrelevant and solely the choice of the applicant.Blade Material:
Any pattern welded Damascus steel with more than 300 welded laminations. Combination of steels or pattern used in the billet is irrelevant. The Damascus may not be laminated to a central core steel piece, such as San Mai construction.
*NOTE:
The Master test knife must be forged with a "stick" or hidden tang handle. A full tang is not acceptable as a test knife. If a blade is loose in the handle, or in the judgment of the supervising Master Smith presents a risk, the knife may be refused for testing. This does not count as a failure to pass the test. The applicant may proceed with the test when any such handle looseness is corrected to the satisfaction of the supervising Master Smith.SUPPLEMENTAL TEST:
The applicant may be required at the Master Smiths discretion:
a. To forge weld a laminated blade of any style.
b. To pass a verbal quiz.TESTING:
The applicant must supply materials needed:
- The ABS test form application.
- All safety equipment including safety glasses, heavy shop aprons, gloves, etc.
- A sufficient length of one (1) inch minimum diameter sisal or manila rope
- A four foot or longer length of 2x4 construction grade wood stud of the applicant s choice.
- The applicant's test knife. No special handle or finish is required. This is a test of performance, and the test knife will ultimately be destroyed in the testing process.
While not a part of the formal test, the applicant is encouraged to bring several finished knives for the Master Smith to inspect for quality of workmanship, fit, finish, design, etc. The feedback from the Master Smith will help the applicant better evaluate I the quality of his or her work (design, detail, finish, etc.) is likely to meet the very high Master Smiths standards of the ABS Judges panel at the annual show.
The test must be conducted in the following sequence:
NOTE: ALL TESTS MUST BE PERFORMED BY THE APPLICANT, EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED FOR IN THE ROPE CUTTING. THE MASTER SMITH IS TO SUPERVISE AND SERVE AS THE OFFICIAL ABS WITNESS.1. ROPE CUTTING: THE PURPOSE OF THIS TEST IS TO TEST THE EDGE GEOMETRY AND SHARPNESS.
Applicant is responsible for supplying the test rope and ensuring that it is a minimum of one (1) inch in diameter. If the applicant brings a larger rope, the applicant will be judged using the same criteria as though the rope was one inch in diameter. The rope is to be hung in a safe manner, so that the end of the rope to be cut hangs loose without touching the floor or any other object. As a safety precaution, the rope is not to be hand held by another person during the rope-cutting test. The hanging end of the rope is to be marked with tape or a marker to clearly indicate the area that is to be cut. The cut must be approximately six (6) inches from the end of the free hanging rope. A minimum of one (1) cut must be made.The applicant is to aim at the mark with a two (2) inch margin of high or low being acceptable. The applicant must sever the rope in two with one stroke. If the applicant fails on the first attempt, the Master Smith will allow two more attempts. However, if the Master Smith believes that the failure to sever the rope is due to the lack of skill or strength of the applicant, the Master Smith may attempt the rope cutting with the test knife. This is a test of the applicant s ability to make a knife, not to cut with it. If neither the applicant nor the Master Smith successfully cuts the rope, the applicant fails.
2. WOOD CHOPPING: THE PURPOSE OF THIS TEST IS TO DEMONSTRATE EDGE TOUGHNESS.
The chopping test is to be conducted with 2x4 construction grade wood stud of the applicant s choice. The 2x4 may be either hand held or clamped into a vise or other safe devise. A chopping motion (no whittling) is to be used. The 2x4 must be chopped completely through a minimum of two (2) times. The applicant may choose the area of the 2x4 to chop through.Following the chopping test, the Master Smith will inspect the edge to determine if there is any noticeable damage to the blade. Any nicks, chips, flat spots, rolled edges, or other deformations of the blade will result in failing the test.
3. SHAVING HAIR: THE PURPOSE OF THIS TEST IS TO DEMONSTRATE EDGE RETENTION.
After the Master Smith approves the quality of the edge, the blade will be returned to the applicant. The applicant must then shave hair using the section of the blade that was most frequently used in the cutting and chopping portions of the test. Enough hair must be shaved to demonstrate that the edge remains keen and shaving sharp.4. BENDING: THE PURPOSE OF THIS TEST IS TO SHOW THAT THE APPLICANT IS ABLE TO HEAT TREAT A KNIFE WITH A SOFT BACK AND A HARD EDGE.
