When you look at a custom knife listing, you will sometimes see two letters after the maker’s name: M.S. They stand for Master Smith, the highest rating the American Bladesmith Society awards, and fewer than two hundred smiths have ever earned it. I hold that rating myself, and I want to explain what it actually means, and why it matters when you are deciding who to buy a collectible knife from.
What the Rating Means
The ABS was founded by Bill Moran and a small group of smiths to keep the forged blade alive, and its ratings are earned, not bought. To reach Master Smith, a maker first spends years as an apprentice and Journeyman. Then comes the performance test: a forged blade that must cut free hanging rope, chop through construction lumber, still shave hair afterward, and then bend to ninety degrees without breaking. After that, the smith presents five knives, including a European style dagger, to a panel of Master Smith judges who examine fit, finish, grind, and design. If any knife falls short, there is no rating.
I went through all of it. So when I say a blade is well made, that opinion comes from having forged blades to that standard, not from reading a catalog.
A Smith’s Eye for Condition
The most practical benefit of buying from a Master Smith is simple: I know how these knives are built, so I know what to look for. Grind lines that wander, a guard that was reset, a blade that has been buffed or refinished, a handle that has been replaced: these things change the value of a collectible knife, sometimes drastically, and they are easy to miss in photographs. Every knife I list has been in my hands first. If it has a flaw, the listing says so.
That same eye protects you from the growing number of fakes and altered pieces in the market. I wrote a separate guide on spotting a fake custom knife, and the short version is that nothing substitutes for experienced hands and a loupe.
Straight Answers About Makers and Value
Bladesmithing is a small world. I have known many of the top makers for decades, through the ABS, through the shows, and through handling their work. When a collector asks me whether a maker’s pieces are climbing, holding, or soft, I can answer from what I have actually bought and sold, not from forum speculation. And if I do not carry the knife you are after, I will usually know who made it, what it should cost, and where one might surface.
After the Sale
A good dealer relationship does not end at checkout. Collections evolve. Pieces get traded up, consigned, or sold when a collector’s focus changes, and I work with collectors through all of it. When you buy from me, you also get a standing source of honest answers about anything with an edge on it.
You can browse the custom knives currently for sale, or read more about my background. If you have questions about a specific maker or piece, contact us at exquisiteknives@gmail.com or (760) 945-7177.
November 4, 2018
