Blacksmiths forge path from practical to poetic

GWEN SADLER

Contributing Writer

Blacksmithing is an ancient craft, dating to the 1500s, that has gone through changes taking it from the practical to the aesthetic. Technically defined, blacksmithing is forging – heating and forming into shape – iron or other metal, though the metal may often be shaped without fire.

While it still caters to function, it has more recently become a popular, and growing, form of artistic expression.

“There are more blacksmiths in the country now than there were in Colonial times,” Bruce Manson, president of the Central Virginia Blacksmith Guild, said.

The CVBG is an organization committed to promoting, supporting and aiding blacksmiths in their skills and craft.

“Our mission includes

Turkey

From 2 set during the 2015 spring hunting season.

“Turkey populations remain healthy and abundant across most of Virginia, enabling hunters to enjoy a record-setting spring turkey season,” said Ryan Brown, DWR executive director.

DWR biologists anticipated the spring turkey harvest would increase during the 2023 season as indicated by above average brood survey results in 2021. The Department’s annual brood survey is a measure of productivity and recruitment within Virginia’s turkey population. In 2021, the heritage of blacksmithing,” Manson said. tical, skilled business, necessary for survival. education, providing resources for blacksmithing and metal work, and preserving the history and survey indicated above average recruitment of turkey poults across much of the state. These birds are now 2 years old, and 2-year-old gobblers are typically very eager to respond to hunter’s calls. These 2-year-old birds also tend to be more vocal, so they are often easier for hunters to locate. In addition to the increased availability of gobblers, favorable hunting weather contributed to a great season for many Virginia turkey hunters.

The guild boasts more than 100 members, mostly from the Central Virginia area, but from as far away as Indiana and New York. A monthly newsletter keeps members informed about guild events and other blacksmithing news.

Temperatures remained relatively cool and dry providing an ample amount of ideal hunting weather.

As in previous years, more birds were harvested east of the Blue Ridge (68%)

“We invite people to come and share their metal crafting and ideas,” said Michael Gillespie, executive director of Blanton-Smith Center for Blacksmith and Metal Arts, which hosts the guild for meetings and classes. Members of the guild gather at the center, located at 2748 Dogtown Road, regularly on the second Saturday of each month, and occasionally at other times. The center is named in honor of longtime, esteemed members Bodie Blanton and Lewis Smith, both deceased.

Dating from the Iron Age, blacksmithing was a prac- than west of the Blue Ridge (32%). Adult gobblers (those with a beard at least 7” in length) made up 92% of the total harvest, while juvenile gobblers known as “jakes” (those with a beard less than 7” in length) accounted for only 8% of the harvest. Turkey harvests occurred overwhelmingly in the morning (93%) versus the afternoon (7%).

Most of the spring turkey harvest took place on private lands (93%). Public land hunters (both federal and state) accounted for 7% of the total spring harvest, which was an increase from the prior two years.

National Forest lands accounted for most public land harvests.

There are still farriers who craft horseshoes, generally from mass-produced products, to fit individual horses’ hooves. Another specialty popular in blacksmithing today is making knives, tomahawks and hatchets. That requires specialized equipment, Manson said.

Some guild members are professional blacksmiths. A longtime member who made blacksmithing his source of income for a time is Dan Boone, a direct descendent of the famed frontiersman, Daniel Boone, who was a blacksmith early in his life. The current Boone is a seventhgeneration blacksmith, now retired, who mainly made hooks, some plain, some ornate, and became known for the artistry of his dragonhead designs.

“We travelled the country to craft fairs and the

Although many states within the region are reporting declining spring turkey harvests and populations, Virginia seems to be a bright spot regionally. Four of the top five turkey harvests have occurred since 2020, indicating that populations appear to be robust. However, there are several areas of the Commonwealth where objectives to increase turkey populations are not being met. DWR biologists continue to monitor these areas for potential management solutions.

Using best available science and stakeholder input, the agency will begin revising the Wild Turkey Management Plan (dwr.vir- like selling simple hooks for $2,” said Boone’s wife, Judy. “We’d have people find us again years later and tell us they could only spare the money for the [simple] hook back then, but now they could afford a dragonhead [design] hook.”

Jewelry-making is also a popular off-shoot of blacksmithing, where the metals used are of the more precious variety, but the tools and techniques largely remain the same.

While history views blacksmithing as an industry for creating tools and weaponry, mass production has pushed it to a different milieu. Manson is drawn to blacksmithing because of the artistry involved.

“I appreciate the creativity and ingenuity in utilizing metal in various ways,” he said. “It’s fascinating watching raw material change shape into what you want.”

Yard art is a specialty ginia.gov/wildlife/turkey/ management-plan during 2023 and will provide more information as the process for Gillespie, who can be found many weekends at craft fairs such as Arts in the Park in Richmond and the Fort Clifton Festival in Colonial Heights.

“What we make, you can’t get off the shelf at Walmart,” Gillespie said.

“Our stuff will last forever.” gets underway. More details of the turkey harvest can be found at dwr. virginia.gov/ wildlife/turkey.

In observance of its 25th anniversary in March, the guild hosted a “HammerIn,” which saw members come from around the region and out of state to share their knowledge and celebrate the art, craft and skill of blacksmithing.

The guild will hold a beginners class, Intro to Blacksmithing, on Saturday, May 27, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. To register or for more information about the class or the guild, visit www.cvbg.org.

More information about the Blanton-Smith Center for Blacksmith and Metal Arts may be found on their Facebook page.