With a lifetime devoted to the research and study of the history, science and methods of forged blades, Kevin Cashen is one of the most respected experts in his field on many aspects of his craft. Kevin has been an American Bladesmith Society approved instructor for over 20 years, and has taught classes ranging from intro to bladesmithing for beginners, to blade metallurgy for master instructors, at locations that include local events, international symposiums, and colleges and universities.

David Barnhill (Malone, WI, b. 1976) began studying mokume in 1999 as a college research project at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. In 2006 he visited fellow mokume artist Steve Midgett's studio in North Carolina, and in 2007 began researching solid-state diffusion bonding. Upon graduating with his Master of Fine Arts degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in 2009, David began the Mokume Layered Resplendence series with fellow artist David Huang. His work has been exhibited throughout the United States in museums, art galleries, and universities.

Bill McGrath started his training in the Pekiti-Tirsia system of Filipino martial arts in 1975 at the age of 14 and continues to this day. He had a 30-year career in law enforcement, where he served as a defensive tactics and firearms instructor for his department.

Emiliano Carrillo began bladesmithing in 2014 at Hampshire College where he quickly became enamored with Viking Age pattern welding and Japanese swordsmithing. Emiliano focused on historical pattern welding techniques and studying original artifacts in museums and private collections to reverse-engineer ancient forging methods. He creates Japanese-style pieces out of his own smelted sand iron tamahagane and oroshigane as well as Viking spears, swords, and seaxes from period-accurate bloomery materials.

Ben Breda is an ABS Journeyman Smith from Hope, Maine. He began making knives in 2012 and earned his J.S. stamp in 2014. He builds functional, finely finished knives hand-forged from high-carbon steels and Damascus.

Rob 'Deker' Dekelbaum is a computer security specialist who began his blacksmithing and bladesmithing journey 15 years ago. Deker found a love for the science of metallurgy and heat treatment, the process of making Damascus, and specialized shop tooling. Over the past several years, he has specialized in large-format Damascus work, including pattern-welded steel incorporating World Trade Center steel for a commemorative series.

A full-time metalsmith since 1971—first as a jeweler, then welding, and discovering blacksmithing in 1973. Jonathan produces a wide variety of ironwork including hardware, fireplace equipment, furniture, toolmaking, and architectural work, with a major focus on researching and reproducing the historic ironwork of New York's Hudson Valley.

Herb started making knives as a teenager and made his first journey to Ashokan for the 1995 Sword year, missing only a handful of years since. A spare-time maker while pursuing a career as a structural and pipe welder, he has helped teach classes and volunteered with youth forging programs at the New England School of Metalwork.

As the original 'Grand Puba' of the New England Bladesmith Guild, Dan developed the program format and open knowledge-sharing culture that made the annual Ashokan Blade Seminar one of the premier gatherings of bladesmiths and metallurgists in the country.