ABS协会的历史——ABS官网摘文浅译

毒九

首先声明，原文版权属于ABS官网，如果人家提出我转载乱译侵害了ABS权益，我立刻删帖并负全责。

另外我是英语文盲，对美国啥也不懂，完全因为失业在家，为了再就业学起了英语。别的学不进去，玩了好几年ABS的刀，从看ABS官网开始吧。

这篇是至今还在管理层的创始人B.R. Hughes的文章。原文链接

因为无知，肯定到处是错，还有不少个人浅薄评论（红字）。每段都先上原文（绿字），以供对比批判。

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The History of the American Bladesmith Society
美国锻刀师协会的历史




The American Bladesmith Society owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to the late W. F. “Bill” Moran.
美国锻刀师协会（ABS）欠已故的Bill. Moran巨大的感激之情。

Without Bill there would be no ABS, no School of Bladesmithing, no ABS Hall of Fame and Museum, and in all probability, the art of the forged blade would not be alive today.
没有Bill，就不会有ABS，没有锻刀学校，没有ABS名人堂和博物馆，而且很有可能，锻造刀具这门艺术在今天不会存在。

The seeds of the Society were sown at the 1972 Guild Show in Kansas City. Moran had been elected chairman of the organization, which is what they called the president in those days. He and I were chatting and he explained to me his dream of creating a group whose sole purpose would be the preservation and advancement of the forged blade. At that time, there were less than a dozen practicing bladesmiths in America, and this number was decreasing, not increasing, although the number of stock removal knifemakers was climbing dramatically.
ABS的种子是在1972年，堪萨斯城的刀匠公会（Knifemaker’s Guild，也译作美国刀匠协会，是美国另一大刀匠组织，以磨除派刀匠为主）刀展上播下的。
Moran被评选为该组织的主·席。
他在和我聊天的时候，聊到了他创建一个团队的梦想，这个团队只服务于唯一目标——保存和发展锻造刀具。
那个时候，美国只有不到十几个开业的锻造刀匠，而且人数还在不断减少而不是增加。而同时，磨除派刀匠的数字在迅速上升。

I know now that Bill had already made a few knives with hammer-welded Damascus blades, and I have been privileged to inspect the first such knife he ever made, but that didn’t occur until after his death February 12, 2006. However, at the 1973 Guild Show, also in Kansas City, Moran stepped down as chairman and at the same time he unveiled eight knives possessing Damascus blades. They were the talk of the show! Few people really understood their nature, but Bill handed out mimeographed sheets explaining not only what Damascus steel was, but basically how to make it! There was no charge for this sheet; Bill gave them away.
我现在知道Bill那时候已经做了几把锤锻大马刀片的刀了。
我有幸查看过他这样制作的第一把刀，但那是他在2006年2月12日去世以后的事了。
第二年（1973年）的刀匠公会刀展上，还是在堪萨斯城，Moran辞去主·席的职务，同时他展出了8把大马刀片的刀。它们成为了刀展的话题！
很少有人真正了解它们，不过Moran分发了复印的单子，单子上不但解释了什么是大马钢，还公布了大概的制作方法！
这单子是免费发放的（什么是伟人胸怀？这就是。以他在Knifemaker`s Guild的地位，注册专利搞独家产品，对个人的名利是最高效、有利的）。

Permit me a side trip at this juncture. From time to time, I hear others claim to have made Damascus blades prior to Moran. Now, virtually everyone who was anyone in the world of knives was in Kansas City for the 1973 Guild show. All the big names were there, including Tommy Bish, Ken Warner, and John Wootters. None of these worthies questioned the fact that Bill was the first American to successfully turn out Damascus blades in the 20th century.
请允许我岔一下话题。时不时的，我总听到有人宣称，他在Moran之前就做过大马钢的刀。
现在，每个参加过1973年堪萨斯城刀匠公会刀展的人，都应该是刀圈有点身份的人物了。
所有那些有名的人，包括Tommy Bish, Ken Warner,还有 John Wootters. 没有一个对这一事实——Moran是二十世纪第一个成功制作大马刀具的美国人——提出质疑。

Now, back to the story of the ABS.
现在，回到ABS的故事。

Moran’s reintroduction of Damascus steel gave bladesmithing a much needed shot in the arm. It was impossible to produce Damascus if one were not a smith, and immediately a number of knifemakers became interested in learning the art of the forged blade. It would have been virtually impossible for the ABS to have succeeded had not Damascus steel reentered the picture, courtesy of Bill Moran.
Moran对大马钢的介绍给了锻造刀具业一剂急需的强心针。不会锻造是不可能制造大马钢的。
立刻有很多刀匠开始对锻造刀具感兴趣。如果不是承蒙Moran把大马钢带入大家的视野，ABS是不可能成功的。
（大马在刀具艺术表现力上，平添一个维度。也给了刀匠们新的灵感和机会）

Others followed in his footsteps. A few months after the Guild Show, Bill Bagwell, a Vivian, LA smith, turned out his first Damascus blade, and a few months later, Don Hastings, a Palestine, TX smith, duplicated the feat. I cannot prove it, but I believe that Michael Connor, a Winters, TX, smith and protégé of Hastings’, was the fourth American smith to make Damascus, and the late Sid Birt, Nashville, IN was the fifth.
其他人追随他的脚步。刀匠公会刀展之后几个月，Bill Bagwell，路易斯安那Vivian的刀匠，锻造出了他的第一把大马刀。
再几个月之后，Don Hastings，德克萨斯Palestine的刀匠，复制了这个成就。
我不能证明，但是我相信Michael Connor，德克萨斯Winters的刀匠，也是Don Hastings的学徒，是第四个锻造大马刀的美国人。
晚一些是第五名，印第安纳Nashville的Sid Birt。

