1. To describe the cultural and commercial importance of the craft in a historical context with emphasis on Colonial America.
2. To identify the basic tools of the trade.
3. To review safety procedures for spectators and demonstrators/students.
4. To demonstrate basic forging techniques.
5. To give students hands-on experience at the forge.
6. To have the students complete a forging project to take home.

• Forming of gold and copper with hammer and anvils.
• Use of copper then bronze for commerce and weapons.
• Transition from bronze to iron.
• Role of blacksmiths in societies....products and social standing.
• Colonial (English) iron making and products.
• The rise and fall of American blacksmiths.

• Not much change through time.
• Identify: forge and its parts, anvil, hammers, tongs, punches and other hand/hand operated tools.

• Personal protective equipment....safety glasses and gloves.
• Identifying hot metal.
• Testing for heat.
• Ergonomic considerations during hammering.
• Reporting any problems.

• Forge a small item made during colonial times, i.e. drive hook, S-hook, or similar small item of interest to the group. Perhaps something studied or seen in the Bayou Bend Collection.
• The forging demonstration will be the ‘how -to’ for the students forging their own piece of work.

• Schedule one student to spend 20 or 30 minutes with each demonstrator.
• Student and demonstrator will work together to complete the demonstrated item in the time allotted.

• Demonstrators and students come together for a final group picture with the completed work.

• Colonial Williamsburg Blacksmith
• Anderson Blacksmith Shop
• Williamsburg Marketplace
• Colonial Industry - The Blacksmith
• Backsmith Shop at Old Sturbridge Village
• The Colonial Blacksmith
• Blacksmithing History
• The Village Blacksmith
• Iron in America
• Iron Mining And Metallurgy
• Colonial America. Iron & Milling Technology Timeline
• Saugus Iron Works
• Life and Work at The Saugus Iron Works
• Iron & Steel Museum Of Alabama
• History of Tannehill Ironworks



• HABA Fay School Demo
• HABA Historical Blacksmithing in Texas
• HABA at Barrington Farm 2006
• HABA Smithing in Texas 2005
• HABA at Barrington Farm 2004



• Short History of Metals
• Metals in the Periodic Table
• About Stainless Steel
• Metals and Alloys
• Steelmaking
• How Steel is Made
• The Riddle of Steel
• Materials Science



• The Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age
• The Bronze Age
• Bronze Age Craft
• Bronze Age Artifacts
• Bronze Working



• The Age of Iron
• What caused the Iron Age?
• History Of The Scottish Nation - Iron Age
• Blacksmithing in the Viking Age
• Blacksmithing Art
• Pattern-welding in Early Medieval Swords
• Technology of Iron Production
• Iron Age tool marks move to steel
• History and Development of the Anvil

Photos from June 15 with Dave and Tee.....click to enlarge!

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