<P> Bladesmiths join the ABS as Regular members and are rated as Apprentice Smiths . After a three (3) year period as a member they may apply for the Journeyman test . </P> <P> An applicant is eligible to apply for Journeyman Smith judging and rating at the Annual ABS meeting, after they have been a member of the ABS for 3 years . Following the "Introduction to Bladesmithing Course," the applicant may take the test under the supervision of a Master Smith . 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 . The test knife must be a carbon steel forged blade with a maximum overall length of 15 inches, maximum width of 2 inches and blade length of 10 inches . Damascus blades or laminated blades are not allowed as test blades . Once the test begins, no work, not even light stropping, may be done to the test blade . The test blade is used to cut a free - hanging rope, chop through 2 2X4" pieces of lumber, and retain an edge capable of shaving hair from the judge's arm . Lastly, the knife is placed into a vise and flexed . The knife must spring back without breaking and must remain functional . If successful, the applicant must submit 5 forged carbon steel knives for judging on symmetry, balance, and aesthetics . Knifemakers who have attained this title frequently use the suffix "JS" when informing the public about their knives . </P> <P> At the New York Knife Show in 1981, the first Master bladesmith ratings were awarded to: Bill Bagwell, Jimmy Fikes, Don Fogg, Don Hastings, Bill Moran, and James Schmidt . Years later, tests were established for a maker to attain a rating of "Master smith ." The tests for Master smith include using a forged Damascus steel blade with a minimum of 300 layers and fashioned as a "stick tang knife" (as opposed to a full - tang) to cut a free hanging rope, chop through 2 2X4" pieces of lumber, and retain an edge capable of shaving hair . Lastly, the knife is placed into a vise and flexed for 90 degrees . The knife must spring back without breaking, must remain functional, and must not slip from the handle . Once the performance test is passed, the applicant must submit 5 knives to a panel of judges, all knives are judged on balance, beauty, and symmetry, but one must be either an "Art Knife" or a "European style" dagger . The first smith to receive the Master title under these requirements was Wayne Goddard . Wyoming knifemaker Audra Draper became the first woman to hold a Master smith title in 1999 . Knifemakers who have attained this title frequently use the suffix "MS" when informing the public about their knives . </P>

What does it mean to be a master smith
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