HISTORIC RELICS FROM BATTLESHIP TEXAS TO BE DISPLAYED AT BELLVILLE’S TEXAS SELECT EVENT
Several pieces from the Battleship Texas are coming to Bellville during the Texas Select Custom Cutlery Event, set for April 1st and 2nd at the Austin County Fairgrounds.
Phenix Knives, creator and host of the annual event, is working with the Battleship Texas Foundation to promote awareness of the history and current restoration project for the World War I and World War II battleship.
The Foundation will bring authentic historic relics from the ship to the event, including a 20mm anti-aircraft gun on a trailer.
The Texas Select Event will recognize many of the exhibiting knifemakers who are donating their skills and time through the “Battleship Texas Artisans” program, creating new artwork, knives and swords using materials reclaimed from the ship to help raise funds for the restoration project.
Battleship Texas is now out of water for the first time in 32 years and only the second time since she became a museum in 1948. The mission of the Battleship Texas Foundation is to preserve and enhance the historic ship and develop her into a premier museum and visitor attraction.
The Texas Select Custom Cutlery event is held annually on the first weekend of April, bringing bladesmiths from the popular History Channel show, “Forged in Fire”, to Bellville for forging demonstrations, a live auction, a chopping competition and other activities. The event helps to benefit local charities and raise scholarship funds for graduating students.