Blacksmith for the day

A Day at the Forge with Anvil & Yew
One of the things I enjoy most about knife making is that there's always something new to learn. This week I had the opportunity to spend some time at the forge with Dr Zech Jinks of anvilandyew.co.uk⁠�, and it was a fantastic experience.
Although I make knives regularly, most of my work starts with bar stock rather than forging. Spending time at the anvil and learning some traditional blacksmithing techniques gave me a whole new appreciation for the skill, patience and precision involved in shaping hot steel with nothing more than hammer, anvil and fire.
Under Zech's guidance, I forged a knife from start to finish, learning how to move steel efficiently, control the shape of the blade and work with the material rather than against it. The knife produced may not be perfect, but every hammer blow taught me something new.
As makers, it's easy to stay within our comfort zones, but days like this remind me of the value of learning from others and keeping traditional skills alive. Every new technique and lesson helps me improve as a craftsman and ultimately benefits the knives I make at Skol Knives.
A huge thank you to Zech for his time, patience and willingness to share his knowledge. I'm already looking forward to the next visit to the forge.
Skol Knives – Built to be used.

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