Books, Plans, CD and Video Reviews

See Paw-Paw’s Corner for Reviews by Jim “Paw-Paw” Wilson
NEW Category! Rare, Out of Print and Collectable

Reviews of books, plans, videos, and CD’s for the blacksmithing and metalworking trades. These reviews are by blacksmiths, metalworkers and the students of historical processes for whom they were written.
We take pride in presenting the best in depth and informational reviews on the Internet.

The Last Blacksmith Of Apple Hill

Oliver Hamelin and his Shop
By Douglas A. Fales

Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru

Locks and Keys Throughout the Ages

Vincent J.M. Eras

Illustrated history of locks and locksmithing.
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru

Moving Metal

The Art of Chasing and Repousse’
Adolph Stienes

Translated from the German.
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru

Techniques of Medieval Armour Reproduction The 14th Century

Brian R. Price

The modern Bible of the craft of armour construction.
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru

Early American Wrought Iron

Three Volumes in One by Albert H. Sonn

The classic reference is back.
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru

1st Edition Commemorative Reprint Machinery's Handbook

By Industrial Press
Reproduction of the historic and rare First Edition of MACHINERY’S HANDBOOK.
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru

The Craft of the Japanese Sword

Leon and Hiroko Kapp and Yoshindo Yoshihara
Art, history and construction of the classic Japanese sword.

Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, with comments from
Frank Turley and Bruce Blackistone

The Backyard Blacksmith

By Lorelei Sims
Illustrated beginning blacksmithing with all the basics.
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey and Sandra Wilson

A Damascus Blade from A to Z

Featuring Mike Norris in a Big BLU Production
Making a Damascus (laminated) steel blade from the billet to the final finish.

Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru

Forging Solutions : Hand Hammer Techniques

With Amit Har-lev, a Big BLU Production
Basic hand hammer forging techniques as taught by a world class professional

Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru.

Order this DVD on-line from ArtisanIdeas.com

Forging Solutions : Power Hammer Techniques

With Amit Har-lev, a Big BLU Production
Basic power hammer forging techniques as taught by a world class professional

Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru

The Art of Blacksmithing

By Alex Bealer
Alex Bealer’s classic book about blacksmithing that brought us where we are today.
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru (UPDATED).

Order this Book on-line from ArtisanIdeas.com

Advanced Damascus Patterning

By J.D. Smith
Two disk DVD/CD-ROM learning program

Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru

Step-by-step Knifemaking You can do it!

By David Boye
A classic as well as the standard in learning to make knives.
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru.
Order this Book on-line from ArtisanIdeas.com

Lives Shaped by Steel

Celebrating East Coast Outdoor Metal Artists
By Nancy B. Zastrow
The lives and work of 39 East Coast US metal artists.
Reviewed by Melissa Sullivan
Order this book on-line from ArtisanIdeas.com

Ironwork Today Inside & Out

By Dona Z. Meilach
A survey of current decorative ironwork for all applications. Inspiration for artist and client alike.
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru.
Order this Book on-line from ArtisanIdeas.com

Decorative & Sculptural Ironwork

By Dona Z. Meilach
THE metalworking book of the 70’s becomes
THE metalworking book of the 21st Century!

Reviewed by Jock Dempsey (UPADATED)
Order this book on-line from ArtisanIdeas.com

Forge & Anvil

Do-It-Yourself Projects with Alan Rogers
Video DIY projects taken from Forge & Anvil.
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru (UPDATED).
Order this Book on-line from ArtisanIdeas.com

Fire and Roses

By Hans Schlosser
Forging the Queens Rose, an SCA event demonsttration video.
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey
Order this DVD on-line from ArtisanIdeas.com

The Forgotten Technology

How did the Ancient Eqyptians build the pyramids? The Druids Stonehenge? Wallace Wallington has a good idea how they did it.
Review by Jock Dempsey

Cathedral, Forge and Waterwheel

By Francis & Joseph Gies
Technology and Invention in the Middle Ages, a history of change and the reasons for it. Copyright 1994.
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey

Spruce Forge Manual of Locksmithing

A Blacksmiths Guide to Simple Lock Mechanisms.
Review by Jock Dempsey
Order this Book on-line from ArtisanIdeas.com

101 Metal Projects for the Novice Blacksmith

By Al Cannella
A “How-to” Shop Manual for Beginners from Poor Boy Blacksmith Tools
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey

Free Form Forging with Uri Hofi

THE Power Hammer video of 2005!
Review with supplemental photos by Jock Dempsey
Order this video on-line here!

