The Evolution of Blacksmithing
A brief history
Blacksmithing is a method of working and shaping iron and steel by heating the metal and forming it to shape with hammers and other striking tools on some form of an anvil. This technology of metalworking has existed since ancient times, and other than a few refinements in tools, has remained fairly unchanged over thousands of years. This material go
t its name because of the method used to produce it. Large heated pieces of iron were pounded to shape by large power hammers typically driven by water wheels. During this process the impurities were driven out and the bar was thinned down, literally being “wrought” into a more usable shaped bar. Because it is so labor intensive to produce, today this material has mostly been replaced by steel. It is a common misconception that the main job of a blacksmith was making horseshoes and shoeing horses. Shoeing horses was normally the job of a craftsman called a Farrier. Many blacksmiths did shoe horses, but it was usually only a small part of their total business. In contrast the general blacksmith was a multitalented person who produced a wide range of products. The smith was both an artist and a craftsman. Items that he produced not only had to function properly, but also had to be well made and in many cases had to be aesthetically pleasing as well. The typical types of items made by a town blacksmith included tools and household utensils as well as implements which were used for cooking and tending the fire. Hardware such as hinges and door latches were also produced. Farm equipment such as plows, picks and hoes were made and maintained by the smith as well as metal parts for wagons and the iron rims for wagon wheels. The typical shop that a smith operated was the equivalent of the modern hardware store and auto shop rolled into one. During the time of the industrial revolution the work that the blacksmith did was almost completely replaced by mass-produced products. A handful of dedicated smiths were able to keep on working mostly producing architectural items such as railings and gates however, eventually even this work was mostly replaced by machine produced products and modern fabrication techniques. It might seem that the hand forging craft of the blacksmith would have disappeared altogether. However, this ancient art and craft is still carried on today. Mass produced metal items have not completely eliminated handwork anymore than printed posters have replaced fine hand painted art. Machine formed parts and low cost stampings cannot replace the beauty and unique character of hand forging. Architectural, decorative, and functional products continue to be produced by many highly skilled working smiths. WRABA and its members continue to support these modern day blacksmiths both amateur and professional alike.