毒九

The 1976 Guild Show was held in Dallas. After the show, Bagwell invited Moran to visit him at his North Louisiana shop, and this offer was accepted. Bagwell then invited Hastings to attend the get-together, and at the same time, he invited me, as a knife writer, to come and share the fun. Also present was the late Bill Jordan, a noted g·u·n writer who lived in nearby Shreveport at the time and was “G.u.ns” Shooting Editor. During the day, the three bladesmiths forged a blade in Bagwell’s shop, heat-treated it, and rough finished it. Next they tested it, and Jordan could scarcely believe his eyes! A bit later, he published an article on the virtues of the forged blade which was reprinted with permission in the eighth issue of “The ABS Journal”.
1976年的刀匠公会刀展在达拉斯举办。展会后，Bagwell邀请Moran去他北路易斯安纳的工作室参观，Moran同意了。Bagwell接下来又邀请Hastings一起参加。
同时他也邀请了我，一个刀评文章作者，一起分享乐趣。
在场的还有已故的Bill Jordan，一位著名的木·仓支评论作家。他当时住在附近的Shreveport，是《G.U.N.S》杂志的射击编辑。
在那天，三个刀匠在Bagwell的工作室锻造了一把刀，并进行了热处理和粗加工。
接下来他们测试了这把刀，Jordan几乎不能相信他的眼睛！不久之后，他发表了一篇关于锻造刀具优点的文章，并在第八期《ABS杂志》上得到了转载。
（几个做刀的一起忽悠了个玩木· 仓的，小试牛刀。这几个老哥们后来忽悠了一个大市场出来）

After Jordan left, the four of us talked, and Bill Moran mused again of the need for an organization that might serve to preserve the forged blade. It was at this point that Moran said to me, “Bill, if we play our cards right, one of these days we could have 25 members!” I admired Bill’s enthusiasm, but I privately thought that the most we could hope for might be a dozen or so advocates. When we returned to our respective homes, we continued to work on the concept. We communicated by U. S. Mail and a couple of conference calls, which were paid for by Moran. Email would have expedited the process, but, unfortunately, it was not available at the time. Finally we though we were ready. On December 4, 1976, Moran flew into the Shreveport airport, where Bagwell, Hastings, and I joined him in that facility’s coffee shop. We had a pretty good grip on what we wanted, and we drew up the bylaws on a lined notebook. Moran was elected president, Hastings treasurer, Bagwell secretary, and I became the first director.
Jordan离开以后，Bill Moran又念叨起需要一个组织来维持锻造刀具行业的事。
这时Moran对我说：“Bill，如果我们好好干，总有一天我们会有25个会员！”我欣赏他的热情，但私下里觉得我们大概也就能发展十来个成员。
我们各自回家后，继续为这个设想工作。我们通过信件和电话交流，费用由Moran买单。电子邮件可能会缩短这个过程。但很不幸，那个年代没这玩意。
终于我们准备好了，于是在1976年12月4号，Moran飞到Shreveport机场， Bagwell, Hastings和我就在机场的咖啡店和他会合。
我们对目标有很明晰的把握，我们在那种有划线的笔记本上起草了规章制度。
Moran当选为主.席，Hastings任财务官，Bagwell任秘书，我成为第一任董事。

We grew slowly. In 1977 we added the late Jimmy Lile to our board as a director. Jimmy was a past president of the Guild, and he served as a liaison officer with that group. Somehow, a rumor started that we were in competition with the Guild, and nothing could have been further from the truth. We all thought the Guild was a grand idea, but we wanted to preserve the forged blade. It was that simple.
我们慢慢地发展。1977年，已故的Jimmy Lile加入董事会，成为董事。
Jimmy是刀匠公会的前主· 席，那时他是刀匠公会的联络官。
不知道为啥有谣言说我们在与刀匠公会较劲，但是说的完全不符合事实。我们都认为刀匠公会很伟大，但我们想维护锻造刀具这个行当。就这么简单。
（明摆着挖人高管墙角还不让人说，文字狗头）


It should be noted that awarding journeyman and master stamps was not a part of our original bylaws. This was added later, and at the New York knife show in 1981, the first master bladesmith ratings were awarded to, in alphabetical order: Bill Bagwell, Jimmy Fikes, Don Fogg,  Don Hastings, Bill Moran, and James Schmidt. As a sidelight, Moran felt that if he could get a celebrity to make the presentations, it might create a little interest. Deborah Harry, the rock star, was at the show with her husband, who was a knife buff. Ms. Harry was kind enough to award the stamps, and, as the crowd had been advised that this was going to take place, it created considerable interest. I have always doubted that Moran knew who “Blondie” might have been, since the attractive lady who handed him his stamp looked nothing like Dagwood Bumstead’s wife!
应该指出的是，在我们的最初章程里，没有评选JS和MS，并颁发钢印这部分。这是在之后的1981年，纽约刀展上开始的。
最早的MS评选并颁发给——按字母顺序排列——Bill Bagwell, Jimmy Fikes, Don Fogg,  Don Hastings, Bill Moran, and James Schmidt（哥布林折刀创始人）。
有个花絮：Moran觉得请个名人来站台，可能会多吸引点注意力。
摇滚明星Deborah Harry的老公是个刀友，他们夫妻恰好也在展会上。Deborah Harry很乐意颁发获奖钢印。
这个消息传开后，果然引发了围观群众的极大兴趣。
我一直怀疑Moran是否知道给他颁奖的那个魅力女士是谁，因为这个“Blondie”（意为金发碧眼的女郎，引号内大概是Moran描述Deborah的原话）看上去和Dagwood Bumstead（美国著名漫画人物，老婆是个Blondie）的老婆一点都不一样！（莫兰基因里有优秀商人和政客的部分，事实一再验证他的市场判断力、营销思路和煽动力。）
In 1984, Bagwell resigned his master’s stamp and his post on the board.
1984年，Bagwell辞去了他的MS称号和董事会的职务。

