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. In 2016 Jim
was inducted into the American Bladesmith Society Hall of
Fame.
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, is regarded as among the best in
hand forged knives, and has appeared in countless
publications 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 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.
