| North Carolina Artist-Blacksmith's Association | ![]() |
NC ABANA is the North Carolina Affiliate of the Artist Blacksmith Association of North America, an organization of men and women who are practicing and preserving the skills of blacksmithing. The organization includes hobbyists, farriers (people who shoe horses), blade smiths (knife makers), architectural fabricators, sculptors, museum interpreters, furniture makers, and other artists and craftsmen who utilize the traditional skills of the blacksmith to create useful and beautiful objects..
The state Chapter meetings are quarterly and are held in different locations throughtout the state at member's shops or homes. They are sometimes held at the NC State fair grounds in Raleigh, NC. The meeting at the John C. Campbell folk school in Brasstown,NC. is not to be missed. Regional area meetings are held on varying schedules throughout the state. Both state and area meetings are anounced in the NCABANA newsletter "The Hot Iron Sparkle" and published on this website.
Regional groups hold their own meetings at various locations around the state. Please contact the host to confirm date, time and location. You may attend any of these meeting.
Triangle Blacksmiths Guild (Raleigh, Durham, &Chapel Hill area)
Contact: Randy Stoltz 919.481.9261
Triad Area Blacksmiths (Greensboro, Winston-Salem, & High Point area)
Contact: George Manuel 336.924.6876
Southern Foothills Blacksmiths (Mooresville, NC)
Contact: Steve Barringer 704.660.1560
Grand Buzzards Nest (Waxhaw, NC)
Contact: Tal Harris 704.843.5586
Western NC Blacksmiths (Candler, NC)
Contact: Steve Kayne 828.667.8868
Brasstown Blacksmiths (Brasstown, NC)
Contact: Paul Garrett 828.835.8441
The meetings are usually a mixture of demonstrations of blacksmithing techniques, shoptalk about tools and supplies, tool swap among members, and displays of members work. An "Iron-in-the-Hat" drawing is held to raise money for the scholarship fund. Often, multiple forges are set up for beginners to try their hand and learn from the more experienced blacksmiths. Lunch is available, at chapter meetings, for a reasonable cost.
Joining NC ABANA is very simple. Download the NC ABANA application and brochure (PDF) and mail it in.
ORSend your name, address, phone number and $20.00 ($30.00 outside USA), make check or money order out to NCABANA, to
NCABANA c/o Marty Lyon
220 Fearrington Post
Pittsboro, N.C., 27312
Come to one of the state wide or regional meetings.
Members of NC ABANA regularly demonstrate at the Dixie Classic Fair in Winston-Salem, NC and at the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh. Blacksmiths interpret the traditional craft at living history museums such as Old Salem, and Colonial Williamsburg. And of course you are welcome to visit one of our chapter or regional meetings and watch the demonstrations.
Last modified: 26Sep2007----> By RHS