毒九

In approximately 1985, the ABS, in conjunction with the University of Wyoming, held its first hammer-in at Dubois Lakes, WY. The two Bills and Don comprised the faculty, and while the venture proved successful in the board’s eyes, the university chose not to continue the hammer-in. At this point, I approached James Powell, the Director of Continuing Education at Texarkana College, where I was Dean of Students. I suggested to James that it might be a good idea for TC to sponsor a hammer-in at nearby Washington, AR, where there was a replica of James Black’s smithy. There is rather substantial evidence that during the winter of 1830-1831 James Bowie stopped at Washington and purchased a knife from Black, whose replicated shop is a major point of interest at the State Park located there. The Black shop features a working forge, at which both Don Hastings and Bill Bagwell had served as resident smiths.
大约在1985（原文如此，但我怀疑有误，似应为1983，才符合文章所述事件逻辑）年，ABS和怀俄明大学一起，在怀俄明州的Dubois Lakes举办了首次锻造学习营，两个Bill和Don担任教员。
在董事会看来这次冒险是成功的，但大学没兴趣继续举办。
这时候我找到James Powell，他是Texarkana学院（Texarkana College）的继续教育主任，我是那儿的学生处主任（这难道不是莫兰一开始就拉着作者入伙的原因之一吗）。
我向他建议，学院在阿肯色州的Washington（也就是后面提到很多次的旧华盛顿，是阿肯色州最古老的村镇，现在是州立公园，主要景点就是历史古迹）附近举办一次锻造学习营是个好主意。
那里有James Black（公认美国锻造刀匠之祖）铁匠铺的复原建筑。有相当确凿的证据表明，在1830-1831年的冬天，James Bowie（历史传奇人物，博弈刀就是以他的名字命名）在华盛顿停留，从Black那里购买了一把刀。
Black的铁匠铺是那里的州立公园的一个主要景点，它的特色是还开炉做着锻造，Don Hastings和Bill Bagwell都受雇做过那儿的常驻铁匠。


So it was that in April, 1984, the first Texarkana College spring hammer-in was held in Washington, with the four founders serving as instructors. Today, this seminar, named the Piney Woods Hammer-In, is still going strong and is the “granddaddy of the hammer-ins”.
这样在1984年的4月，第一届Texarkana学院春季锻造营在Washington举办，四个创办人充当讲师。
直到今天，这个被称作松林锻造营的研讨会仍然在正常举办。它是锻造营之祖。

毒九

At approximately the same time that Bagwell resigned, Lile, for reasons related to his health, also resigned, and Hanford Miller and Jim Phillips were added to the board. Miller was a Maryland bladesmith and Phillips a military historian and writer from New Jersey. A bit later, Paul Burke, Sr., a Baltimore attorney, was elected to the board. By 1986, Hastings’ health was failing fast, due to leukemia, which had been in remission. He was not able to fulfill his teaching duties at the 1986 Piney Woods hammer-in, and James Crowell, a bladesmith from Mt. View, AR, who was to receive his mastersmith rating the following fall, ably filled his slot. Hastings died in September, 1986, and Hanford Miller was appointed to fill his post as treasurer. To honor the late founder, the ABS created the Don Hastings Memorial Award, which is the highest honor the ABS can confer. Other ABS awards include the Margaret Moran Silver Slipper launched in 2001; the W.W. Scagel Award instigated in 1998; the B. R. Hughes Award initiated in 1995; the W. F. Moran Award, first presented in 1998; the Antique Bowie Knife Collector Awards, instigated in 1995; and the George Peck Award which began in 1994.
差不多在Bagwell辞职的同时，Lile因为健康原因也辞职了。Hanford Miller 和 Jim Phillips加入董事会。Miller是马里兰州的刀匠，Philips是新泽西州的军事历史学者和作家。
之后老Paul Burke，巴尔的摩的律·师，也被选入董事会。1986年，Hastings的健康因为之前一直被控制的白血病迅速恶化。那年的松林锻造营上，他没能完成他的教学任务。（卧槽，这句我编辑了N遍发不上来，谁知道律·师是TM敏·感词？）
不过James Crowell（小星星），来自阿肯色州山景城的刀匠，出色地弥补了空缺。他也在那年秋天获得了MS称号。
Hastings在1986年9月去世。Hanford Miller受命接替他的财务官职位。为了致敬已故的创始人，ABS设立了Don Hastings纪念奖，这是ABS可以授予的最高荣誉。
其他ABS奖项包括2001年推出的Margaret Moran银拖鞋奖（女刀匠奖项），1998年开始的W.W. Scagel奖，1995年开创的B. R. Hughes奖，1998年首次颁发的W. F. Moran奖，1995年发起的古董博弈刀收藏家奖；以及1994年开始的George Peck奖。（后来又增加了很多奖项，详见官网其他页面。ABS不重视网站这点有必要改改，刀匠名单里连去世刀匠的都没有，人死了直接把名字删掉，简单粗暴，更别提介绍。其实每个刀匠加上介绍和代表作评述，工作量并不太大）

