Introduction and sword sneak peek

Emanuel · 21st July 2010, 07:43 PM

Hi Jeff,

Beautiful piece. Whereabouts in Ontario are you located? I've been slowly getting into blacksmithing and was wondering about smiths in and around Toronto.

Emanuel

jhelmes · 22nd July 2010, 06:17 PM

Hi emanuel. i'm an hour west of ottawa. there is rob martin "thak" out in flordale. I cant think of any Bladesmiths in Toronto. But I know a bunch of blacksmiths out there. I uses to work in a forge in Kitchener. I cant seem to send Pm,s but if you would like more info you can either pm me or email me.

Cheers Jeff

Emanuel · 22nd July 2010, 10:19 PM

Hi Jeff,

Seems like you can't receive PMs either, probably because you're on probation as a new user.

I had read about Robb Martin and I was thinking of taking one of his courses in the fall. I will contact you by e-mail.

Thanks,
Emanuel

Jim McDougall · 23rd July 2010, 06:28 PM

Hi Jeff and Emanuel,
I just wanted to thank you guys for keeping this on course, and handling your communications very professionally. While the subject of blacksmithing and producing modern examples of these swords is truly fascinating, and Jeff, your work is in a word, superb! the scope of discussions here are of course characteristically aimed toward discussing actual historic weapons.
Naturally in many instances there are situations where metalwork and fabrication have come up in discussions where conservation of actual weapons has required such attention, and quite honestly, these discussions are intriguing.

Clearly there are a number of members who are particularly interested in the art of blacksmithing, and as noted, I think it is intriguing as well, however I hope we can keep the historic perspective the prime factor in discussions here. What I always admire most in reproduction weapons is when craftsmen like Jeff, concentrate on detail and research in producing faithfully accurate examples. It is the history that is so important, and we learn much from the styles, element forms and motif, and markings on these old swords. I personally love patination, which is history itself manifested and encrusted on the weapons that become our guides.

"...precious swords, rusty and eaten away, since there for a thousand winters they had rested in the earths embrace".
Beowulf 3048-50

Artists like Jeff clearly understand these words about the magnificent history of these swords, and while producing modern artistic representations of them also well understand the difference between their creations and the old warriors they are modelled after.

I wanted to emphasize that it is important... in a word...to temper our discussions with focus on historic perspective in order to maintain the integrity of our content. There are other forums who have become somewhat overrun with commercial reproductions and chat on matters irrelevant to serious weapon study, which is what we,as I have been led to believe, hope to avoid.

Jeff, please do not misinterpret my comments, as you are of course more than welcome here. I simply wanted to clarify the intended content of this forum, as I had included in my scope of discussions two years ago when we initiated it, and to address that to keep our ajenda on course.

Again, your work is completely outstanding!!! and I applaud its integrity.

With all very best regards,
Jim

21st July 2010, 07:43 PM	#1
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hi Jeff, Beautiful piece. Whereabouts in Ontario are you located? I've been slowly getting into blacksmithing and was wondering about smiths in and around Toronto. Emanuel

22nd July 2010, 06:17 PM	#2
jhelmes Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: ontario canada Posts: 5	Hi emanuel. i'm an hour west of ottawa. there is rob martin "thak" out in flordale. I cant think of any Bladesmiths in Toronto. But I know a bunch of blacksmiths out there. I uses to work in a forge in Kitchener. I cant seem to send Pm,s but if you would like more info you can either pm me or email me. Cheers Jeff

22nd July 2010, 10:19 PM	#3
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hi Jeff, Seems like you can't receive PMs either, probably because you're on probation as a new user. I had read about Robb Martin and I was thinking of taking one of his courses in the fall. I will contact you by e-mail. Thanks, Emanuel

23rd July 2010, 06:28 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Hi Jeff and Emanuel, I just wanted to thank you guys for keeping this on course, and handling your communications very professionally. While the subject of blacksmithing and producing modern examples of these swords is truly fascinating, and Jeff, your work is in a word, superb! the scope of discussions here are of course characteristically aimed toward discussing actual historic weapons. Naturally in many instances there are situations where metalwork and fabrication have come up in discussions where conservation of actual weapons has required such attention, and quite honestly, these discussions are intriguing. Clearly there are a number of members who are particularly interested in the art of blacksmithing, and as noted, I think it is intriguing as well, however I hope we can keep the historic perspective the prime factor in discussions here. What I always admire most in reproduction weapons is when craftsmen like Jeff, concentrate on detail and research in producing faithfully accurate examples. It is the history that is so important, and we learn much from the styles, element forms and motif, and markings on these old swords. I personally love patination, which is history itself manifested and encrusted on the weapons that become our guides. "...precious swords, rusty and eaten away, since there for a thousand winters they had rested in the earths embrace". Beowulf 3048-50 Artists like Jeff clearly understand these words about the magnificent history of these swords, and while producing modern artistic representations of them also well understand the difference between their creations and the old warriors they are modelled after. I wanted to emphasize that it is important... in a word...to temper our discussions with focus on historic perspective in order to maintain the integrity of our content. There are other forums who have become somewhat overrun with commercial reproductions and chat on matters irrelevant to serious weapon study, which is what we,as I have been led to believe, hope to avoid. Jeff, please do not misinterpret my comments, as you are of course more than welcome here. I simply wanted to clarify the intended content of this forum, as I had included in my scope of discussions two years ago when we initiated it, and to address that to keep our ajenda on course. Again, your work is completely outstanding!!! and I applaud its integrity. With all very best regards, Jim