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Main Boards => Hunting Knives and Crafters => Topic started by: tippit on March 12, 2009, 12:21:00 PM

Title: Joe Keeslar & Great Smokey Mt Knife Symposium
Post by: tippit on March 12, 2009, 12:21:00 PM

This is the first time I've been able to get to a computer.  The symposium was Great!!!  ABS is actually trying to start an Eastern Moran type school at Haywood College.  I learned so much in 3 days...just amazing.  I'm still in Aiken, SC get back the first of next week.  I'll try to sort thru my pictures and come up with some interesting stories.

Best of all is I got to have a one-on-one forging session with Joe Keeslar on making his Brute de Forge blade from start to finish  :notworthy:  The man is incredible.  He turned 68 at the symposium.  He has dropped weight in his longbow shooting from an 80# Harrison to a 70# one  :eek:  He also started forging "my" blade with a 10# hammer.  I'll explain that later  :)

Ya'll just won't even believe how great this experience was...tippit  

PS: Lin, Joe said to say Hi and may other nice words too!

Title: Re: Joe Keeslar & Great Smokey Mt Knife Symposium
Post by: Wampus on March 12, 2009, 12:54:00 PM

Sounds like you had a great time.  He's going to be lecturing/demonstrating heat treating and file work at Batson's hammer-in in Alabama the first weekend in April.   http://www.alaforge.org/files/2009_Batson_Blade.xps

Title: Re: Joe Keeslar & Great Smokey Mt Knife Symposium
Post by: kbaknife on March 12, 2009, 01:45:00 PM

Cool. Joe is a heck of a guy.
I'm thrilled that you got to watch him forge one of the Brute de Forge knives from start to finish.
Just one more reason for any knifemaker who wants to learn more to make every effort possible to go to a hammer-in or a symposium of some type.
First hand experience is the best teacher when it comes to knife making.
Bet you can't wait to get to your forge!

Title: Re: Joe Keeslar & Great Smokey Mt Knife Symposium
Post by: Doug Campbell on March 12, 2009, 02:43:00 PM

Amen Brother, these Hammer-ins and symposiums are incredible learning experiences!!

Come on already Doc!!     :readit:  

I spoke with Jeff a couple times over the weekend and you could hear his smile thru the phone   ;)   He was going on lIke a little kid at Christmas   ;)   Sure wish I coulda been there   :(

Title: Re: Joe Keeslar & Great Smokey Mt Knife Symposium
Post by: MYSTIKBOW on March 12, 2009, 10:09:00 PM

Great to hear it was everything you expected and more Doc. I can't wait to see what comes out of your forge once you get back. I bet you can't wait to get it fired up and start hammering!    :bigsmyl:

Title: Re: Joe Keeslar & Great Smokey Mt Knife Symposium
Post by: Lin Rhea on March 13, 2009, 05:51:00 AM

Jeff,
       I've been wondering how it went. I'm glad you had a good time. Cant wait to hear more. Lin

Title: Re: Joe Keeslar & Great Smokey Mt Knife Symposium
Post by: 4runr on March 13, 2009, 10:31:00 PM

Looking forward to the stories first hand at Denton, and to see what comes from your forge after this.

Title: Re: Joe Keeslar & Great Smokey Mt Knife Symposium
Post by: d. ward on March 14, 2009, 12:03:00 PM

Wow Doc come-on man this is mean.We all been waiting for your return and now we gotta wait longer still to see the action ??? bd

Title: Re: Joe Keeslar & Great Smokey Mt Knife Symposium
Post by: Lin Rhea on March 14, 2009, 01:14:00 PM

I been watchin too. I bet he's out there forgin somethin. Lin

Title: Re: Joe Keeslar & Great Smokey Mt Knife Symposium
Post by: tippit on March 15, 2009, 03:53:00 PM

Nope...I just got back from Aiken, SC this afternoon.  It's going to take a bit to go through my notes and pictures...plus still gotta do income tax  :eek:  Been having too much fun for the past 2 weeks