Historic Washington, Arkansas
James Black Bowie
Heritage Festival
April 24–25, 2026
✦ Est. Washington, Arkansas
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the James Black Bowie Heritage Festival is to showcase not only the life and history of James Black, the Washington bladesmith who forged the first Bowie knife for Jim Bowie, but to also preserve and promote the history of bladesmithing and other historic trades as well as promoting a variety of Arkansas heritage crafts.
✦ Where the Legend Was Forged
HISTORIC WASHINGTON
ARKANSAS
✦ Annual Celebration
About the Festival
The James Black Bowie Heritage Festival is an annual celebration of handmade knives, live forging, and the legendary bladesmith James Black. Set in Historic Washington, Arkansas, the festival brings together knifemakers, collectors, historians, families, and outdoor enthusiasts for a weekend of competitions, demonstrations, food, crafts, and living history.
✦ Festival Highlights
ACTIVITIES
Live Forging
Watch master bladesmiths shape steel in real time.
Cutting Knife Competitions
Cutting and forging contests that showcase top talent.
Family-Friendly Fun
Food, crafts, and activities for all ages at Historic Washington!
✦ Master Bladesmiths & Demonstrators
FEATURED GUESTS
Each year, the festival brings in respected knifemakers, historians, and demonstrators who share their knowledge, stories, and skills with attendees.
Ricardo Vilar
Master Bladesmith
Ricardo Vilar
Master Bladesmith from Historic Washington, Arkansas and instructor at the James Black School of Bladesmithing. Renowned for exceptional Damascus patterns and historical Bowie reproductions.
Master Bladesmith
Lin Rhea
Master Bladesmith
Lin Rhea
ABS Mastersmith and published author celebrated for his elegant forged hunters, slip-joint folders, and deep knowledge of the craft.
Master Bladesmith
James Cook
Master Bladesmith
James Cook
ABS Mastersmith with decades of experience creating classic camp knives, hunting blades, and historical Bowie designs.
Master Bladesmith
Jerry Fisk
Master Bladesmith
Jerry Fisk
ABS Mastersmith and National Heritage Fellow, recognized as a National Living Treasure for a lifetime of artistry in custom knifemaking.
Master Bladesmith
JW Wiseman
Knife & Axe Throwing
JW Wiseman
Champion knife and axe thrower delivering high-energy live demonstrations and competitive thrills on the festival stage.
Knife & Axe Throwing
Tim Trawick
2026 Arkansas Living Treasure
Tim Trawick
Fiddler and 2026 Arkansas Living Treasure Award recipient, recognized by the Arkansas Arts Council for outstanding contributions to traditional folk music. From Greenbrier, Arkansas.
2026 Arkansas Living Treasure✦ Heritage & Legacy
Why this Historical Festival Matters
The Town Where the Bowie Legend Lives
The James Black Bowie Heritage Festival celebrates American history, craftsmanship, and the legacy of the Bowie knife through live demonstrations, competitions, and community gathering. Rooted in frontier traditions, the festival honors the skills and ingenuity that shaped early America.
Held in Historic Washington, Arkansas — where James Black lived and worked in the 1800s — the festival preserves his legacy and passes traditional craftsmanship to future generations. The City of Washington, Historic Washington State Park, and the Historic Washington Foundation work together to preserve the buildings and history of this remarkable place.
✦ James Black & the Bowie Knife
THE TIMELINE
1820
✦ Historical Record
James Black Arrives in Washington
James Black settles in Washington, AR, becoming a master blacksmith and bladesmith in the region. His extraordinary skill with metal would soon make him a legend of the American frontier.
✦ American Frontier History
THE LEGACY OF JAMES BLACK & THE BOWIE KNIFE
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James Black & the Bowie Knife
James Black was a skilled blacksmith and bladesmith known for his craftsmanship and unique heat-treating methods. He is widely credited with crafting the famous Bowie knife for frontiersman Jim Bowie, a blade that became legendary for its strength and utility.
Whether through myth or documented history, the Bowie knife has become a symbol of frontier toughness and American ingenuity — and the James Black Bowie Heritage Festival exists to honor that legacy and the bladesmiths who carry it forward today.