Metal Working

By Paul N. Hasluck
A reprint of the popular 1907 edition covering every aspect of metal working.
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey
Order this Book on-line from ArtisanIdeas.com

Your Own Personal Steel Rolling Mill

NEW Plans on CD-ROM for the revolutionary rolling mill for small shops by Hugh McDonald of Western Australia.
Reviewed by Wayne Parris and Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru

Machine Shop Trade Secrets

By James A. Harvey
A life time of metalworking tricks of the trade. Primarily for machinists but applicable to almost any metal working shop.
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey

The Magic of Italian Wrought Iron

La Magia del Ferro Battuto Italiano
One hundred blacksmiths, one thousand ideas.. Compiled by Giuseppe Ciscato. Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru.
Order this Book on-line from ArtisanIdeas.com

The Artist Blacksmith

By Peter Parkinson
A great new book covering the basics of decorative ironwork and forging in depth. Published in England. Reviewed by Rich Waugh, CSI
Order this Book on-line from ArtisanIdeas.com

Metal Techniques for Craftsmen

By Oppi Untracht
Standard reference for jewelery and non-ferrous metals.
Reviewed by Rich Waugh, CIS
Order this Book on-line from ArtisanIdeas.com

Guía Practica de la Forja Artistica

Practical Guide to Artistic Forging a Spanish language forging manual –
Reviewed by Frank Turley.
Order this Book on-line from ArtisanIdeas.com

Two MORE by Chastain

By Stephen Chastain
The second group of the small foundry series by Steve Chastain. A Sand Casting Manual for the Small Foundry, Volumes 1 and 2
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru
Order this Book on-line from ArtisanIdeas.com

Two by Chastain

By Stephen Chastain
The first of a small foundry series by Steve Chastain, Oil-Fired Tilting Furnace and Iron Melting Cupola Furnaces
Edited by Peter Elgass

Metal Design International 2003

Edited by Peter Elgass
A Year Book of Hephaistos. Work and biographies of nine outstanding European metal artists. Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru.
Order this Book on-line from ArtisanIdeas.com

Werk und Werkzeug des Kunstschmieds

By Otto Schmirler
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru.
Order this Book on-line from ArtisanIdeas.com

The Revolutionary Blacksmith

By Jim Paw-Paw Wilson
The popular historical fiction series now in print!.
Review by Jim Gerlinsky, Wilkie, SK, Canada
Order this book on-line here!

Powerhammer Tooling and Techniques

Another great video by Dave Manzer.
Tools, Dies, Techniques, Projects and more. VHS, PAL, DVD
Review by Jim Gerlinsky, Wilkie, SK, Canada
Order this video on-line here!

Machinery's Handbook on CD

From Industrial Press
The 27th edition of this popular standard on CD-ROM in PDF format.
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru

Machinery's Handbook 27th Ed.

From Industrial Press
The newest edition of this popular standard.
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru

Wayne Goddard's $50 Knife Shop

By Wayne Goddard
Making cable Damascus, budget blade making equipment, tribal knifemaking.
Reviewed by Charley Pierce and Jock Dempsey

Mousehole Forge

By Richard Postman
History and guidebook to the famous Mousehole forge where millions of anvils were manufactured for export to North America
Reviewed by Jim “Paw-Paw” Wilson.

The Blacksmiths Craft

By CoSIRA – The Countryside Agency

Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru.
Order this Book on-line from ArtisanIdeas.com

Blacksmith's Manual Illustrated

By J.W. Lillico
A 1930 classic back in print! Reprinted by The Countryside Agency
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru.
Order this Book on-line from ArtisanIdeas.com

Metals for Engineering Craftsmen

By CoSIRA – The Countryside Agency
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru.
Order this Book on-line from ArtisanIdeas.com

Decorative Ironwork

By CoSIRA – The Countryside Agency

Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru.
Order this Book on-line from ArtisanIdeas.com

Beds and Bedroom Accessories

Photographs and drawings of designer beds made by Italian Master Smiths.
Compiled by Giuseppe Ciscato, 229 Pages, 340 images.
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru.
Order this Book on-line from ArtisanIdeas.com

Italian Masters of Wrought Iron

I Maestri Italiani Del Ferro Battuto
Photographs of the work of Italian Master Smiths.
Compiled by Giuseppe Ciscato, 500 pages 1,100 images.
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru.

