FIRE HAMMER and ANVIL

A over 200 lb industrial swage block at least a hundred years old, don't know for sure, with no name so far, still looking. This one is 15 x 15 x 41/2 inches and a rare (at least to me and several other people) Tong from the Rotary Linch Tong co. I have tried this jewel out and it is astounding how well it works. The company now makes oilfield tools to retrieve broken and or lost bits in drill holes.

Since I'm re-writing this post I'll start at the beginning. My anvil was made sometime between 1780 and 1830 by the Wilkinson Forge at Queens Cross in Dudley England. After checking the Anvils in America book by Richard Postman I've found it has the characteristics of the middle years of the foundry, somewhere around the 1800 mark but NO later then 1830. Its a large 400 lb Blacksmithing anvil of the London pattern and has been abused at times in its life. Meg and I drove to Nebraska in her Jeep Wrangler to pick it up after seeing it for sale on Ebay. Loading it was really up to us but the man who had it listed through his shop did his best to help us including u…

Everyone knows that China is importing, with the blessings of our politicians, all most everything that this country used to make for itself. Well to add to that insult here is the injury. There is at least one individual who is importing blacksmithing equipment including swedge blocks and tools from China and at least one guy who buys it from him for resell. Ok thats not the problem, other then the bad metal these things are made with, its how they are selling this stuff. This guy brings in it into the country, it sits out in the weather to AGE it, he beats on it too make it look old then He has a buddy wonder into the holding area so a claim that this stuff came fr…

Anvil Repair, Whilst not a hugely popular topic and for all intents and purposes seems not something to talk about in polite company according to authors and others who believe a antique should remain as it is. Me? I believe if your looking to collect things then thats what you should do. But I would caution about collecting anvils. One, Their not something that will fit nicely in a cupboard or album, Two, Usually heavy and guarantied to leap out at toes at shins or unsuspecting visitors. Three, They Will Not pay back the investment with much if any increase over the purchase price. Anvil's are something unique in many ways due to there being pivotal points in hist…

A Touch Mark is a marking representing the blacksmith or forge on every piece of work that is finished. Like American cattle brands these marks varied greatly and many can still be traced to the original forges. We have started the paperwork to register ours which is (|), The ( represents Craftworks and the |) is for Duncan

Hey Check Out My Shield I just finished painting a shield I purchased a while back, and I have a picture of myself with it on my profile page. Please excuse the quality, I had to use our cheap-o web came as the digital camera was rendered useless by my four year old son. The coat of arms on the shield has nothing to do with my family... except that my wife really liked the winged wolf, and I’ve always liked heraldic eagles (that’s “tribal chickens” for all you tattoo artists out there). (That helm was made by the good people at McKenzie-Smith.) --David :sheildsmile:

Duncan, I finally sat down and drew my dream sword. These are the basic specs: It's basically the same as the sword in my avatar, which is from the Maciejowski Bible. The best online link I've been able to find to the Maciejowski Bible is here, at Medieval Tymes. What I'm looking for is some info on how this sword ought to be forged, keeping it as historically accurate as possible, and how much something like this would probably cost me. Thanks!

A Rule of Thumb: Each Smith or metal worker does things his or her own way. It is impossible to define accurately the techniques used by one particular smith in making an item. Years ago metal working was more defined by personality, training, and experience then text books as there were none to speak of. However today of what I've seen the text books are winning over the old ways. It's sad. Each metal worker is of different muscular or mental characteristics. Each has different back ground training, tools and a distinct way of looking at the metal. Each one had a different way to even start his fire for the days work which varied for what jobs he had when. His ap…

Here's a shot of a sword I manufactured back in 2000. It's approx. 49" long and weighs around 3 lbs. The blade is 1/4" thick at center.

Not long ago whilst going through a very old tome I found a drawing depicting a oxen powered trip hammer from an undisclosed age that was used to work metal ingots into smaller sizes that would have been shipped out. The book made no references to the age of the machine but clearly shows wooden cogs and gears with wood pegs holding the timber frame together. [*] A. Beam or Helve [*] B. A trunnions which supports the beam. [*] C. The hammer face. [*] D. Anvil face. [*] E. Anvil. [*] F. Trunnions [*] G. A metal strip called a shell or striker plate. [*] H. The power shaft or axle and hub [*] I. The toothed wheel. This could be …