毒九

By this time the ABS was holding an annual exhibition in conjunction with the Tulsa G·u·n Show, the second largest show of its type in the U. S. at that time. The Society met for three years in Tulsa, and slowly began to attract national attention. Joe Cordova, a smith from Bosque Farms, NM, and Jay Hendrickson, a Frederick, MD, bladesmith, were named to the board, along with Jeffrey Harris, a St. Louis businessman and knife collector.

ABS至今都在联合Tulsa木·仓展举办一年一度的展会。这是当时全美第二大同类展会。协会在Tulsa开了三年会以后，慢慢开始在全国引起注意。
来自新泽西Bosque Farms的铁匠Joe Cordova、来自马里兰州Frederick的刀匠Jay Hendrickson，来自圣路易斯的商人和刀具收藏家Jeffrey Harris，一起加入了董事会。
（熟悉的刀匠名字开始出现了。注意最后那个名字，拉他入伙作用很大）

It was during this period that the stipulations associated with attaining a journeyman’s stamp and a master’s stamps were formulated. These went into effect in 1988, and the first smith to attain a master’s under the new requirements was Wayne Goddard, Eugene, OR.
这个时期，获得JS和MS称号的相关规定也被制定出来。这些规定于1988年生效。第一个按照新要求获得MS称号的，是来自于俄勒冈州Eugene的Wayne Goddard（蜘蛛C16、C18、C20等型号设计者，作品却从来不打MS标）。


The year 1988 was a memorable one for the ABS. Moran had previously expressed his opinion that the ABS needed a school where bladesmithing could be taught. In 1986, while he was visiting Carolyn and me in Texarkana, Bill and I met with the Pioneer Washington Restoration Foundation in Old Washington, and presented our views on the vital role the Foundation could play in the preservation of an art form – bladesmithing. Judge James Pilkington, chairman of the group, and George Peck, a member of the Foundation and a banker and knife collector, loved the idea, and before the evening was over, the Foundation had voted to construct a suitable facility in Old Washington, with the stipulations that the ABS would provide instructors from the ranks of its master smiths, and that “someone” other than the Foundation would handle all of the administrative details. I went back to Texarkana College and recruited the assistance of James Powell, and we asked for an audience with Dr. Carl “Cheesy” Nelson, who was president of TC at that time. We made our best pitch, but Dr. Nelson was skeptical. “If it’s such a good idea,” he asked, “how come no one else is doing it?” At that time, fate intervened. Jeffrey Harris, who had recently attended one of our hammer-ins, called Dr. Nelson to express to the President his delight at what had been taught at Old Washington, and how well it had been presented. When Harris learned that Dr. Nelson was “considering” a proposal to create a bladesmithing school, Jeff said that if this came to pass, he would make a “significant” contribution to help get the school started.
1988年在ABS历史上是个非常有纪念意义的年份。Moran之前就希望ABS成立教授锻造刀具技术的学校（真是非常有战略格局的人物）。
1986年，他来Texarkana拜访我和Carolyn（文章作者的妻子）时，他和我在旧华盛顿会晤了先驱者华盛顿基金会，对基金会在保护锻造刀具这一艺术形式可以起到的重要作用发表了意见。
基金会的主席James Pilkington法·官，基金会成员、银行家和刀具收藏家George Peck，都很喜欢我们的想法。
当晚基金会投票决定在旧华盛顿建造一个适合的教学设施，约定ABS将选派MS作为学校的导师。将选定基金会以外的某位人士负责该事务所有的行政细节。
我回到Texarkana学院，在James Powell的帮助下，我们邀请了当时担任校长的Carl “Cheesy” Nelson博士。
我们尽了最大努力，但Nelson博士对此表示怀疑。“如果这是个好主意，”他问，“为什么没有其他人在做呢？” （多么熟悉的逻辑，创业的人经常听到）
适逢此时，命运介入了。恰好Jeffrey Harris（之前提过那个壕刀友）刚刚参加了一次我们的锻造营活动，他给Nelson博士打电话，向校长吹嘘了一番他在旧华盛顿学到的东西有多不错，让他如何开心。
当听校长说正在“考虑”建立锻刀学校的提议时，Harris说如果这个提议通过，他会做出“重大”贡献（就是出钱啦）来帮助学校开始运作。

