Overnight master smiths

[Frank Turley]

I feel fortunate to have met Keith Austin and Yataiki in my little lifetime. Each was the Real McCoy, and you may google them if you wish. I met Keith in 1980 at the Santa Cruz ABANA Conference. His apprenticeship in Japan in bladesmithing was nine years long, but he told us there are no weekends in Japan, so it was a solid nine years! I think he was the only foreigner to ever have received an honorable mention for a sword at the annual Tokyo sword show.

 

A few years ago, Yataiki came to Iowa for one month. He was definitely a sensei, could make 113 different wood saw designs. His visit was touted by Fine Woodworking Magazine, but very few smiths knew about his workshop. It was ostensibly to repair broken saws and to teach saw sharpening and teeth setting. The workshop had a forge, so I was able to work with him in blacksmithing for about six days. What a treat!

 

Both men have passed to the other side; RIP.

[SJS]

Some people have an enviable courage and perseverance. They are willing to try, and they are unwilling to give up until they have succeeded. It sounds like the guy did a good job with the tools and the skill level he had available to him at the time. In a consumer society, it is nice to see some one who is creative;-) I had been blacksmithing for over 20years when I made my first sword, I've done 3. A test piece, and two for wedding presents. They aren't easy;-) if the kid didn't embarrass himself, kudos to him.

Some people just don't stop when it isn't easy, they preserver. We generally call those people successful....

"Impossible is not a word, its just a reason for someone not to try..."

[jacobd]

Following my progression since I was about 13, the first step towards learning something useful was being more realistic about it. Not limiting imagination, just using it in a more realistic way. The next was to self educate as much as possible, the anvilfire guru recommended spend at least $200 on books. I did, well up to now probably more. He told me once I've done all that reading I would have questions who's answers would help me a lot more. I've been hobbyist for a few years, so I have a little bit of practice. Over the last few months I bet I've watched well over 24 hrs of YouTube. Tried to be very observant of their methods. What works, what doesn't seem to work well, what I would do instead (assuming in my limited experience I have a method that works better). Quality education is out there. You just have to love doing this enough to take the time to find it.

On that note in no way am I claiming to be exceptionally educated in this matter. I've done fair bit of reading. I've watched a lot of YouTube. Until I put this to practice, it's all just spent time. So we'll see. I don't think all you guys realize the quality of education in your posts. The different perspectives, the methods, discussing problems, and totally different ways of going about the same operation. The more experienced of you on here definitely have a lot to offer. Even if it's just one of the tools/methods you do, that you don't see anyone else do. YouTube also, any projects, be successes or failures are a treasure trove. So many projects I want to do once my new forge is finished I already have a idea where to start, what to do. All from posts or videos. Keep on doing what you do. If you want to provide education by means of videos or articles, do so. Trust me, many of us will benefit from it. Those who want to succeed will weed through the junk. So please, never hesitate to take the opportunity to post a video. Thanks guys.

[anvil]

Just goes to show,,, if you want to move a piece of iron,, all ya gots to do is heat it and beat it.

I haven't seen the vids and would bet most nay sayers haven't either.

My question to you is this.

When, during your journey with hammer in hand, are you qualified to pass your hard won knowledge to others?

For me, its any time after my first blow, if it will inspire even one,,, to follow their dream

For any who remember ABANA at Ripley, check out the reason/request for entrees to the gallery show.

[eseemann]

I was talking to a guy I worked with who wanted to try his had at making blades and he asked me how I quenched my steel. The way he asked it was like he was testing me and when I told him canola oil he gave me an approving look. The good guy has been sold the myth that you can "add carbon to a blade by quenching in used motor oil" (case hardening). I told him that it did not work that way on the back porch. I am bringing him 3 samples of steel from the same stock. This is from a disc from the family farm so I figure it is 1070 at the least. I will bring him a fully annealed, fully hardened and a post toaster oven at 400f for an hour. That is always a good demo. 

