2026 BAM Conference Demonstrators
Tyler Sydebotham
Tyler will be forging black powder gun barrels.
Tyler grew up in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and like many young boys, was fascinated by the life of Daniel Boone. But his interest in historical firearms really blossomed when he was 9 years old and met a local gunsmith who agreed to build a flintlock rifle for Tyler. The youngster worked hard and invested all the money he earned mowing lawns into that first gun, a possession he still treasures today.
It was while serving in the Marines at Camp Lejeune that Tyler made his first visit to Colonial Williamsburg while on liberty. During that weekend trip, Tyler met master gunsmith Richard Sullivan. Those two days with Sullivan rekindled Tyler’s interest in the art of gunsmithing and Sullivan was equally impressed with Tyler. A few months after Tyler’s stint in the Marines ended, Sullivan contacted him and invited him to Colonial Williamsburg for an intensive 10-week internship. Tyler recently relocated to mid-Missouri and practices his gunsmithing craft in the historic John P. Sites Jr. Gunsmith Shop in Arrow Rock
Simeon England
Simeon and Broadus will be forging together making
Making period tomahawks and knives.
Simeon England is a full-time blacksmith who specializes in making authentic 18th century tomahawks. His extensive research of original tomahawks and the techniques of their construction has helped to bring his art to the forefront of contemporary work.
Simeon is an active living history participant and demonstrator at multiple historic sites including Martin’s Station at Wilderness Road State Park in Virginia, David Crockett Birthplace State Park in Tennessee, Fort Loudon State Historic Park in Tennessee, and Cumberland Gap National Historic Park in Kentucky. Simeon also enjoys demonstrating and presenting at various events such as the annual Gunmaker’s Fair in Kempton Pennsylvania.
Broadus Thompson
Broadus Thompson is a full-time blacksmith, having just completed a five-year apprenticeship at the Anderson Blacksmith shop in Williamsburg VA. Though not opposed to modern techniques he has committed his career to learning how to use historic tooling and uncovering historic methodology. His journey started in his backyard in Indiana, being a broke teenager, it led him to ask “How do I do this with the tools I can make with just a hammer and anvil. How did they do it back then?” While their lessons can be difficult to parse, his greatest teachers have been the bygone smiths of yore and all the work they left behind.
Joshua Rachita
Instagram @jar_forge
Josh — Axe and Anvil Handworks
Joshua will be forging household items.
Joshua Rachita works as a blacksmith at Colonial Williamsburg. Having apprenticed in the James Anderson Blacksmith shop for two years, he now works behind the scenes helping with the ongoing preservation work of the 100-year-old museum. Josh’s focus is primarily 18th century reproduction ironwork and employs mainly the use of hand tools and processes. Josh believes that this combination produces an aesthetic outcome that is un matched to modern machine processes. In addition to Colonial Williamsburg, Josh has worked at many important museums across the country including Mount Vernon, Poplar Forest, and Sam Houston Museum.