Forging Adventure
One of the current projects at the Parksville Museum forge involves hand crafting knives from series Land Rover leaf springs. Series spring steel has not changed spec since the first run in 1948 and replacements today are even made with the same composition. The projects shown below are made from original 1965 Series 2a Land…
Photo Essay: Museum Forge Visit
Talented LA-based photographer and aspiring bladesmith Jourdan Causey made a detour up to the Museum Forge on a very cool April morning to document the atmosphere as the first blade of the season was forged from century-old mining car rail in a fire fueled by charcoal made with brush cleared homestead branches. Photographed and graded…
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…
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 history was forged with very simple equipment made from found and natural materials.…
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 equipment made from found and natural materials. A basic charcoal forge can be…
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 property for several years, the recent kajiba project came to a close much…
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 ground up. The main inspiration for aesthetic, form, and technique is the humble…
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. The main inspiration for aesthetic, form, and technique is the humble utilitarian Japanese…
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 Jordan Wende Interior Views Heating a reclaimed steel billet in the charcoal forge.…
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 forge and environs while using the mukozuchi sledge hammers. Photographed and edited by…
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 and edited by Jordan Wende Wakashinobe – Lengthening the Billet Rough drawing out…
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 edited by Jordan Wende Interior Views At the charcoal forge Operating the fuigo…
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 notes on some of the topics covered in this session. Photographed and edited…
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 by Jordan Wende Interior Views Tezuchi hand hammer on the anvil and mukozuchi…
Photo Essay: Views of the Shiageba
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 shiageba at rest. Photographed and edited by Jordan Wende Polishing, Fittings, & Lacquering Togi oke (polishing bucket) after a long…