That seemed to be the turning point. Dr. Nelson reasoned that if a very successful St. Louis businessman was willing to put his own money into a bladesmithing school, it must be a good idea! The first bladesmithing school in the history of the United States opened its doors on the first day of May, 1988. Having Texarkana College serve as administrator of the school has meant so much to the ABS. TC is a fully accredited institution of higher education, and this provided the school with instant credibility. James Powell served as the director until 1991, when the current director, Scotty Hayes, assumed leadership. One of Scotty’s first actions was to instigate a fall Piney Woods Hammer-in. The school was an immediate success, and it proved Moran was right, because the membership of the ABS began to grow rapidly.
这看上去是个转折点。
Nelson博士由此推定，如果一个非常成功的St. Louis商人愿意出钱投入这个锻刀学校，那这个学校就是一个好主意（专业人士的意见就是没土豪好使）！
美国历史上第一个锻刀学校在1988年5月1日正式开张。由Texarkana学院来担当学校的管理者，对ABS来说非常重要。
Texarkana学院是一所完全正规的高等教育机构，这为锻刀学校提供了立竿见影的可信度（ABS从创始开始，专业和社会活动、商业思维的结合就非常密切和成功。美国有这个传统，莫兰和ABS的很多领导更是其中佼佼者）。
James Powell做主管做到1991年。Scotty Hayes继任并做到本文写作之时。
Scotty的第一个行动是启动秋季松林锻造营。锻刀学校几乎立刻获得了成功，证明了Moran是对的，ABS会员的数量也因此迅速攀升（学生包就业咩，文字狗头）。

In 1988 the master smiths on the Board of Directors decided to make a knife using the combined efforts of these smiths which would be auctioned at the Society’s annual meeting. This custom continues to the present and the record price for one of these knives was achieved in 2006 when a version of Bill Moran’s famous ST-23 featuring the last Damascus blade he had forged was sold for $37,000. In 1990, the ABS Master Knife of the Year Program was launched in which a master’s name is selected at random from a group of volunteers to make a knife which will be auctioned at the Blade Show. This program extended in1997 to include an ABS Journeyman Knife of the Year and the following year an ABS Master Folder was added. The generosity of ABS members has helped to make the auctioning of these four an anxiously anticipated event at the annual show.
1988年，董事会里的几个MS决定合作制作一把刀，然后在协会年会上拍卖。这个惯例延续至今。
其中在2006年创造拍卖纪录的一把刀是Moran著名的ST-23刀型，以Moran最后一把大马为卖点，拍出了3万7千刀的价格。
1990年，ABS年度Ms刀活动启动，从一组志愿者MS中随机选出一位，制作出一把刀，在刀展上拍卖。这个活动在1997年增加了年度JS刀。次年又加入了年度折刀。
慷慨的ABS成员们奉献的这四把刀在每年的年展上都吊足了（韭菜的）胃口。（走上正轨之后的极其纯熟的商业运作模式。都付出，都得利，卖的和买的都荣耀，同时做了宣传营销。精神物质两丰收。）

windy

翻译组的同志又回来了

毒九

In 1989 Gordon Bloomquist, a lobbyist from Oregon, was named to the board and served until 2001.
1989年，来自俄勒冈州的说客Gordon Bloomquist被任命为董事会成员，任职至2001年。
（在美国，游说是联系立法者和利益集团的桥梁与纽带。利益集团影响决策者的行为被称为“游说”，它是美国多元政·治中的常见现象。
仅1999年说客为在国会山推销客户立场就花了大约14.2亿美元。目前华盛顿有2.7万名登记注册的说客。
——以上摘自网络。
ABS随着发展，引入董事会的非刀匠的成员身份，步步不同，逐渐登堂入室，意味深长。）

In 1991, after 15 years of leadership, during which he did not receive so much as one penny from the Society, Bill stepped down as president. Jay Hendrickson was elected to be the new ABS leader, and Moran’s last official action as chairman to appoint Joe Keeslar, a mastersmith from Almo, KY, to the board. But the ABS leaders would not allow Bill to retire so easily! They unanimously elected him “Chairman Emeritus”, meaning that he would serve on the board for the balance of his life, if he chose to do so and he did just that!
1991年，莫兰卸任主·席一职。在15年的主·席生涯里，他没有拿过协会一分钱。
（莫兰志不在钱是肯定的。但ABS壮大，增助了他的影响力和作品价格，也毋庸讳言。最好的事业都是如此，创造一个社会的和行业的健康生态，在此过程中，名利自然汇集而来。）
Jay Hendrickson当选为新任协会主·席（我喜欢老亨作品！）。
Moran最后的职务行为是任命Joe Keeslar，来自肯塔基州Almo的MS，为董事会主·席。
但ABS的领导层不想让他这么轻易就退休，他们一致选举Moran为名誉主·席，意味着只要Moran愿意，在他的余生可以继续参与董事会。而他也是这么做的。

毒九

Jay proved to be an able administrator, and he filled in many of the blank spots that had been empty during the Society’s first 15 years. Moran was an inspirational leader, but he was not a “detail man”. Hendrickson was, and many of the current ABS policies were established during Jay’s reign. In 1994, Dr. James Batson, a mastersmith from Madison, AL, and Jerry Fisk, a master from Lockesburg, AR, were named to the board. Joe Cordova succeeded Hendrickson in 1995.
老亨被证明是个能干的管理者。他填补了协会过去十五年很多空缺的部分。
Moran是一个鼓舞人心的领袖，但他不是个注意细节的人，老亨是。很多ABS现行政策都是老亨任上确立的。
1994年，James Batson博士，来自阿巴拉马州Madison的MS，和Jerry Fisk，来自阿肯色州Lockesburg的大师，加入了董事会。
Joe Cordova在1995年接替了老亨，继任主·席。

