The Blacksmith's Source Book: An Annotated Bibliography

by James Fleming

This unique annotated bibliography lists nearly 300 books on the art of blacksmithing. It is divided into four Practical Black­smithing, Specialized Areas of Blacksmithing, Historical Background of the Profession, and Products of the Forge. Part 1 deals with the technical side of the texts, manuals, and courses aimed at teaching the basic pro­cesses. It includes reference books on the materials of blacksmithing and on metallurgy. Part 2 presents the more specialized and advanced processes of blacksmithing, includ­ing ornamental ironwork, farm smithing, industrial forging, and bladesmithing. It also includes materials related to pattern-welded Damascus steel. The listings in part 3 deal with black­smithing as a literary and historical subject. The primary focus of these books is on the traditions, lore, and descriptions of the trade. In these books the processes, tools, and prod­ucts are of only secondary importance. Part 4 lists books that treat the products of the forge, a wide-ranging area that covers everything from tools and utensils to archi­tectural works. A special feature of this section is a chapter emphasizing individual smiths and their works. The book also con­tains two indexes, one an alphabetical listing by author and one an alphabetical listing by title.

216 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1980

About the author

James Roland Fleming was an English author and editor of the journal The Book Collector from 2018 to 2024. He was the son of Richard Fleming who served in Scottish regiments during World War II (Lovat Scouts and Seaforth Highlanders) and nephew to spy author Ian Fleming.
Fleming lived for the last 20 years in the remote North of Scotland in order to concentrate on his writing. This is where his Charlie Doig Russian series gestated. Well respected in the nearest town to his estate he became an honorary "Wicker" and fully immersed himself in community life.
He wrote two historical novels, the first in 2000, The Temple of Optimism, and then in 2003 Thomas Gage.
In 2006 Fleming wrote the first in a trilogy of thrillers, Cold Blood. Two more followed: White Blood (2008) and Rising Blood (2009) that featured the Scottish/Russian character "Charlie Doig."
His 2021 book, Bond behind the Iron Curtain, examined the Russian critique of Ian Fleming.
From 2018 Fleming was the editor of The Book Collector. His essay on the process of indexing the backfile, “The Price of Passion: Indexing The Book Collector," illuminated the journal's history. In 2023 a special issue of The Book Collector was devoted to Printing and the Mind of Man in which Fleming reviewed the correspondence of Percy Muir and John Carter, key organizers of the exhibit.