Profession blacksmith: description and history. Eight interesting facts about forging Articles about the blacksmith

No. 1. When and where did it first appear?
The first blacksmith was the ancient Greek god Hephaestus! But seriously, in 4-3 thousand. BC. the civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt already forged from iron not only weapons and armor, but also household items and agricultural implements.
No. 2. Hot is not the right word!
Iron can be treated worse than some other metals, so it is heated to 1000 ° C and only then the necessary form is melted. The lava, which is just beginning to descend along the slopes of the volcano, has approximately the same temperature.
Number 3. The most common surname
One of the most common surnames in the world came from blacksmithing. Each village always had its own blacksmith, they respected and even feared him! Compare, for example: Russian - Kuznetsov, Kovalev, Kovalchuk; Ukrainian - Koval, Kovalenko; Polish - Kowalski; German - Schmidt; English - Smith; Spanish - Herrero; French - Ferrand.
Number 4. "Cunning" from the word "forge"
Surprisingly, from the word “forge” came the noun “deceit”. The fact is that the ancient Slavs considered the craft of a blacksmith incomprehensible and mysterious. That is why the phrase "build forges" was also interpreted as how to build intrigues, and "knit fetters" meant to entangle. Initially, the word "deceit" meant wisdom, skill. Later it began to imply malicious plans and intentions. At the same time, the expressions “forge your happiness” or “forge your fate” have a positive meaning.
No. 5. What brought the twentieth century?
The development of heavy industry in the twentieth century greatly simplified the forging process. The stamping industry almost replaced the inspiration of hand forging, and welded structures replaced it. But in the XXI century, people again return to individuality and creativity, so the tradition of hand forging is gradually reviving.

The material was prepared by the editors of the Turnkey catalog and the Forging Factory company

One of the oldest art of metal processing is forging. With its help, people created iron products that are necessary and make life easier in ancient times. Smelted fixtures and tools were especially appreciated because of their strength and durability. Found in Central Russia, steel specimens of the 5th-6th centuries AD speak of the excellent professionalism of blacksmiths.

Excavated artifacts are not only expertly crafted, but also expertly decorated. This is evidenced by the finds of the remains of kitchen utensils and marvelous decorations.

The appearance of iron

The first materials used in forging were natural gold and copper nuggets. Later, experimenting with alloys, the blacksmiths smelted bronze. An important discovery and breakthrough in science and weaponry was the processing of meteorite iron. The alloy of iron and carbon has given great promise in the development of many industries, from agriculture to metal processing.

From ancient times, people used steel objects both in home life and in other areas of activity. Therefore, the blacksmith craft was so highly respected in society. No wonder folk wisdom says: "The blacksmith is the father of all things."

Blacksmith gods

From early pagan times, the gods, the blacksmiths or their descendants, who were associated with the element of fire and the process of processing iron, were predominant in the hierarchy of gods. We know such patrons of blacksmithing: Hephaestus - the Greek god, Thor - the Scandinavian, Woland - the European. In popular beliefs there are blacksmiths - sorcerers, shamans and lords of fire elements.

In ancient Russia, we honor Svarog, the blacksmith god sent to Earth to arrange the human universe. Assistant blacksmiths were priests of Svarog. They are endowed in the historical epos with the positive characteristics of the heroes: unprecedented strength, excellent courage and incredible endurance. Shod things were very much appreciated, from here the huge authority of the blacksmith in a community and the state of the early period flows.

The Mystery of Swamp Ore Transformation

The secrets of ore mining were kept secret and accessible to a narrow circle, therefore they were surrounded by speculation and rumors. The use of “meteorite iron” in the forges added to this mythicity. He was given a special unearthly origin. Nebulae were also made up by the blacksmiths-craftsmen themselves. Actions with "unearthly material" were conducted in strict secrecy and were available to units. Even the villagers were afraid to show interest in what was happening in the workshops because of fear and superstitious prejudice.

Forges were always erected on the outskirts of the settlement, due to fire safety, as well as not far from ore and coal reserves. They were built dug in the ground. There were no windows in the room. In such a structure, it is convenient to maintain the desired temperature. Twilight helped the master "by eye" to determine the level of metal heating, which definitely influenced the quality of the forged elements.

Temperature mode

It was required to heat iron to a temperature of 800-1200 C. Is it a little or a lot? Now such values \u200b\u200bdo not surprise anyone. But in the old days, to achieve such temperatures it was necessary to spend more than one hour. Steel got a very hard work. Apprentice blacksmiths manually fanned leather furs in a smelter, and today a pyrometer or thermocouple is used for these purposes.

Myths about blacksmiths


When examining paintings about the forge and the forge, we usually see an image of an inflated hero with a massive sledgehammer in his hands. The torso, naked to the waist, is covered with a leather apron, strong muscles are visible under it. Burning sparks fly out from under the hammer. The representative of the blacksmith profession in the illustrations looks so pathetic. In fact, a person who has been engaged in forging for many years is often sinewy and dried by the heat of everyday life.