The annual show of the Society had been shifted to the Blade Show, then in Knoxville, TN, in 1987, and later the site was shifted to Atlanta, GA, where it remains today. “Blade Magazine” has proven to be a good overseer of “The World’s Number One Knife Show”, and both the ABS and “Blade” have profited from this association.
1987年，协会年展转移到在田纳西Knoxville举办的刀展上（做大了，自立门户开展了）。
接下来地点转移到亚特兰大并延续至今。“Blade Magazine”（刀锋杂志）被证明是“世界第一刀展”不错的监办者。协会和杂志都从合作中获益。
（非常好的互相需求，互相借势，各有所得。类似之前锻刀学校由正经学校管理。专业的人做各自专业的事。眼光长远。）


Paul Burke, who had obtained tax-exempt status from the IRS for the Society in 1985, died in 1999. Dr. Batson assumed the reins of leadership that same year, and proved to be a creative and imaginative president. Johnny Perry, a South Carolina businessman, had been elected to the board in 1997, and a year later, Houston Price, publisher of “Knife World”, became a director. Hanford Miller, who had served as treasurer after Don Hastings’ untimely death, retired from the board in 2002. Greg Neely, a master from Houston, TX, the current ABS president, was elected to the board in 1998. In 2002 Bert Gaston, a master from Little Rock, AR, was named to the guiding body, as was Rick Dunkerley, a master from Seeley Lake, MT. The following year, 2003, Steve Dunn, a master from Smiths Grove, KY, was named a director, and in 2004 Harvey Dean, a Rockdale, TX, master, was elected to the board. In 2003 Joe Keeslar took over as president, and provided a smooth, steady hand at the helm.
Paul Burke为协会在1985年在国税局争取到免税地位，他于1999年去世（就是之前提到的进入董事会的律·师，董事会不养闲人）。
同年Batson博士继任主·席，他被证明是个很有创造力和想象力的主·席（这不像夸人的话啊）。
Johnny Perry，南卡罗莱纳的商人在1997年加入董事会。一年以后，Houston Price，《Knife World》（刀圈杂志，我瞎译的）出版人，成为董事。
在Don Hastings过早去世后担当过财务官一职的Hanford Miller，2002年从董事会退休。Greg Neely，写作此文时的协会主席，来自德尔克萨斯休斯顿的MS，进入董事会的时间是1998年。
2002年，来自阿肯色州小石城的MS，Bert Gaston和Rick Dunkerley，来自蒙大拿Seeley Lake的MS一样加入领导层。
Steve Dunn，来自肯塔基州Smiths Grove的MS，是在2003年成为董事（译此文时2020年，Dunn为协会主·席）。
Harvey Dean，来自德克萨斯Rockdale，2004年成为董事（Dean在Dunn前曾任主·席）。
2003年，Joe Keeslar接任主·席，掌舵风格平顺稳定（好像又在给上任主·席Batson补刀）。

毒九

The ABS launched its own museum and hall of fame in Little Rock, AR in 1995 in conjunction with the Historic Arkansas museum, located in downtown Little Rock. This is a highly respected facility, and the exhibits there take a back seat to no museum in the country! The most recent Hall of Fame induction ceremonies took place in 2006. The first year inductions were held in 1996 and these were in the “first class”: James Black, Jim Bowie, Don Hastings, B. R. Hughes, W. F. Moran, and W. W. Scagel. In 1997 the ABS inducted Houston Price, W. D. Randall, and R. H. Ruana. In1999 James Lile and Ken Warner were elected. In 2001 Dr. James Batson, Paul Burke, Jerry Fisk, Bruce Voyles, and Daniel Searles were inducted. In 2003 Samuel Bell, Jeffrey Harris, Margaret Moran, Al Pendray, and Steve Shackleford were inducted and in 2006 Clyde Fischer, Don Fogg, Jay Hendrickson, and Henry Schively were inducted. If you’ve never visited the ABS museum and Hall of Fame, you should. It’s something of which the Society and its members can be very, very proud.
1995年，ABS与位于小石城市中心的阿肯色州历史博物馆合作，在阿肯色州的小石城建立了自己的博物馆和名人堂。
此地备受尊敬，这里的展品没有其他博物馆能比得上。
最近的名人堂入选典礼于2006年举行（写文之日）。
首次入选典礼于1996年举行，第一批入选者为：James Black, Jim Bowie,（加上最后的Scagel，三个上古大神，强制增加ABS历史深度，文字狗头）Don Hastings, B. R. Hughes, W. F. Moran, （实际当选的就这三个创始人）和 W. W. Scagel.
1997年入选的有Houston Price, W. D. Randall, 和 R. H. Ruana.
1999年是James Lile 和 Ken Warner。
2001 年：Dr. James Batson, Paul Burke, Jerry Fisk（加入董事会6年即当选，比第二任主·席老亨还要早两届！可见某些东西的区别）, Bruce Voyles, Daniel Searles。
2003 年：Samuel Bell, Jeffrey Harris, Margaret Moran, Al Pendray, Steve Shackleford。
2006年：Clyde Fischer, Don Fogg, Jay Hendrickson,  Henry Schively。
如果你还没参观过ABS博物馆和名人堂，你该去看看。这里有某些协会及其成员都非常非常引以为傲的东西。

