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If you make these I'd like to know the price

What is that black substance

My thought is that if you can perform a piece they way it had to be done 1,000 years ago and you can demonstrate it, go ahead and produce your works however you want. As far as that fabricator under the face of a blacksmith, I wouldn't buy because he is dishonest.

I was talking to a "traditional" blacksmith as he turned on his electric blower to heat his steel. He pulled his high carbon damascus steel billet from his band saw he told me "The only way to properly be a blacksmith is to do thangs the old way." looking around his smithy I noticed a welder and plasma cutter, not to mention a propane forge. I asked him why he considers himself a traditional smith? He smiled at me and told me this. "The first blacksmiths used a rock for an anvil. As time went on anvils changed shapes, wrought iron anvils changed to cast iron then to cast steel. The first smiths dug iron ore from the earth and bloomed their own iron. Now they buy it at a store. The fact of the matter is a traditional smith uses the most up to date tech they have available."

It's your business. You are forging the blank just like square, flat and round stock. Only bloomey iron is not fabricated. If you sent time to change the shape with a hammer, it's blacksmithing.

if i wear a cowboy hat that doesn't make me a cowboy or if i stand in my garage that does not make me a truck, nor if i go to church make me a Christian, if i had a cnc or plasma cutter but i used heat and a hammer and anvil like creation to make a product i would be a blacksmith. I agree with others that have posted if you have access to plasma or cnc and don't use them imo you are foolish i know i would

If the old timers had, had a plasma torch you can bet they'd have used it. Period. Now if someone is insistent on a traditional build, do it for them and charge them for it. My bet is no one will want one. Few blacksmiths who make a business of smithing are true to the notion of traditional only. No worries.

I think you are using plasma as a time saver. Not as a full product. If you were CnCing the whole thing then putting a touchmark on you'd be far more into the fabrication area. You forge each piece of the project. Its not a full fabrication. I'd say its forging. You make sure each piece is forged not just straight from the machine.

..hmm, fabricators assemble. blacksmiths create...

I would have no problem using a pre-cut blank in the way you are using it. I use a porta-band saw or a tin snip to cut things out. The majority of the people I sell to wouldn't appreciate "authenticity" and it saves me time. I can't forge weld yet but I find ways around it (rivets or collars) or consider the style of the project (modern art or historic reproduction). I'm with you, the guy with welded, pre cut blanks painted blacks is a fabricator or "crafter".

Anyone stating you aren't a real blacksmith if…is gatekeeping. On the other hand, if you're representing a period of work, then don't fudge. Work with heat, metal, and hammer, and anvil, then you're a blacksmith. I'm likely to be using blanks in my work soon enough to fill out some of my stock on the craft table.

Congratulations on breaking 1000! I always enjoy your videos.

A blacksmith is one who works with black iron. Tinsmith, tin, silversmith silver, etc. Work it with the tools and knowledge you have at the time. If you went back in history with a mig welder and plasma cutter you would be the greatest blacksmith of the era. Others would of used those with the opportunity. Go back further and you'd have to smelt your iron. Should we not buy factory made bars? Milled boards from home depot, plywood? Or do we have to start with a living tree to say we are a furniture maker because that's how it was done in the olden days?

I definitely think that any skilled craftsman should be able to use any available tools with no regrets. No one should be gatekeeping any skills. I think that blacksmiths from hundreds of years ago would not look down on someone using modern technology.

The line is where you can use your skills, even if combined, to make a living.

That’s awesome job!

Love it. Thank you.

..Thanks for showing the process on making this piece Mr Johnston...!

Beautiful piece, and I love the contrasting rivets as well, very nicely done!!

Nice work

Great tutorial Chris.

Looks great, nice work!

Kinda boring, but nice piece

Very nice job..............Jay

Fun project

I’m curious why there was no mention to the inherent design flaw of a modern HB head being the short pole that is extremely prone to loosening up, as the pole is too short to accommodate an appropriate kerf and wedge depth.

Nice video and interesting idea on avoiding the drop tong weld. Have you ever welded the parent bar of the point to the poker?

Very cool how you forged the claws and beak. Your technique brought so much life into the piece.

so strange, not sure if my comments need to be approved or something, I've been trying to reply and they disappear. It's pljames at the popular google email site (:

Looks good. I'm going to have to make some of these

Another great video, thanks as always

clean opener, nice job

..apologies for missing the live, twas my bedtime. Congratulations to the winner. Thank Mz Vanessa for shooting a Great video of your fantastic work...!!

Sorry I missed this but in my defense I was out in my forge :D Thanks so much! (and my last name is James, that's where my user name comes from, but totally reasonable guess!)

I sub'd to your newsletter on your web page. Can you send me the photo you talked about in the live feed.

999 one more to go

Just awesome! Thanks for sharing.

Was hoot watching you make that.

The round stock look very nice.

Great job. And congrats on 1000

Great looking bottle opener!

Great video

Congratulations brother good video

Absolutely gorgeous, I love that you can make it with minimal tooling. And it's not a properly forged piece until something falls on the ground, so glad to see you got that part covered. Congrats on your progress to 1000!

Love the owl and appreciate the guidance. I will have to try and make something similar very soon

Now I have to watch the other video. Very nice...

Very nice owl bottle opener !!

Great video. Always enjoy.