While I don't know if there's historical precedent for it, I think it's ingenious none the less.

I particularly like how compact it is. I could see something similar being done with more modern materials.

Yes, it was done. American Civil War, the naval forges were very similar but done in iron, and other forges have been made using both wood and/or iron.

Here are a couple of forges that are supported by wood.

1. On the left---A wooden "box" forge Pettersburg during the American Civil War. These forges were wood boxes with dirt lining the bottom. The air entered the side, which makes the forge a "side blast" forge.
2. The center photographs----A reproduction American Civil War wheeled Traveling Forge. The iron fireplace sits in a wooden frame/carriage. It too is a side blast forge. The iron fireplace has a 1/2" air space between the fireplace's box and the wood frame.
3. On the right-----A reproduction medieval wooden forge. Again essentially a side blast forge originally constructed from wood.

Photos can be found here:
http://www.iforgeiro...ed-forge-stand/

And here is a naval forge, and a American Civil War Portable forge, etc.

When you get right down to it most forges are merely a hole in the ground moved to a convenient height.

I expect that in medieval times a lot of "travel forges" were a corner of the campfire with a small set of bellows. If they were in place for a while---say a siege and could not access the local smithy perhaps a stack of turves to lift it to a convenient height. Remember however that sword and armour making were done in cities by specialized smiths even in medieval times and field work would be at most fairly crude repairs---like owning a Maserati, if it has problems you are most likely to have it fixed by an expert than the local shade tree mechanic; *except* for simple things under exceptional circumstances...

My back and knees don't do well on the ground anymore so my Y1K forge is a wooden table top with a slab of soapstone on it and an adobe and fire safe stone/brick side blown forge (twin single action bellows) assembled on top of it using charcoal for the fuel---based on the one in the carvings of a Scandinavian stave church.

A possibly useful tidbit..... the various military books/references for the 17th through 19th centuries tend to refer to wheeled forge carts and wagons as "traveling forges" while small non-wheeled forges tend to be referred to in references and in the Internet, and in Patent searches, as "portable forges". So... well... when looking for historical information, that might make your search easier.

I have built a version of the 1863 U.S. Naval Forge and have used it at the local museum, and it worked nicely. Documented at: http://www.facebook....146477635399321 After field testing it, I will likely be upgrading some of the parts to make it easier to set up, and possible make a water box between the bellows nozzle and the fireback to keep the bellows nozzle cool. So much to do, so little time. ;-)

I like the look of the wood forge very cool, david your forge you built is way cool also. now i want to build one lol