Inspired by the success of the Piney Woods Hammer-In, the ABS began to sponsor a series of weekend seminars of its own. The first of these events was held in August 2001 in Fruitport, Michigan with the assistance of Dr. James Lucie. The following year the Michigan Hammer-In was moved to Mike Bauer’s farm, also near Fruitport, where it remained through 2004. Additional ABS hammer-ins have been held in California, Maryland, Montana, New York, North Carolina Winston-Salem and Haywood Community College in Clyde, and Ohio. ABS members have also been very active in weekend seminars held in Alabama, California, Texas, France, New Zealand, and South Africa. The ABS Hammer-In Program is under the co-direction of Dr. James Batson and Mike Vagnino. For the most part, Dr. Batson handles hammer-ins East of the Mississippi and Vagnino coordinates those west of the river.
受松林锻造营成功的鼓舞，ABS开始自己赞助一系列周末研讨会（有钱啦）。
2001年8月在密歇根Fruitport举办了第一次活动。
第二年密歇根的活动转移到Fruitport附近的Mike Bauer的农场举办，在那里一直办到2004年。
在加州、马里兰州、蒙大拿州、纽约、北卡罗来纳州Winston-Salem、Clyde的海伍德社区学院和俄亥俄州，举办了更多的ABS锻造营。
ABS成员也积极参加在阿拉巴马、加利福尼亚、德克萨斯、法国、新西兰和南非举行的周末研讨会。
ABS锻造营流程由James Batson博士和Mike Vagnino共同指导。
大多数情况下，密西西比河以东归Batson博士协调，以西归Vagnino。


In 2003, the ABS blazed new trails with an All-Forged Blade Exposition held in Reno, Nevada. This has proven to be a most successful undertaking and some observers have termed it, “the classiest knife show in America”. The last Reno Expo was held in 2008 and in 2009 the extravaganza moved to San Antonio, Texas, the home of the Alamo.
2003年，ABS进行了创造性的开拓，在内华达州的Reno举办了全锻造刀具博览会。
这被证明是一个最成功的项目，一些观察家称之为“美国最有逼格的刀展”（没找到更适合的词来译）。
2008年最后一届Reno展会后，2009年该盛会迁至阿拉莫（美国历史圣地之一）的故乡——德克萨斯的圣安东尼奥。

The ABS has also stressed its youth program and has interacted with the Boy Scouts of America and the 4-H Organization on a number of occasions. The first ABS youth hammer-in was held in 2007 in Tennessee. Wes Byrd and Larry Harley have been extremely active in the promotion of this phase of the society’s efforts to reach the youth of America. Tim Potier joined the duo to present a series of demonstrations to the students of the French Camp Academy in Mississippi.

ABS还强调它的青年体系，和美国童子军、4-H组织在很多场合进行互动。
第一届ABS青年锻造营2007年在田纳西州举办。
Wes Byrd 和Larry Harley一直致力于促进协会这一部分的工作，以吸引美国的青年。
Tim Potier加入这对搭档，在密西西比州，为法国夏令营学院的学生们进行了一系列的锻造演示。

In January, 2008 Robert Calvert, a banker-businessman from Rayville, LA, was added to the governing group.  Robert is a journeyman smith, but he was added to the board for his business acumen. Another change on the Society’s board occurred in January, 2008, when Jerry Fisk submitted his retirement as second vice-president, having served almost 14 years on the ABS’ governing body and contributing greatly to the ABS in numerous undertakings. On December 1, 2008 Dan Cassidy, a former  career federal prosecutor and Journeyman Smith from Salida, Colorado was elected to the board. In August, 2009, at the board meeting in San Antonio, Texas, Bill Wiggins, a Journeyman Smith from Canton, North Carolina was added to the board.
2008年1月，Robert Calvert，来自路易斯安那Rayville的银行家和商人，加入了管理层。
Robert是个JS级别的刀匠，他以商业头脑进入董事会（此人是个银行业大佬，州一级银行总裁那个级别。他67岁一进入董事会就被任命为协会保险委员会主席，可见此时ABS在保险、金融方面已经有切实的发展和需求。所谓商业头脑，不如说是看重其经验和人脉）。
同时董事会的另一个变化是，Jerry Fisk辞去了第二副主·席的职务。（在此文之后又当选主·席并卸任），他已经在ABS管理层工作了14年，为协会诸多事物做出了巨大的贡献。
2008年12月1日，Dan Cassidy，来自科罗拉多Salida的前联邦检察官，也是JS刀匠，加入董事会。
2009年8月，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥的董事会会议上，来自北卡罗来纳州Canton的JS刀匠Bill Wiggins加入了董事会。

During 2010 and 2011 after many years of distinguished service in various capacities, Johnny Perry, Rick Dunkerley, and Bert Gaston resigned from the ABS Board. In 2011 Master Smiths Dr. Dan Petersen from Kansas, Kevin Cashen from Michigan, Michael Vagnino from California, and Mark Zalesky, the editor of "Knife World", were elected to the ABS Board of Directors.
在2010年和2011年期间，在多年杰出的工作后，Johnny Perry, Rick Dunkerley, Bert Gaston从董事会离任。
2011年，来自堪萨斯的MS刀匠Dan Petersen博士，来自密歇根的Kevin Cashen，来自加利福尼亚的Michael Vagnino，和《Knife World》杂志的编辑Mark Zalesky，成为董事会董事。


