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  was inducted into the American Bladesmith Society Hall of Fame in  2016. 

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, the New England School of Metalwork and the Spring and Fall  Hammer-Ins at the Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing in Old Washington  Arkansas. Jim was the featured demonstrator for the  North Texas  Blacksmiths Association April 2010.

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 and Jenny have also  appeared on Talkin' Outdoors with Steve "Wildman" Wilson.

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.

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​​​Jim's work  has appeared in numerous publications world wide. Feature articles have  been published everywhere from the local news paper to the New York  Times.   

AWARDS/ ACCOMPLISHMENTS  

1988    First annual "Bill Moran Award" ABS Knife of the year  

1990    Blade Magazine award: "Best Handforged Knife"  

1997    ABS Texarkana College: "Spring cutting competition" Winner  

1998       ABS Texarkana College:  "Spring cutting competition" Winner  

2003    First ABS World Champion cutting competition winner- Blade Super Show - Atlanta  

2004    ABS World Champion cutting competition second place – Blade Super Show - Atlanta  

2005    Central Texas Knife Show – Austin Texas  “ Best handmade fixed blade”  

2005    Spirit of Steel Show – Grapevine Texas “Best fixed blade”  

2005    Spirit of Steel Show – Grapevine Texas “Best of Show”  

2006    Lone Star Cutting School and Clinic - cutting contest winner  

2006    Jim had one of his designs in the 2006 Browning catalog: Mastersmith series  

2007    Blade World Champion cutting competition third place – Blade Super Show – Atlanta  

2007    Spirit of Steel Show - Grapevine Texas “Best folder”  

2007    Spirit of Steel Show – Grapevine Texas “ Best Bowie”  

2007    Spirit of Steel Show – Grapevine Texas – cutting contest winner.  

2007    Two designs in the 2007 Browning catalog.  

2008    Ozark Folk Center/ BladeSports Cutting Competition winner  

2008    Blade World Champion cutting competition third place – Blade Super Show – Atlanta  

2008    Spirit of Steel Show – Grapevine, Texas “ Best Fixed Blade”Type your paragraph here.

2016     American Blade Smith Society Hall of Fame Inductee

2017    Recipient of Big Hammer Award - Presented by Joe Keslar