Francis Trez Cole Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 What are your favorite Myths. " Like if you spit on an anvil put a piece of hot metal on it and hit it with a hammer the hammer will be launched through the roof." "Viking swords were quenched in the blood Of_______________" "putting a penny in the fire will keep you from being to forge weld" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-1ToolSteel Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 The two anvil myths I see the most are 1: if it looks like an anvil, it's an anvil, and 2: if it doesn't look like an anvil, it's not an anvil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 All blacksmiths shoe horses. We all smell like coal smoke. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubalcain2 Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 my smithing friend/mentor who I bought most of my equipment from swears that if you leave your hammer on the face of your anvil overnight the devil gets into it and everything you make the next day will come out wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stockmaker Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 50 minutes ago, Tubalcain2 said: my smithing friend/mentor who I bought most of my equipment from swears that if you leave your hammer on the face of your anvil overnight the devil gets into it and everything you make the next day will come out wrong. So that is my problem. I am going to stop doing that!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 There is the one that you should start and end the day by "ringing" your anvil 3 times to drive the devil away. Most of the one I know deal with bladesmithing---like needing to quench a blade in a North/South alignment to prevent it from warping. Or that edge packing makes the steel denser. Or that the quenchant can change the elemental composition of the steel. Or that repeated folding and welding increases the carbon content of the steel. A modern myth would be that methods specifically worked out for use with wrought iron and wrought iron derived steels can improve modern steels with their use on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olfart Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 13 hours ago, Frosty said: All blacksmiths shoe horses. We all smell like coal smoke. Frosty The Lucky. I don't shoe horses, but I have been known to shoo horses. Especially when the neighbor's horse gets into my chicken feed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 Everybody elses metal stays hotter longer than yours does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Ling Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 45 minutes ago, John B said: Everybody elses metal stays hotter longer than yours does. I had a friend out to forge with me, and he claimed that the metal moved easier because of my hammer. geez. Littleblacksmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borntoolate Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 8 hours ago, Tubalcain2 said: my smithing friend/mentor who I bought most of my equipment from swears that if you leave your hammer on the face of your anvil overnight the devil gets into it and everything you make the next day will come out wrong. uh ohh!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 I was with my horseshoeing mentor long ago when we got a call from a San Pedro salvage yard. They had a Hay-Budden anvil for sale. We drove over for a looksee, and it was a good one attached to a metal stand. I said that I wanted it for the price they were asking, and after the transaction, Al, the mentor, separated it right away from the stand. He said he was looking for a silver dollar as some of the old smiths would have one between anvil and stand (or stump) for luck...kind of like ship builders "step a mast." There was no silver dollar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 I tend to chisel in some identifier in the indentation under many anvils so if stolen I can prove it was mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 4 hours ago, olfart said: I don't shoe horses, but I have been known to shoo horses. Especially when the neighbor's horse gets into my chicken feed. I'd never shoo a horse, in fact I try to lure them close enough to pet. Of course we don't have chickens and the goats are long gone so no feed thievery to worry about. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc1 Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 The oldest myth would probably be for blacksmiths being linked to the occult, magic, supernatural. Still today people believe a horseshoe will bring them luck or fend off bad luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 Although the origins are not exactly known, it is believed that the horseshoe became the symbol of luck when the eighth century Chaldeans thought its crescent shape represented various moon goddesses thus protecting against the curse of the evil eye. Others say the horseshoe myth dates back to a 10th century blacksmith named Dustan, the patron saint of blacksmiths Some say the ends should point up, so that the horseshoe catches the luck, Others say they should point down, so that the luck is poured upon those entering the home. I have been told many times that a blacksmith hangs the horseshoe heels down so the protective powers and good fortune shower upon his anvil, and business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 You'll go to Hades for hitting a cold anvil (working cold steel).. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneCoeArtistBlacksmith Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 I always tell students that if they forge black metal they will pee in bed tonight. That sure gets the younger ones to quit that and the older ones get a good laugh. Let me know if I can help you. Wayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 On 4/2/2017 at 7:15 AM, WayneCoeArtistBlacksmith said: I always tell students that if they forge black metal they will pee in bed tonight. That sure gets the younger ones to quit that and the older ones get a good laugh. Let me know if I can help you. Wayne That's a good one Wayne! Kids don't take the going to hades line seriously but bed wetting is another thing. Consider that one adopted with elation! Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlpservicesinc Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 See that.. I can be as nasty and as crazy as I'd like.. My journey is all ready planned.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 Not a myth, but my wife's rule of thumb "In the Blacksmith shop if it ain't hot, it's sharp". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 if it ain't hot, it's sharp. or dirty. The type of dirt that transfers to everything and will not wash off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneCoeArtistBlacksmith Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 I had one student that was about 15 that would go to conferences or meetings with me. When I would pick him up I always would ask him, "Do you have clean underwear on?" He always had a funny look on his face when he would answer, "Yes." I don't think that was something that his parents would ask him but when I was a kid (many,,,many years ago) that was a common question. The concept was, "What if you were in an accident and were taken to the hospital?" Having been raised in southeastern New Mexico where it could be comfortable, or even hot in the day but cold when the sun went down I was frequently asked, "Have you got a coat with you?" I still always carry a coat if I am leaving home in the evening. Wayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 But do you wear clean underwear? Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 Now you have me re-writing that ABBA song using "Commando"... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobasaurus Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 On 4/1/2017 at 9:50 AM, ThomasPowers said: There is the one that you should start and end the day by "ringing" your anvil 3 times to drive the devil away. Most of the one I know deal with bladesmithing---like needing to quench a blade in a North/South alignment to prevent it from warping. Or that edge packing makes the steel denser. Or that the quenchant can change the elemental composition of the steel. Or that repeated folding and welding increases the carbon content of the steel. A modern myth would be that methods specifically worked out for use with wrought iron and wrought iron derived steels can improve modern steels with their use on them. I always thought packing was BS. I hear about it all the time online and in old texts, but it never seemed right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.