St. Lawrence Power and Equipment Museum Blacksmith Demo

We were invited up to Madrid, NY for the annual St. Lawrence Power and Equipment festival to do a blacksmith demo. We were to be a part of the N.Y. State Decorative Blacksmith chapter demo. The event featured farm equipment, a civil war fort complete with reenactors, a buggy barn, wood splitter shack, sugar shack (serving fresh maple syrup), wood crafting shop, and a blacksmith shop all nineteenth century or earlier equipment. Our part of course was to be at the blacksmith shop. Luke and I loaded up the anvils (by the sweat of our brows..... and pain of the back), post vices and other tools I would need onto the back of my truck and up we went. I set up early so I could do a private demonstration for the blacksmith chapter first. I demoed how to make a simple blacksmith knife. The members of the chapter all knew many of the techniques I used however they didn't know how to put them together to complete a knife. So I showed them my technique in the forging and how to quench and heat treat them. After that I forged four more knives throughout the day, I would encourage the young kids to help me out as my striking anvil was about their size, some of the young boys enjoyed it so much they wouldn't leave. So we would finish the forging together and with permission of their parents I would give them the knives. We were able to meet some very interesting folks there including one old paratrooper from the 173rd ABCT. Talking to older vets like that is such a blessing, hearing their stories and sharing some new ones with them always leaves us with a smile and a new friend.