Murray Carter forging a Japanese blade Part 1

This video was taken during his 202 Bladesmithing course Sept 12, 2008.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Carter
• forging
• bladesmithing
• course

[zammystavez]

dang, i heard his classes are like 2,000 dollars did you film this yourself while in the course?

[octaveman]

His courses range from $2,000 - $6,000 depending on length. Yes, I took this three day course and did the filming. We all made knives during the course, even Murray.

[TheHellBound666]

i thought that 'hand forged' meant they used a hammer not just a machine?? or am I wrong on that. dont want to pay 300+ for something made on a machine xP

[octaveman]

The use of a power hammer is widely used by bladesmiths around the world. It's faster, consistant and easier to control when forging a knife to thickness over a hand held hammer. I've seen video of old Japanese bladesmiths using this exact type of hammer all over YouTube. The use of a power hammer doesn't change that. Murray Carter can give you a better answer than I can so feel free to send him an email. He'll be more than happy to explain things. He's on YouTube as well.

[althesmith]

Yoshindo Yoshihira, a Mukanza level swordsmith, uses a power hammer to do all the "grunt work"- forging out and welding billets, etc. It's cheaper than 2 or 3 apprentices and doesn't talk back. Personally, I'm fond of hydraulic forging presses, much quieter.

[silvermediastudio]

@TheHellBound666 That power hammer is more consistent, repeatable, even, and better regulated than hand-hammering could ever be.  The craftsman is the one who applies the force, just has a machine to assist with the heavy lifting, I see no problem with that, unless you merely want to say that your knife was entirely hand-made. And think about how much more a blade would cost if you had three crews of two to do the hammering?

[NLmonsterNL]

fuck that machine hamer power true skills!!!

[goofy775]

I don't understand why people don't consider this hand made... a power hammer is just a hammer. No difference in my mind.

[millerj3066]

@octaveman As a blacksmith and bladesmith myself...I consider people who use a power hammer for the majority of the forming to be fabricators and nothing more...blacksmiths and bladesmiths would only use a power hammer to work larger peices to a more managable size...they would not use them to do all the work and remove the bulk of the skill from the craft and art form

[S00rabh]

That is some clear vivid!!!

5 stars..

[Bertziethegreat]

These days hand made simply means it was made by a human instead of an automated process.