Photo courtesy Jim Crowell
Jim Crowell is a bladesmith of national renown. He advanced his craft alongside the generous sharing of knowledge amongst artisans at the Ozark Folk Center.
This Ozark Folk Center 50th Anniversary Legacy Photo is in honor of Jim Crowell and the master bladesmiths who have kept alive, and advanced, traditions of excellence.
With love from daughters, Kate Crowell Viles and Elizabeth Crowell Taylor.
When I moved to Mountain View AR in 1978 I would sometimes hang out at the Ozark Folk Center blacksmith and gun shops. Ross Roper was the resident smith then and he was most gracious, patient, and generous with his time and knowledge. I was intrigued with what Ross could do even to the extent of welding steel cable into a solid bar. Ross would then hammer these bars into knives leaving the handle solid and looking like the cable. I was fascinated. Ross taught me to weld and helped me make a cable knife.
Meanwhile next door in the gun shop Jack Thomas and Jim Purdom were making black powder rifles. I was amazed at the talent these guys had. Jack was making a big bowie Knife and I was hooked. Jim showed me how to work the curly maple wood for the handles and even gave me some of his special formula stain. Jack was generous with his knowledge and helped me get started on my first knife. I made it from a car spring and it was pretty rough. That was it, I had the bug. After looking at my first effort I decided I needed to make another knife since the first one was so rough and I have not stopped since.
I went on to become the resident blacksmith/bladesmith at the Ozark Folk Center and did several craft shows where some of us would go to special events and represent the Ozark Folk Center. I wanted to further my knowledge and experience and later got a job with David Mathews who was a Committee of One Hundred apprentice who went on to grow his business into Stone County Ironworks. Stone County Ironworks became one of the larger employers here in Stone County. It would be interesting to see a list of alumni from the efforts of the Committee of One Hundred and the Ozark Folk Center.
In 1984 I went to the first “Hammer in” put on by Texarkana College in Texas. It was sponsored by a fledgling group calling themselves the American Bladesmith Society and was held in Old Washington Arkansas. This group, headed up by a smith from Maryland named Bill Moran was dedicated to preserving the art of the forged blade. I earned my Mastersmith rating from the American Bladesmith Society in 1986 and have taught for them and Texarkana College ever since.
Entry by Jim Crowell
The Committee of One Hundred Tribute Wall recognizes contributions to the preservation of Ozark folk culture.
If you would like to help preserve the folk culture of the Ozarks, consider a
The Committee is made up entirely of volunteers so, except for transaction fees, all of your donation funds music, craft, or the herb gardens and, as a 501c3 entity
your donation is tax deductible!
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