Ricardo Vilar

Prepare for an exciting festival coming up this spring! The 3rd Annual James Black's Bowie Heritage Festival is happening in April, promising a dazzling lineup of celebrities you won't want to miss.

The University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana James Black School of Bladesmithing and Historic Trades will offer a Damascus steel knife-making class October 11, through 15, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

If your favorite sound in the world is a hammer pounding out hot steel, then we have something for you to do this Saturday as Master Blade Smiths Jerry Fisk and Ricardo Vilar are in town doing live demos at Garrett's Sporting Goods on Richmond Rd.

The University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana James Black School of Bladesmithing and Historic Trades is proud to announce that one of their bladesmithing instructors has won a big competition.

Ricardo Vilar, of Brazil, has been named a judge on the hit television show “Forged in Fire” Latin American Edition on History Channel. Vilar is a world-renowned bladesmith and an instructor at the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana James Black School of Bladesmithing and Historic Trades.