Crossed Heart Forge

Charcoal forged classical tanto & fusion style takedown knives crafted by hand from reclaimed steel and natural materials using traditional techniques.

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Category Archives: Blacksmith Shop

Film: The Blacksmith – Tools for Satoyama

The forging of this blade was documented both in photography and video by Jordan Wende. The wakishinobe stage of lengthening and preparing the sunobe were done on the last day of forging at the island kajiba, and the hizukuri was finished and yaki-ire performed at the museum forge.

See the photo essay of the wakashinobe and sunobe stages and photos of the finished work.

Posted on 2021/02/08 by davej Posted in Blacksmith Shop.

Simple Bladesmithing Anvil

Traditional Japanese swordsmithing anvils are simple in form and can be made from readily available materials. This article will present a photographic overview of the process of removing and replacing the swordsmith’s anvil at the museum forge on Vancouver Island. Most of… Continue reading →

Posted on 2020/09/26 by davej Posted in Blacksmith Shop, D.I.Y. Technology.

Museum Forge Update

Traditional Japanese swordsmithing forges can be constructed with simple materials and natural ingredients. This article will present a photographic overview of the process of refurbishing the swordsmith’s forge at a museum on Vancouver Island. Most of history was forged with very simple… Continue reading →

Posted on 2020/08/08 by davej Posted in Blacksmith Shop, D.I.Y. Technology.

The End of an Era

It is with some hesitation and a great degree of uncertainty that I interrupt the usual flow of news to bring you this official announcement of the end of an era. While we were blessed to have a workspace on the same… Continue reading →

Posted on 2020/08/05 by davej Posted in Blacksmith Shop, Japan.

Island Forge: An Inside Look at Earthen Walls

An interesting opportunity to study the internal workings of tsuchikabe wall construction as the island kajiba series of photo essays comes to a conclusion, documenting the preparation, construction, and set up of a simple swordsmith style kajiba (鍛冶場, forge building) from the… Continue reading →

Posted on 2020/07/30 by davej Posted in Blacksmith Shop.

Island Forge: Kajiba Clean Up

Some views of the building in its tidiest state ever as the island kajiba series of photo essays comes to a conclusion, documenting the preparation, construction, and set up of a simple swordsmith style kajiba (鍛冶場, forge building) from the ground up.… Continue reading →

Posted on 2020/07/14 by davej Posted in Blacksmith Shop.

Photo Essay: Final Forging Day

Talented Vancouver Island photographer Jordan Wende stopped in at the Island Forge in mid-July to document the final forging session. In this installment of the series, using the mukozuchi hammer to perform wakashinobe in preparation for forging sunobe. Photographed and edited by… Continue reading →

Posted on 2020/07/10 by davej Posted in Blacksmith Shop.

Photo Essay: Forge Visit

Talented Vancouver Island photographer Jordan Wende stopped in at the Island Forge in mid-July to document a visit by Tim of Reforged Ironworks during the time he was helping clean up the forge. In this installment of the series, views of the… Continue reading →

Posted on 2020/07/10 by davej Posted in Blacksmith Shop.

Photo Essay: Forging a Knife

Talented Vancouver Island photographer Jordan Wende stopped in at the Island Forge in mid-July to document the atmosphere and some of the work going on. In this installment of the series, forging a small outdoor knife from an antique carriage spring. Photographed… Continue reading →

Posted on 2020/07/10 by davej Posted in Blacksmith Shop.

Photo Essay: In the Forge

Talented Vancouver Island photographer Jordan Wende stopped in at the Island Forge in mid-July to document the atmosphere and some of the work going on. In this installment of the series, scenes of working at the charcoal forge and anvil. Photographed and… Continue reading →

Posted on 2020/07/10 by davej Posted in Blacksmith Shop.

Photo Essay: Teaching & Instruction

Talented Vancouver Island photographer Jordan Wende stopped in at the Island Forge in mid-July to listen, learn, and document the atmosphere and some of the work going on. In this installment of the series, candid shots of teaching and instruction along with… Continue reading →

Posted on 2020/07/10 by davej Posted in Blacksmith Shop.

Photo Essay: Views of the Kajiba

Talented Vancouver Island photographer Jordan Wende stopped in at the Island Forge in mid-July to document the atmosphere and some of the work going on. In this installment of the series, several views of the forge, tools, and building. Photographed and edited… Continue reading →

Posted on 2020/07/10 by davej Posted in Blacksmith Shop.
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Island Blacksmith Quarterly..

Island Blacksmith Quarterly


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How A Tanto is Made

Follow the stages of forging and mounting a hand forged blade using traditional materials and methods.

Follow the stages of mounting a hand forged blade using traditional materials and methods.

Follow the stages of mounting a hand forged blade using traditional materials and methods.

Follow the stages of hand forging and mounting a chisagatana tanto using reclaimed materials and traditional methods. (More)

A Tour de Forge

Traditional Japanese & Fusion Inspired Art Knives, hand forged from reclaimed farm equipment.

Traditional Japanese & Fusion Inspired Art Knives, hand forged from reclaimed farm equipment.

Traditional Japanese & Fusion Inspired Knives, hand forged from reclaimed farm equipment.

"Dave’s work is something I have both followed and collected since I first discovered him. They are works of deep meaning, exhibiting elegant functionality with all of the core classical elements of feudal Japan. As a collector of high-value antique arms & armour, and also as a 3-decade student of Japanese martial arts (including the katana and tanto), I first encountered Dave’s work while..." (read more)

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