✦ 2026 Festival
Ricardo Vilar Knife Raffle
✦ 5th Annual · Masterpiece Collaboration · Live Auction
2026 Collaboration
Masterpiece Bowie Knife
✦ Angel Wing Damascus Blade
The Angel Wing Damascus blade is made of 1080 Hi-Carbon steel and 15N20 high-nickel alloy steel, with a center core of historical iron from a wagon trace found in Washington, Arkansas. The wrought iron was incorporated into the Damascus, revealing a different metal in the center of the blade — creating a relationship with the “Hill of the Five Trails,” where Washington was founded in 1824.
✦ Fittings & Guard
All fittings, as well as the “S” shaped spindle guard, are crafted from stainless steel.
✦ Handle
The coffin-shaped handle is made from 3,006-year-old walrus ivory fossil found in Alaska — the same handle shape used by James Black, as seen on Bowie #1 displayed at the Historical Arkansas Museum in Little Rock.
Instructors from the James Black School of Bladesmithing and Historic Trades in Washington, Arkansas, took part in crafting this Collaboration Masterpiece Bowie Knife.
J.R. Cook
Arkansas Living Treasure
Ricardo Vilar
Washington Mastersmith
Forged in Fire Winner
Jerry Fisk
National Living Treasure
Arkansas Living Treasure
✦ Custom Leather Sheath
Kenny Rowe has graciously created and donated a custom leather sheath for the collaboration knife — featuring intricate oak leaf tooling and a rich dark crocodile-pattern inlay panel.
✦ Live Auction · Meet & Greet Dinner · Friday Night, April 24th
Place Your Bid
Text your bid to Jackie — Text Only, No Calls
870-784-1970
SMS text bids only · No phone calls accepted
✦ April 24–25, 2026 · Washington, Arkansas
2026 Festival Flyer
✦ UA Hope-Texarkana
James Black School of Bladesmithing
Learn to Forge!
Want to do more than just watch? The James Black School of Bladesmithing at the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana offers hands-on classes where students learn to forge, grind, heat treat, and finish their own blades under expert instruction.
Whether you're a beginner picking up a hammer for the first time or a maker looking to sharpen your skills, these courses give you real shop time, real feedback, and a deeper appreciation for the craft.
SIGN UP HERE
✦ Join the Festival
Vendors & Exhibitors
Some of our vendors for this festival:
Some of the talented vendors and exhibitors who make the James Black Bowie Heritage Festival a unique experience. From handmade knives and tools to crafts, art, and specialty goods, the vendor area gives visitors the chance to meet makers, explore quality work, and support craftsmanship.
Interested in participating? Explore the vendor list or apply to become a vendor for this year's festival.
See Full Vendor List
Support the Festival
DONATE TODAY!
The James Black Bowie Heritage Festival is made possible through the support of our community. Donations help fund live demonstrations, educational programs, competitions, and family-friendly activities while preserving the legacy of American craftsmanship and history. Your support helps keep this tradition alive for future generations.
DONATE HERE✦ Thank You
Our Sponsors
Our sponsors play a vital role in keeping this festival growing and accessible to the public. Their support helps us provide educational programs, live demonstrations, and family-friendly activities in Historic Washington.
✦ Titanium Presenting Sponsor · $10,000
Buck's Maintenance Service
Nashville, Arkansas. Owned by Heath Buck, offering licensed services in concrete, insulation, metal buildings, plant maintenance, welding, and metal fabrication.
✦ Platinum Sponsors · $5,000
Mr. Rexu · Have a Knife Day
City of Washington Tourism Commission
✦ Gold Sponsors · $2,500
Arkansas State Parks
Farmers Bank & Trust
✦ Historic Washington, Arkansas
FIND US HERE
103 Franklin Street, Washington, AR 71862
✦ Get in Touch
CONTACT US TODAY
Have a question about the festival? We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
admin@bowieknifefest.com✦ Common Questions
✦ Follow Along
Our Social Media
Bowie Knife Festival can be found on social media — go ahead and check us out on Instagram & Facebook.