Upcoming Texas Select Event to display part of the Battleship Texas

Contributed Report
Posted 3/23/23

The Texas Select Event, set for April 1-2 at the Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville, will recognize knifemakers who are donating their skills and time through the “Battleship Texas Artisans” program. The program creates new artwork, knives and swords using materials reclaimed from the iconic battleship. These items will be sold and the proceeds will benefit the repair efforts being made on the ship.

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Upcoming Texas Select Event to display part of the Battleship Texas

Posted

The Texas Select Event, set for April 1-2 at the Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville, will recognize knifemakers who are donating their skills and time through the “Battleship Texas Artisans” program. The program creates new artwork, knives and swords using materials reclaimed from the iconic battleship. These items will be sold and the proceeds will benefit the repair efforts being made on the ship.

Phenix Knives originated and hosts the Texas Select Event, and is working with the Battleship Texas Foundation to promote public awareness of the ship’s history and current restoration efforts. The Texas served in both the world wars. In 1948, it was decommissioned and permanently moored in a special anchorage next to the San Jacinto Battleground State Park.

Last August, the battleship was taken to Gulf Copper Galveston, where she was put into drydock for extensive repairs. The Battleship Texas Foundation preserves and enhances the battleships as both a museum and tourist attraction.

Those attending the Texas Special Event will also be able to see authentic historic relics from the ship, including one of the actual 20mm anti-aircraft guns on a trailer for children, and grown-ups, to explore.

In 2015 Cowboy Szymanski was invited to compete in the first season of the History Channel’s competition “Forged in Fire” program. Through this experience, he gained new friends in the knifemaking industry. In 2018, he had the idea to invite the competitors from around the state to the Blacksmith Shop in Bellville so fans of the show could meet them in person, watch them work and hear their stories. That first year he hosted 18 bladesmiths from five states at Texas Select from Forged in Fire Event and saw about 2,500 visitors come to the backyard event.

The Texas Select Event is a family friendly annual event, always on the first weekend of April. It has expanded to include reputable knifemakers through the professional guilds beyond just the Forged in Fire bladesmiths. Registrations for this year’s event include over 140 knifemakers coming from 23 states, plus 30 more vendors.

The Texas Select Event benefits the local community in many ways. Each year, Szymanski has donated a custom knife to the local BEST Booster Club, which is raffled off to raise money for its scholarship program and summer science camp. To date, the knife raffle has raised $22,500 in scholarship awards for Bellville High School graduates focused on science studies.

The event partners with the Bellville Lions Club to be the primary food/beer vendor, which benefits the Lions’ charities in the community. And local Scout Troop 36 benefits from serving the awards dinner to the knifemakers.

For more information, visit the website TexasSelectEvent.com.

Phenix Knives, Battleship Texas, Texas Select Event