The Art of Blacksmithing

by Alex W. Bealer

If you want to know how an eighteenth-century iron hinge was made, or how an intricate trivet was formed, or how a muzzle-loading rifle barrel was welded, The Art of Blacksmithing has the answers. If you would like to set up a blacksmith shop, this book describes and illustrates the equipment and the techniques developed in more than six thousand years of working iron by hand. For the lover of history and the person who admires the ingenuity of common men, this book reflects respect for the specialized skills of the smith, and creates nostalgia for the color and excitement of the village smithy, which so recently disappeared from the Western world. Indeed, this unique book covers every aspect of a fascinating and little-known art, the fundamental craft on which the civilization of the Iron Age was built.

In gathering the mass of material for this book, Alex W. Bealer exhausted the few available books on ironworking and completed his research by talking and working with retired and active iron workers and armor experts in the United States and Europe. His descriptions of technique are frequently based on the authority of personal experience at his own forge.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, History, Crafts, Art, How To, Research

438 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1996

Reviews

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone with some prior knowledge of and experience with blacksmithing, I found this to be a wonderful high-level overview of the craft and the possibilities that exist for projects. The information contained in this book is more inspirational than educational, but I think it serves its purpose. After reading The Art of Blacksmithing, I have so many new project ideas and plans, and even if Bealer didn't provide explicit step-by-step instructions for these projects, he provides enough information that someone with a bit of knowledge and skill can figure the rest out for themselves.

My one major gripe with this book is that I felt it could've been better organized. The projects and items described throughout are organized into rough groupings at a chapter level, but within each chapter it would've been nice to have more distinct sub-groupings. Instead, the chapter on hardware flows without pause between nails and hinges and doorknobs with no breaks in between, for example.

Beyond that, Bealer uses some flowery and hyperbolic language to describe the craft of blacksmithing, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't find it somewhat inspiring. Whether you're new to the craft or someone looking for project ideas, I think The Art of Blacksmithing is a great book to get your mind moving and ready to pound some steel.

[Tom Byron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really a how to book but a very in depth and detailed history of making tools and weapons.Author really did his research and explains in a strait forward writing style all the methods of the old ways.Want to know how Japanese swords or Damascus steel was really made,read this and enjoy.

[Jeff Shelnutt · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while to get through this book because I could only read about ten pages before its dryness and technicality drove me on to something else. This was unfortunate because I'm interested in the subject matter. But I have a hard time quitting a book once I've begun. Maybe my expectations were too high, or I was deceived by the "art" in the title.

One redeemable quality was the illustrations. I probably could have just looked at these instead of wading (or trudging) through the text. Also, there was some useful instructions on stoking different types of fires depending on the heat that's needed for the project in question. But surely there is a more readable and attention-keeping book out there on blacksmithing. I have a couple more on my shelf, so we'll see how they pan out...

However, I do value it as a reference and I'm sure it will come in handy at some point.

[Ryan Mishap · Rating 3 out of 5]

People wrote differently thirty and forty years ago, making grand statements with no hint of irony: civilization would not exist without the noble blacksmith.
Many professions now turned into crafts will say this.

At any rate, this is the author's personal history of blacksmithing--enthusiast's histories--which are not the same as a scholar's--are often fun to read because their passion for the subject overshadows all and fills in the blanks in our knowledge with knowing speculation.
After the history, he delves into the tools of the trade and the techniques used by smith's around the world and throuout history.
Plenty of interesting stuff in here, with well-done illustrations.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Art of Blacksmithing" is nothing short of an essential text to any smith. Want to know how to hammer weld? Bealer has you covered. Upsetting some iron to make an animal headed cane? That's here too. There is even a comprehensive section on making flintlock rifles, pistols, muskets, and shotguns. Parts of Bealer's book are arcane, and he admits it. When he wrote the book, he saw blacksmithing as a dying art, so he didn't shy away from even the dry details. Turns out his book was a catalyst for modern smithing. Great illustrations (more would be great), but my only complaint is that my eyes glaze over after several pages. For a handbook though, you can't beat "The Art of Blacksmithing."

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this as a reference, for a novel in which one of the characters works as a blacksmith, but it's pretty interesting in its own right. I would like to learn this art as a hobby, and when I tackle that, this will be one of the references I keep close at hand when I obtain and set up the place and the equipment and when I start learning to use them.

[T. Frohock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not kidding, I'm reading this book and really enjoying it. Excellent history of the blacksmith and technical details on making everything from everyday items to weapons. The best part is that it is well written and entertaining too.

[Katra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not necessarily a fun read for the general public, but this book has everything, and I mean everything the aspiring blacksmith would want to know. It's the blacksmithing bible.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughout the book the author uses lots of words used to describe the techniques used by blacksmiths, and help illustrate pictures of how its done. From what I know I believe that the central idea of the book is to inform the audiences a about the history, techniques and tools in the world of blacksmithing.
In the first chapter of The art of blacksmithing a story is told of how the blacksmiths were perceived as in their time. A common group of words that appear throughout this short story are possessive and revealing of what this story means. It describes why blacksmiths where so important from how they were seen to control the four elements.
I absolutely loved this book! Now this book is not for everyone, but if you’re looking to be a blacksmith I recommend this book a hundred percent. Personally I am a blacksmith which is why I love it so much. It teaches all sorts of different things that you’d need to know in order to be a blacksmith from the histories of the art and material to the techniques and tools used. So I award this book a solid five gold stars.

