College establishes bladesmith school

The University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana is preparing to start a new bladesmith school this fall to celebrate and preserve the art of bladesmithing and the birth of the famous Bowie knife in Arkansas.

The college has worked closely with Historic Washington State Park to establish the James Black School of Bladesmithing in historic Washington in southwest Arkansas.

This is the second bladesmith school in the area, as Texarkana College's school has moved from its Washington site to its main campus in Texarkana. The Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing is the first program of its kind and was established in 1988 by college officials and the American Bladesmith Society. These courses also begin in the fall, with the move happening July 1.

In 1830, James Black crafted the original Bowie knife in Washington. Both he and the site became almost immediately famous for producing what is now recognized as the official state blade and the National American Blade.

NW News on 06/16/2019

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