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About San Antonio

San Antonio Riverwalk

For information about things to see in and around historic San Antonio go to www.visitsanantonio.com.  

Below is an article written by Harvey Dean.     

See You in San Antonio
By: Harvey Dean

        On the 8th of July in 1976, a group of men gathered in a small workshop in Louisiana.  This shop wasn’t just your ordinary workshop.  It was a shop dedicated to the craft of forging blades and making knives. 

        I am sure that there was plenty of talk about knives and probably some tobacco chewing done in Bill Bagwell’s shop that day.  Most importantly, three bladesmiths and two writers—Bill Moran, Bill Bagwell, Don Hastings, Bill Hughes & Bill Jordan—got together and the seeds were planted for what became the American Bladesmith Society.  It was an important day in the history of the ABS because five months later a charter was signed and the organization was officially founded.

        A lot has happened in the ABS since 1976, and one can only expect that another historic event for the ABS will take place on January 27- 29, 2012 in the town of San Antonio, Texas.   Like the ABS, San Antonio has a unique history of its own.  This gem of the Texas Hill Country is known for a blending of rich Spanish and German cultural traditions, and a unification of the old world and the new.  Those who visit the ABS All Forged Blade Expo, which will be held at the Sheraton Gunter Hotel, will have the opportunity to browse the same streets and squares that were once roamed by men like James Bowie, Davy Crockett, William B. Travis, Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, and Theodore Roosevelt. 

        The Expo will start Friday, January 27th, at 9 am with seminars that will be held every hour on the hour until 1 pm.  Starting at 12 noon there will be a one hour preview of the knives for registered VIPS, followed by open sales to the public from 1 - 6 pm.  The first day of the ABS Expo will end with a social hour beginning at 6:30 pm followed by a banquet at 7 pm.  Knives will be available for open sales on Saturday from 10 am - 5 pm and Sunday from 10 am - 2 pm.

        If you are able to find extra time at the Expo there are a lot of things to see in and around historic San Antonio.  You might start with the San Antonio River Walk, any of five different Spanish missions, one of a variety of museums and galleries, the San Antonio Zoo, the IMAX Theater, Sea World, Fiesta Texas, the Majestic Theater, or perhaps even the Spanish Market.  Did I mention the food?  There’s great food and plenty of it!  Some may be worried about the hot weather in August.  Just remember when you hear the saying “Everything’s bigger in Texas,” that goes for the air conditioners too.

        If you are interested in a more extended stay, you might like to cool off while tubing the Comal River or dine on German cuisine in historic New Braunfels, visit a Bed & Breakfast in Fredricksburg, see the beauty of Texas wildflowers at Wildseed Farms outside of Johnson City, pay a visit to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and the Dr. Pepper Museum in Waco, or drop into Luckenbach (population 3) just so that when somebody says “Let’s go to Luckenbach Texas” you can say “I’ve been!”. Whatever brings you to San Antonio, whether it be the excitement of the show, the history and culture of city, or the magic of dining with friends on the Riverwalk at night to the music of mariachi bands, we hope you’ll enjoy your stay and we’ll see you at the Expo in San Antonio.