The master led the forging process - he held the handbrake and gave commands to the apprentice when and where to hit the hot workpiece. The whole cycle should occur quickly and smoothly, until the iron has cooled down. Constant blows not only dried the hands of the hammer, but also led to diseases and deformation of the joints. All this is the cost of working in a hot shop. The work of the blacksmith was harmful and hazardous to health. But despite this, getting into the apprenticeship with a blacksmith was a great success.

Evgeny Rodin

Forging - This is one of the most ancient and widely used methods of metal processing. As early as 4-3 millennium BC first cold and then hot forging appeared in ancient Iran, Egypt and Mesopotamia. Through forging from iron, some household items, tools, agricultural tools, as well as armor, weapons and horse harnesses were made.

Forging is one of the most ancient and widely used methods of metal processing. As early as 4-3 millennium BC first cold and then hot forging appeared in ancient Iran, Egypt and Mesopotamia. Through forging from iron, some household items, tools, agricultural tools, as well as armor, weapons and horse harnesses were made. Art forging in Naberezhnye Chelny is done the same way.

Iron it can be treated worse than some other metals; therefore, it must be heated to a high temperature (about 1000 ºС) in order to obtain the necessary shape. It is hard to imagine, but approximately such a temperature has a lava that begins to descend along the slopes of the volcano.

Worldwide one of the most common surnames came from blacksmithing. The blacksmith was a very famous and necessary person in every village, therefore surnames on this basis appeared everywhere. Russian Kuznetsov, Kovalev, Kovalchuk, Ukrainian Koval, Kovalenko, Polish Kowalski, German Schmidt, English Smith, Spanish Herrero, French Ferran are some of the most common surnames in different countries.

From the word "forge" the noun "deceit" occurred. The ancient Slavs considered the craft of the blacksmith incomprehensible and mysterious. A blacksmith or "treacherous" forges forges, fetters. The phrase "build forges" was also interpreted as how to build intrigues, and "knit fetters" means to entangle. Initially, the word "deceit" meant wisdom, skill. Later, the meaning of the word changed, "insidiousness" began to denote malicious plans, intentions. At the same time, the expressions “forge your happiness” or “forge your fate” have a positive meaning.

In the twentieth century with the development of heavy industry, the forging process was simplified, hand-forged art was supplanted by rolling and stamping, it was replaced by welded structures

In our age standard products and their mass production, art forging is one of the last living crafts that have come down to us. Each creation of art forging is made manually by a blacksmith, and the quality and impeccability of the final work largely depend on his skill and imagination.

Every year in Donetsk The International Blacksmithing Festival takes place. The best blacksmith art remains in the park as a gift to the city. It has already collected more than 70 works, including a glade of fairy-tale heroes, arbors of lovers, an alley of zodiac signs. Looking at these creations, you understand that only a talented person can breathe life into metal. In Minsk, city parks and squares also have their forged characters: a grandmother with seeds, a postman, a girl with an umbrella, etc.

With the advent of our lives personal computers manufacturing unique and complex forged products is not complete without computer three-dimensional simulation. This technology allows even before the start of production to select the necessary technologies, equipment and blanks for the future forged product.

The art of forging metals is an ancient, if not the oldest applied art. has allowed mankind to create tools and appliances that are superior to their analogues from natural materials at hand in terms of strength, productivity and durability. The first metals to experience cold forging were the native forms of gold and copper. In experiments with alloys, bronze was born. Subsequently, the processing of meteorite iron made a real revolution in the science and weaponry of those times. Steel (alloys of iron and carbon) opened up broad prospects in agriculture and many applied crafts. It is practically impossible to overestimate the importance of the appearance of iron among processed materials for the evolution and progress of mankind. In all branches of activity, since ancient times, people have been using certain steel products or tools. A popular proverb says that a blacksmith is the father of all crafts.

Now a few facts about forging and forges, which, in our opinion, may be interesting or useful to you.