[SmoothBore]

I feel fortunate to have met Keith Austin and Yataiki in my little lifetime. Each was the Real McCoy, and you may google them if you wish. I met Keith in 1980 at the Santa Cruz ABANA Conference. His apprenticeship in Japan in bladesmithing was nine years long, but he told us there are no weekends in Japan, so it was a solid nine years! I think he was the only foreigner to ever have received an honorable mention for a sword at the annual Tokyo sword show.

 

A few years ago, Yataiki came to Iowa for one month. He was definitely a sensei, could make 113 different wood saw designs. His visit was touted by Fine Woodworking Magazine, but very few smiths knew about his workshop. It was ostensibly to repair broken saws and to teach saw sharpening and teeth setting. The workshop had a forge, so I was able to work with him in blacksmithing for about six days. What a treat!

 

 

 

The question in my mind is, ... Can a "Specialist" ( no matter how skilled ) be considered a true "Master".

 

In my estimation, one needs to be an accomplished "Generalist", ... in order to be considered a Master.

 

 

 

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[John McPherson]

So, are you saying that you ought be be able to go to the same General Practitioner doctor for every malady, or would you prefer a heart surgeon to do your triple bypass? A General Contractor to run your wiring in your new shop, or a Master Electrician?

 

Every trade has specialists who have taken the art as far as it can go in their area. That is why ABANA had multiple tents set up last week, with everything from huge hydraulic presses to jewelry saws and optivisors being used on steel. Just not by the same people.

 

Peter Ross is not renowned for his damascus swords, and Vince Evans does not take orders for Colonial ironwork. Both are consummately skilled in their area of expertise, which is making historically correct period items.

[SmoothBore]

 

So, are you saying that you ought be be able to go to the same General Practitioner doctor for every malady, or would you prefer a heart surgeon to do your triple bypass? A General Contractor to run your wiring in your new shop, or a Master Electrician?

 

Well, ... a Surgeon doesn't do anesthesia, or prescribe treatments or medications, ... and without those other SPECIALISTS, ... he can't do much on his own.

 

So, ... while being careful to avoid mixing metaphors .....

 

You make my point.

 

Those guys are surely "Masters" of their chosen SPECIALITY, ... but they rely on other SPECIALISTS in order to produce a satisfactory end result.

 

 

But I have this mental image of an "old time" Village Blacksmith, ... who was called upon to make, or repair EVERYTHING that came down-the-pike, ... without having a selection of Specialists available, to support his efforts.

 

Some of his most important "skills" were self reliance and confidence, ... and I believe that is only acquired through the thoughtfull application of a wide variety of experiences.

 

 

 

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In this forum, we continually see beginners asking fundamental questions, ... and by doing so, they are seeking to learn about the Craft.

 

( Yes, ... sometimes these questions seem like a "lazy" way to learn that which could be discovered by thoughtful practice, ... but even so, ... they ARE actively seeking an answer. )

 

 

So, ... ultimately, ... is a Sword a better measure of a Blacksmith's skill, than an Axe, ... or a Steam Engine ?

 

Can a "perfect" copy of someone elses work, be considered "Mastery" ?

 

 

I admit to being confused, by this dilemma.

 

 

 

.

[ThomasPowers]

Well smiths have been specializing for over 1000 years if you look at the number of different guilds they were involved in; the "generalist smith" of the American frontier is rather an outlier.

For example just to make a sword in the high middle ages it would start with a bladesmith and then go to a grinder/polisher and then to the cutler for hilting, perhaps to another shop for engraving, inlaying, etc. As you would expect someone completely different would do the scabbard. So 5 separate guilds just to make 1 blade.

Of course armourmaking was another speciality; there was a special term for people using metal armour made by non-specialists---casualties.

Besides the knowledge needed there was a major investment in tools. Today we can afford to let tools sit idle while we do a different step; back then not so much.