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About SABA
This site, like SABA is
dedicated to the art of the forged blade. Amongst today’s modern knife
makers there are few who have embraced the oldest form of knife making.
Forged blades are defined as a knife or cutting tool
formed by
the heating and shaping of high carbon steel by a hammer on an anvil. A
bladesmith has the ability to form a knife blade near to completion
without having used the grinder even once. Once a blade has been formed
the process that follows is much like that of conventional knife
making.
Another advantage of the modern bladesmith is that they
do all
their own heat treating. A bladesmith’s heat treating methods differ
from makers in the fact that their blades are what are referred to as,
‘selectively hardened’. This process involves the partial quenching of
a knife giving hardness to its edge while retaining flexible strength
in the spine. Blades are also
selectively tempered where the smith draws a blowtorch flame along the
back of the blade further increasing its flexibility and reducing
potential stress.
What follows in the various sections of this site will
be
several ‘how to’ sections which will help aspiring bladesmiths to
develop and refine their skills. Also we will be posting profiles on
some of the bladesmiths in South Africa, with interviews and workshop
tours. You may also visit our gallery or shop sections to see if there
are any new knives or supplies for sale.
Should you wish to become a member of SABA you need only
attend one of our meetings during the year at which your details will
be added to our data base. We are also affiliated with the Sharp Shapes
Knife club at whose meetings we perform bladesmithing demonstrations.
Please see our events calendar to see where and when we will be holding
meetings and when we will be performing demonstrations.
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