Blacksmithing beginnings, share your origin story

[Alan]

What got you interested in blacksmithing? We’d love to hear your story, whether it was a sudden inspiration or a gradual passion. Share how you began your journey into this fascinating craft.

 

[forgeandforget]

My fascination with blacksmithing started when I discovered how fire and metal can transform into something beautiful. It lit a fire in me to create unique, hand-forged works of art.

 

[Blisteredbuthappy]

I watched a demo back at the county fair many years ago and was immediately hooked. I have been hammering away ever since!

 

[Ohio Rusty]

I had been doing living history/re-enacting for a few years and everything in the hobby was either made from leather, wood or iron. I knew a fellow that had a blacksmithing set up in his garage so I started smithing at his place as he had the gas forge and the tools and anvil. After I started making some pieces, I was hooked. That was over 20 years ago. I still have the first 'S' hook I made. Man o' man is it trashy, but I see how far I have come to make things so much nicer, pleasing to the eye and more functional. Since then, I have had the opportunity to attend classes and learn from master knife and tomahawk makers and have produced some truly well made knives and tomahawks. I was fortunate to learn the skill of making great firesteels from Mike Ameling before he died. He was one of the best firesteel makers in the country. I carry on his knowledge with every firesteel I forge. For the last 15 years I have been the blacksmith at a historical village in S.E. Ohio making items that would have been produced in the 1830 to 1850 time period. Doing research on what was done and how it was done has really taught me alot on forging iron without any modern conveniences. Every thing is done .... "In igni, incude, et ferro". Meaning .......... by Fire, Forge and Anvil.


Ohio Rusty ><>

 

[FireAndFury]

What an incredible journey it is, celebrating tradition through skill, research, and the stories we've inherited. The phrase "In igni, incude, et ferro" says it all, doesn’t it? It really captures that deep connection to our past.