- The blacksmiths are gods, demigods, descendants of the gods. In all the early pagan cultures of mankind, the pantheon of the main (supreme) gods included the blacksmith god or god, one way or another connected with the process of metal processing, the lord of fire elements and the patron of crafts. Examples: Thor among the Scandinavians, Veland (Woland) among the Europeans, Hephaestus (Volcano) among the Greeks. The secrets of ore mining and refining of metals were strictly preserved in the circle of initiates. And as a result, overgrown with rumors and myths. The use of meteorite iron in addition to bronze and copper, the unearthly origin of which even then did not cause much doubt, added mystery. Forging was carried out in secrecy, work was carried out with "celestial metal", units possessed skills, products were incredibly highly valued - these factors are quite enough to raise a blacksmith to the highest degree of hierarchy in a tribe or early state. Further, folk art: blacksmiths - shamans, sorcerers, the lord of the elements, priestesses of fire and so on. Forging itself has become akin to rites. I think the first blacksmiths themselves were not averse to catching the fog. In Russia, the blacksmith god was Svarog - a direct descendant of the Sort, sent to create the human world and arrange the world order. Blacksmiths were considered priests of Svarog. The undeniable benefits brought to the community invariably made the forge a positive hero of the epos, myths, and fairy tales. The process of turning brown-red clay (swamp ore) into objects necessary for the household and marvelous jewelry seemed to the ignorant public sorcery. Forges have always been built on an individual, firstly, due to the increased risk of fire during the smelting process, and secondly, for the convenience of supplying ore and coal. Even the villagers tried not to show much interest in production because of the many signs and superstitious fear. During excavations in central Russia, artifacts of blacksmithing made of steel dating from the 5th-6th centuries A.D. The remains of the found weapons and household items testify to the highest skill of art forging of receivers of the Svarog case of that time. Products were not only skillfully forged, but also elegantly decorated. Both poor swamp ore and steel made from relatively pure iron were used, which indicates the presence of ore science and a high level of smelting. Alloys of "heavenly iron" were also found. In place of Svarog, patronage of the blacksmith's handicraft was taken by Christian saints - the blacksmiths Kuzma and Demyan.

Why is the forge without windows? The ancient forge was a blockhouse often dug into the ground or having mounds on the walls. There were no windows. Such a design served for the convenience of maintaining the temperature regime, and the twilight facilitated the blacksmith's determination of the required temperature for forging by the colors of the red-hot metal and the nature of the spark produced during forging. The correct determination of the forging temperature directly affected the quality of the product. Mistakes in the technology "by eye" were very expensive, because iron and steel were obtained by hard work and in limited quantities.

Steel forging temperature 850 - 1200 ° C. Is it a lot or not? Today, little surprises us, including these figures. But imagine a rural smithy, where several apprentices had to spend about an hour working as manual bellows to heat one part on charcoal. For comparison, natural lava flows along the slope of the volcano, having a temperature of about 1000 ° C. To determine the optimal forging temperatures, today a thermocouple or pyrometer is used, but before everything was kept in experience.

Iron is a precious metal. Precisely so, many famous people called iron the most valuable metal in terms of utility to mankind, for example: enlightener V. Pevshin (XVIII century), chemist A. Korenev (XIX century), historian Y. Gover (XIX century). It is impossible to argue with this, given the role of the "simple" iron in the progress of civilization.

- Stereotypes and myths about blacksmiths and forging. On most pictures on the Internet devoted to the theme of blacksmiths and forging, we find a touching image of a hefty young man, a kind of epic hero with a huge sledgehammer on the backswing. Often: a hammer in one hand and a machined sword of gigantic size in the other. The set of stereotypes is continued by the elastic muscles of the bare torso under a leather apron and sheaves of sparks. So, in these pictures with a special pathos depicts a hammer thief. In fact, the blacksmith who devoted his entire conscious life to the craft, as a rule, was dry and wiry. This is due to the conditions of the hot shop. In fact, it was a "product" of hot smoked. The blacksmith supervised the forging process with a small hammer - a handbrake (emphasis on the first syllable), giving instructions to the hammer thief where, how and with what force to strike the workpiece. He took the workpiece from the forge and held it on the anvil during forging with the help of blacksmith mites. Everything had to happen extremely smoothly and quickly, while the metal retains the forging temperature. Due to the lack of mechanization, one person could work only with small forgings. The hammerhead in the forge was a brute force. In fact, he was an employee, he did not have time to master the peaks of blacksmithing skill. Constant blows on a hard surface “dried” the hands of the hammer, destroyed and deformed the joints. It was a very dangerous and unhealthy work. As a rule, the students of the blacksmith were boys from among those working on the blacksmith's bellows and bellows of a cheese-blowing smelter. They had the opportunity to observe the forging process, gaining knowledge at work. Becoming a blacksmith's student was a great success, and the competition was like in modern universities.

Surnames formed from the word "blacksmith". The significance of blacksmiths in society and the prestige of the profession is indirectly evidenced by the surname "Kuznetsov" - one of the most common in Russia. This situation is observed all over the world: Kowali, Kowalski, Kovachi, Schmidty, Smith, Feran, Herreira had distant ancestors of the blacksmith dynasties.

- Metamorphoses of semantics Oddly enough, the word "deceit" has in its root basis "forging, forging." It meant “skill, ability, knowledge” and had a purely positive semantic color. Over time, the word and its derivatives changed their linguistic meaning to "two-faced, vile." Such cases are not isolated, for example, the meaning of the words "witch", "witcher" (witch, witch), which also meant knowledgeable people, knowledgeable, and later turned into "sorcerers", got on their brooms and began to eat princes. The modern heirs of the blacksmith's craft, real masters can safely call themselves "insidious sorcerers" in memory of the ancient representatives of a noble profession.

 

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