Korean Blacksmith

[bluelake]

Today, my wife and I traveled to a city about an hour away to meet a Korean blacksmith.  He is the oldest one in the country and has been smithing for 55 years.  

We asked him about gun barrel making in Korea and I showed him screen shots from Forging a Flintlock Rifle Barrel (Jon Laubach).  He completely understood all the processes shown and even explained each one to my wife.  However, he said neither he nor any other blacksmith in Korea can make a gun barrel for two reasons: 1) they do not have the right equipment and 2) they are prohibited from doing so by law.  

It's too bad, but at least there was one I could talk with and photograph.  Here are a few pics from today.

[Sneakon]

Wow, that table of tools is really fun.  I want one of each of those.  I hope my son can track down guys like that when he is in South Korea this summer.

[Bison Horn]

Bluelake, that's great, you don't think of blacksmiths being anywhere else but right here at home at least I never gave it any thought.  

[greyhunter]

Great pictures BL, I wish I knew half of what that blacksmith knows! Post a closeup picture of what you bought from him.  

[KHickam]

I visited the Korean Folk Village way back in the day and bought a hand forged little fruit knife - It was the best patch knife I ever owned.

[bluelake]

We only bought a couple things that time.  My wife bought herself a short-handled garden hoe and she bought me a gouge/chisel set.