|
Video
|
|
Cutlers & Blademakers
Please click on a picture to see a larger version.
|
|
 |
| Cutler's hammer |
Cutler's hammer |
 |
 |
|
Hand filecutting. The leather
stirrup held the file blank on the iron stiddy, mounted on a stone stock.
The weight of the hammer was from 7lb to 3-4oz. The triangular chisel
which cut the teeth was from ½" to 3" depending on the size of
the file being cut. |
1960s, gimlet hand forging. |
|
 |
 |
| 1950s, forging tea pruner blades.
The steel bar has one end already forged (near his hand). Both bladed are
cut off and reheated to draw out the tang. After grinding and glazing
beechwood scales are pinned on to the tang to form the handle. |
1960s, pen and pocket blade
forging. The forged blade is held in the left hand with tongs and the
forging hammer is in the right hand. |
 |
|
| Picture from the 1920s showing a striking hammer being used
to make the bolster on a hand forged carving knife. The hot iron was
placed in top and bottom dies and struck with a 14lb hammer. |
|
|
From the 1700s, Sheffield England, was the centre of cutlery blade making.
Now these items are mass-produced and the traditional cutlery making industry is
no more.
The cutlery trade was very much hands -on work in those days, with little or
no machinery and everything hand forged. The cutler's hammer was the ideal tool
for the job, evolving over the years into a highly specialised tool.
|
|
