Katana - Damascus

Hrisoulas, Jim

Dr. Jim Hrisoulas aka "Atar" is the author of several books, numerous magazine articles and research papers on the subject of bladesmithing and period metal working techniques used throughout history. His work has won awards at most of the internationally acclaimed knife and custom blade shows in the world. A recognized authority on metalworking techniques, Jim tries to share as much knowledge as he can with others and help out those who are having problems or who are in need of information. As Jim has said many times: "There are no secrets to doing this, it is after all "Dark Age Tech". His books are now considered to be "standard works" in the bladesmithing field. Jim sums up his "freedom of information" attitude pretty well with this statement "No one is born knowing how to do this, everyone has to start someplace". Over the years he has had his work displayed world wide in collections and museums, including the Tower of London and the New York Met. A Doctoral Degree holder in the field of Metallography, he understands the working techniques, applications and heat treating of steels and alloys to a very high degree. Jim has been referred to numerous times as one the "Grand Old Men" of knifemaking as well as one of the last of the "Old School Bladesmiths". It has been mentioned that he has been one of the "Top 10 Most Influential Bladesmiths of the last 50 years" on many occasions. Form follows function and you will find that there are no "fantasy" pieces nor anything that "doesn't work" on any blade that Jim makes. You can find a more decorative sword or a more elaborate dagger, but you will be hard pressed to find a better one where it counts, and that is in use.