The bending of the blade is the final test. Safety gear should be worn. At the discretion of the applicant or the Master Smith, the edge may be dulled prior to bending.The Master Smith will mark a line across the width of the blade approximately 1/3 distance from the tip of the blade. The blade will then be inserted into a vise, tip first, such that the blade is placed into the vise up to the mark on the blade. If the vise jaws are rough, smooth metal inserts shall be located on each side of the clamped portion of the blade to protect the test knife.
The blade shall be bent by force applied to the handle. A leverage device such as a pipe may be used as long as it does not pose a safety risk. The use of such a device is at the sole risk of the applicant and at the discretion of the supervising Master Smith.
The applicant will then bend the blade ninety (90)degrees. The supervising Master Smith will signal the applicant when the ninety (90) degree angle has been reached.
The blade is allowed to crack at the edge on bending but not beyond approximately two thirds (2/3rds) the width of the blade. However, if any part of the blade chips or any part of the blade or tang breaks off, the applicant fails. Because of the many variables in the size,
Geometry, and temper line of the blade, the Master Smith using his/her judgment, shall determine if the extent or location of the fracture line is acceptable. The decision of the Master Smith is final.
FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THE TEST:
After satisfactorily passing the test, the supervising Master Smith will sign and date the applicant s test form.SHOW REQUIREMENTS:
The applicant is responsible for presenting the signed ABS test form and the test blade in person at the ABS Annual Show and Meeting. No modification of any sort is to be made to the test blade following the completion of the test.If the applicant cannot attend in person, due to special circumstances, the applicant must contact the Chairman of the ABS for permission to have the knives presented for judging.
The applicant must present at least five (5)completed forged knives of various styles. At least one of these must be an art knife meeting the ABS requirement of a traditional pattern welded Damascus European Quillon type dagger with three hundred (300) or more forged welded layers. (See attached sketch of a European Quillion Dagger. This is a sample only. Sheath not required.) Only 2 Damascus folders will be permitted and hatchets and tomahawks are not permissible.
The other knives submitted may be other types of steel such as, but not limited to, carbon steel, traditional Damascus, cable Damascus, Wootz, San Mai laminate or other forged blades of the applicant s choice. They should not be in essence the same knife style or design. This requirement will establish that the Master Smith applicant has the ability to make a wide range of classic blade designs.
All knives submitted must be exclusively the work of the applicant.
The applicant is advised to submit only completed knives that show the applicant's best work, as all knives submitted will be judged and the failure of any one knife may cause the applicant to fail this portion of the test. The applicant should carefully study the attached Judging Guidelines.
TIME LIMITS:
If the applicant does not pass the performance test, he or she may not present knives for judging at the ABS Annual Show and Meeting. The applicant is not permitted to retake the performance test until six (6) months have elapsed from the date of the failed performance test.An applicant has three (3) years from the date of the performance test to present his or her test blade and five (5) completed knives at the ABS Annual Show and Meeting for final evaluation. If the applicant does not complete both phases of the test within a three (3) year time period, the applicant must reapply and complete the performance testing process again.
The Master Smith is responsible for notifying the ABS Office of the Pass or Fail Status of any applicant who takes the performance test. The Master Smith is encouraged to assist the applicant who has failed the performance test to gain the necessary skills or knowledge needed to satisfactorily meet the performance test criteria on his/her next testing. After six (6) months, the applicant may retest with the same Master Smith or any other Master Smith chosen by the applicant.
ANNUAL SHOW DISCLAIMER:
The ABS does not have control over where or when the annual show will be held. Because dates may vary, some applicants may be inconvenienced and find on occasion that they must wait longer than the expected duration before being eligible to stand for rating as an ABS Master Smith.Good Luck!
The American Bladesmith Society, Inc.Certification for Master Smith Form
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