[David Kirwan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. So many common items people might actually need or want to make, good explanations and diagrams explaining the techniques in detail.

Took me a long time to get through it, I found I was constantly stopping, taking notes, and even heading out to the forge to try things out. Loved it.

[C. Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun to read and skim. Not an authoritative resource for actual blacksmithing... The book was written and published in 1969. The author was not a blacksmith, but appreciated the craft and was trying to capture the spirit of a vanishing art.

[A.K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great narrative walk through Blacksmithing and it's techniques! Enjoyed it!

[Allan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a history book since I have no desire to be a blacksmith. From that aspect it was very interesting especially all the arcane knowledge that the author presents.

[Chien Dao · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing record of skills that might otherwise be lost

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book may be my personal record for how long it has taken me to read a book where I never considered myself to have actually put it on hiatus or given up.

My grossly never-finished novel o' doom concerns a lot of blacksmiths, and therefore I decided a few years ago that I should maybe learn a thing or two about blacksmithing, so I didn't totally fuck up any more than I needed to. If novel ever gets to Draft 2 I may see about taking a blacksmithing course, but that will be far in the future.

Anyway, The Art of Blacksmithing by Alex W. Bealer seemed to be one of the better respected publications about general blacksmithing that I could find on the Internet; apparently Tamora Pierce has also used it as a source for novel research, so that seemed like a good sign. I have, over the past slightly more than two years, slowly worked my way through it in small doses, usually reading a few pages here and a few pages there, on the subway to and from writing sessions, or sometimes between finishing one book and starting the next.

The book is not necessarily a rollicking good read, being pretty dry and technical, and it was written in the '70s and sometimes it just sounds dated (not in terrible ways, just ways that now sound stilted and not very vivid). Some of the information is inherently quite interesting, but much of it is interesting in exact proportion to how curious you already are about blacksmithing. It is extremely informative, though, covering a wide range of topics and going into pretty good detail, accompanied by a lot of diagrams and illustrations to clear up the things that are difficult to explain in just words. The most readable sections concern history, both the history of blacksmithing generally and the historical developments of certain categories of blackwork (swords, guns, etc.). While I do think these bits are especially interesting, I still wouldn't recommend the book overall for entertainment purposes. However, if you're genuinely curious about the subject and/or doing any writing where you want to be able to have some idea of what you're talking about, then I would recommend it pretty highly.

[Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a terrific introduction for those interested in working metal. It gives a wonderful historical perspective of the smith and his keystone position in the development of European and American cultural identity. It traces the history of European iron and steel manufacturing and gives a detailed description of the processes as they developed from the beginning, with large fires and iron ore mined from the ground, all the way through the 19th century, focusing on antiquated processes. It scarcely covers modern, industrial steel manufacturing, however this book is a historical understanding and absolutely fascinating for those interested in becoming artisan metal smiths. While reading the book there was almost an olfactory sensation, and my head was left ringing with the pulsation of the ringing anvil.

[Gavin Carrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

When my brother showed me this book earlier last month i thought it was the most stupid thing ever. when I actually opened the book my opinion totally changed from stereotyping it, to indulging myself for hours into this interesting facts and culture about blacksmiths. talking about the history, the tools, techniques, and there importance in their own villages and culture. One of my favorite facts is that at a wedding back in the medieval times they always have a blacksmith to attend them because it was symbolism as if he is bonding and sealing them together as they become one in being husband and wife. This book is a great read if you're a history nut like I am, and love the art of blacksmith's.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

An old book, and frankly better than most written today about the craft. A few illustrations and such, but more important is the fact that it's got a lot of info that I haven't seen elsewhere. I've finished it twice and still manage to learn something I somehow missed or forgot when I pick it up.

Alas, it's finally time to take this off of the "currently reading" list since I've been so busy with work and haven't had time to actually forge anything in almost a year. But it still sits at home, ready and waiting for the day I get a break and can fire up the coals again.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an interesting read. At the time it was written, virtually no hobbyist blacksmiths existed. Much of the book contains historical information about blacksmithing and the author's proselytizing.

I was actually much more interested in hands-on instruction. While there is discussion of the tools and techniques, I think it would be difficult to transform the info into practical how-to steps for making your own working forge.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I finished reading this, my first thought was to write to the publisher to say how great it was. Working with museums and conducting artifact research, this gets pulled out every time I look at anything to do with metalworking. An amazing reference book.

[Joseph Monroe]

only for the blacksmithing enthusiast.

[Scott Allen Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An old-timer but still highly respected. Inexpensive. There is a yearly ‘Alex Bealer’ award given by ABANA.

[Rory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative, a bit too much for me at this stage but full of all the techniques that a blacksmith would need to master for his trade.