Bill Moran, who died in Frederick, MD, February 12, 2006, was a staunch believer that the ABS Board should not be composed only of bladesmiths, although only a mastersmith may serve as Chairman of the Board and president. Moran felt strongly that the board should include businessmen, historians, journalists, and the like, as well as smiths, to provide a sense of balance. The history of the ABS has proven that Moran, as usual, was right. The sole purpose of the Society today is the same as it was in 1976 – to promote and preserve the art of the forged blade, and the path chosen to accomplish that goal is one of education. It is the mission of the ABS to teach smiths how to turn out completed knives that due to their quality and artistry will be marketable to the public. Teaching is the role of the ABS.
Bill Moran，于2006年1月12日，在马里兰州Frederick去世。
他坚定地相信，虽然ABS协会只能由一个MS来当主·席，但董事会不应该全由刀匠组成。
Moran强烈地主张，ABS董事会里应该包括商人，历史学家，记者这类人士，与刀匠形成平衡（也就是说，专业必须和商务、文化、媒体结合，才能最好地发展）。
ABS的历史证明， Moran一贯正确（这么翻译也行吧）。
今天协会的目标仍是1976年成立时的初心——传承和发展锻造刀具艺术。
实现这个目标的途径是教育。
ABS的使命是教导刀匠们如何完成具备优良性能和艺术性的刀具，以销售给公众。
教学是ABS的职能。

----------原文完-----------------

译后感觉这篇文字是06年或07年写的，12年左右又草草增补了一点。
ABS好像不很重视官网里这类文字，审稿和修改并不细致。
但是协会创立前期的过程脉络，还是清晰的。
莫兰去世后尤其12年之后，就没人更新这块了。
Hughes作为唯一的创始人，活化石，还在董事会。估计他自己已经老到力不能及，但他在的话，别人来动这块也不礼貌。
其实后来的发展史和刀匠之间的源流，结合刀来研究，是非常有意思的事。
也算玩刀附赠的趣味吧。

马科斯

感谢毒九老师的翻译，学到了很多ABS的知识。

南腔北调人

难得的好东西，感谢大佬的分享

小三

翻译的很好，受教了。感谢啊。

放鹿中原

感谢九先生！
绿色部分以前勉强浏览过，红色部分最为精彩！
真希望国内也有这样的组织，专业化、社会化、传承有序

叨叨催人老

感谢毒兄毒老师放毒！这篇之毒更甚，堪称含笑半步癫！
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
是Moran把大马钢带入大家的视野，Moran是二十世纪第一个成功制作大马刀具的美国人，如果不是承蒙Moran把大马钢带入大家的视野ABS是不可能成功的——涨知识了。他或许不是第一个制作大马刀的人，但肯定是第一个成功制作并推广大马刀的人。这种情况在工业机械历史上常见，比如飞机、摄影术......的发明，等等。

原来lile、scagel与协会有这么深的渊源！难怪网上他们那些质量看似平平的老作品、量产款依然抢手。

ABS刀匠名单里连去世刀匠的都没有，人死了直接把名字删掉——这一点ABS做的很不好！另外，不交会费的也会被除名。

基金会在保护锻造刀具这一艺术形式可以起到的重要作用——确实在国外锻造刀具经常被视为一种艺术形式，很多刀匠是由铁艺学徒或匠人发展来的。

目前华盛顿有2.7万名登记注册的说客——其中不少是为C国服务的，嘎嘎，即所谓院外游说集团。

加上三个上古大神——相当于在夏商周之前加上尧舜禹（手动狗头）。国际史学界对于中国历史起源只承认到商，因为夏没有考古实证。
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此帖必为论坛经典贴。

发一篇我以前的一篇老帖子《其实ABS......就是绝地武士团》，共襄盛举：http://forum.knifriend.com/forum ... B%CE%E4%CA%BF%CD%C5


（感觉莫兰大师相貌更像帕尔帕廷...）

yqlwolf

感谢老飒兄细致系统全面的翻译，看到了很多逝去的大师，太难得了

woshtiaotiao

感谢老九，真正学术性的翻译，好好学习！

毒九

yqlwolf 发表于 2020-3-30 11:48
感谢老飒兄细致系统全面的翻译，看到了很多逝去的大师，太难得了

以后万一开坑整理ABS刀匠源流，需要向狼兄请教不少

毒九

叨叨催人老 发表于 2020-3-30 11:03
感谢毒兄毒老师放毒！这篇之毒更甚，堪称含笑半步癫！
------------------------------------------------ ...

谢兄喜欢。
Scagel1963年就去世了。包括第二届名人堂的W. D. Randall（做刀始于1937年，去世于1989年），以及 R. H. Ruana（1986年去世），其实属于莫兰的上一辈和上上辈，影响莫兰和锻造刀匠颇深，但和ABS这个协会没有什么实质性的交集。
当然他们都是锻造刀具这个行业里的传奇人物，请入ABS名人堂也无不妥。
ABS会借势也是真的。
兄的其他引申也颇精到。

毒九

放鹿中原 发表于 2020-3-30 10:29
感谢九先生！
绿色部分以前勉强浏览过，红色部分最为精彩！
真希望国内也有这样的组织，专业化、社会化、 ...

谢兄喜欢。
我翻译的时候也颇多感触，美国很多行业的成功，不仅仅ABS，包括NBA，发展源流都有其偶然亦有其必然。
每个行业里有潜质的人物和他们的环境互相成全，才处处沃土，成苗成材。
莫兰教育、商业和上层路线并行的思路，确实很有启示意义。

lhzeng

有一点很奇怪的是，Don Fogg在这篇官方文章里写是最早被授予MS的一批人，但是在他ABS的官网页面和获得奖项写的是97年才变成MS的