Tim made his first knife in 1979 while still in high school. In 1982, he made his first Damascus steel, and in 1983 knife making became his full-time profession. He has been the director of the Ashokan Knifemaking Seminar for most of the last two decades and a regular contributor for Blade Magazine and Knives Illustrated. In the modern era, Tim was the first craftsman to make razors full-time in the US, and continues to innovate by making his 'Tim-ahagane' from iron ore he collects himself.

As the original 'Grand Puba', Dan Maragni developed the program format and knowledge-sharing style that has made the annual Ashokan Blade Seminar one of the premier gatherings of instructors and blade aficionados from across the country.

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, teaching classes from intro to bladesmithing to blade metallurgy for master instructors.

Matthew has been a full-time smith since 1998 and specializes in culinary knives as well as modern takes on historical blades from the 7th–17th centuries. He became a full-time bladesmith in 2011, attained the rank of Journeyman Smith in the ABS in 2016, is a staff writer for Knife Magazine, and is a founding partner and owner of Dragons Breath Forge.

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 served a 30-year career in law enforcement as a defensive tactics and firearms instructor.

Rob Wayman operates Rob Wayman Knives out of Middleburgh, NY. He started making knives in 2017 and attended his first Ashokan Knife Seminar shortly after. He focuses on forged blades, Damascus steel, and kitchen knives. In 2019 he was a finalist on History Channel's Forged in Fire and won Best in Show at the 2023 Northeast Cutlery Collectors Association Knife Show.

Nick operates Nick Rossi Knives full-time out of his studio in Vassalboro, Maine, where he creates dynamic, one-of-a-kind cutlery influenced by Japanese, Southeast Asian, and Scandinavian design. A certified Master Bladesmith in the American Bladesmith Society and former Instructor and Assistant Program Director at NESM (2011–2020), Nick teaches workshops across the country.

Rob 'Deker' Dekelbaum began his blacksmithing and bladesmithing journey over 15 years ago, specializing in the science of metallurgy, heat treatment, and large-format Damascus work.

Herb started making knives as a teenager and made his first journey to Ashokan for the 1995 Sword year. A structural and pipe welder by trade, he leads the Open Forge program and teaches basic blade forging.