James Crowell began making

knives in Mt. View, AR in 1980

and is a past Ozark Folk Center,

State Park, Resident Blacksmith

and Knife maker.  He earned the

distinction of Master Bladesmith

from the American Bladesmith

Society in 1986 and was certified

as the first, non founding father,

Instructor for the American

Bladesmith Society (ABS) that

same year.  

 

    Jim is a long time faculty

member of The Bill Moran

School of Bladesmithing at Texarkana College and teaches all over the country at seminars and “Hammer-Ins”.  His flawless work regarded by many as among the best hand forged knives produced has appeared in every trade publication and is in collections throughout the world.  He has won many awards including the first American Bladesmith Society Bill Moran Knife of the Year, the Blade Magazine Best Forged Knife and was the winner of numerous American Bladesmith Society Cutting Competitions. Jim won the first World Championship ABS cutting competition in 2003 at the Blade Super Show in Atlanta Georgia.

 

    Jim has demonstrated at many symposiums and Hammer-Ins including the Scagle in Michigan, Batson Bladesmith Symposium in Alabama, Haywood College in NC and the Spring and Fall Hammer-Ins at the Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing in Old Washington Arkansas.  

 

    Jim has made two TV commercials featuring his smithing skill and was a featured guest on “Arkansas Today” TV shows hosted by Beth Ward.

 

     Jim has lived in Mountain View Ark. Since 1978 and made his first knife in 1980. In the following years he has made knives for people all over the world. Always striving for better craftsmanship and performance, Jim is kept busy creating knives for people who insist on meticulous craftsmanship and outstanding performance.