Order this Book on-line from ArtisanIdeas.com

1920 Champion Blower and Forge Co., Catalog

CD-ROM reproduction by Bill Lynch including patents and other documents
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru.
Order this CD-ROM on-line here!

1896 Buffalo Forge General Catalog

CD-ROM reproduction by Bill Lynch including color sales card. 399 pages.
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru.
Order this CD-ROM on-line here!

Anvils in America

The anvil book! By Richard Postman – Second printing.
Review by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru
Order this book on-line here!

The Powerhammer Cycle

How to Cure the Bang-Tap-Miss Blues
Power hammer tuning. A “must have” video for Little Giant owners, by Dave Manzer.
Review by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru
Order this video on-line here!

Medieval Ironwork in England

English ironwork from 1050-1550.
Review by Bruce “Atli” Blackistone

The Art of Firing

By Nils Lou.
Designing and building potter’s kilns and furnaces. Using light weight high efficiency refractorys and refractory ceramic coatings.
Review by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru

Controlling Your Air Hammer

Mark Linn of the AFC presents Controlling Your Air Hammer
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru.

Steel Rolling Mill

Plans for the revolutionary NEW Damascus rolling mill for small shops by Hugh McDonald of Western Australia.
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru.

The Golden Age of Ironwork

Text by Henry Jonas Magaziner, Photographs by Robert D. Golding, a new release from from ShipJack press.
Review by David W. Wilson

Canedy-Otto Tool Catalog

Reprint of early 20th Century Canedy-Otto Mfg. Co. “Price List Number Eleven”.
Review by John Neary

The Wonder of Knife Making

Master smith Wayne Goddard answers all your questions.
Review by Bruce “Atli” Blackistone

Colonial Wrought Iron - The Sorber Collection

The new reference on Colonial American wrought iron hardware and other devices by Don Plummer, published by Skipjack Press. Review by Bruce “Atli” Blackistone, commentary by Jock Dempsey

One Turn

A Natural History of the Screwdriver and Screw.
Review by Bruce “Atli” Blackistone

The Contemporary Blacksmith

Dona Z. Meilach author of Decorative and Sculptural Ironwork and many other crafts books does it again! If you need inspiration or want to know what the best metalsmiths are doing today this book is for you!
Review by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru
PPW Illustration by Darren Carroll

Paw-Paw's Corner

Book Reviews by Jim Paw-Paw Wilson author of
The Revolutionary Blacksmith

REVIEWS Include:
Mousehole Forge by Richard Postman
Southwestern Colonial Ironwork
MECHANICK EXERCISES, Doctrine of Handy-Works
The Blacksmith in Eighteenth Century Williamsburg
THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH
Shop Drawings of Shaker Ironware and Tinware
Decorative and Sculptural Ironwork (another look)

The Pattern Welded Blade Artistry in Iron by Dr. Jim Hrisoulas. A review by Patrick McGhee.

The Tactical Folding Knife , Bob Terzuola’s new book on folders. Review by John Neary.

The NEW Edge of the Anvil , Jack Andrews – The best general blacksmithing reference in print today.

Forging Damascus, How to Create Pattern Welded Blades, Jim Hrisoulas, Video demonstration of making a pattern welded “Damascus” blade.

MACHINERY'S HANDBOOK

Industrial Press. A review of 91 years of the machinist’s bible. UPDATED! Now includes topic comparisons and collectors details.

A Blacksmithing Primer , Randy McDaniel – A course in basic and intermediate blacksmithing

Pounding out the Profits

Douglas Freund – Historical tretise on mechanical power hammers.
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru.

Rare, Out of Print and Collectable

These are books of interest to blacksmiths that are out of print but may be available on the used book market. These reviews are presented here to make you aware of their existance and perhaps share a little of their content.

Locks from Iran

The Parviz Tanavoli collection, by Parviz Tanavoli and John T. Wertime. Published by the Smithsonian Institution as part of the American Bicentenial traveling exibition in 1976. OldLocks.com review by Jock Dempsey

James Nasmyth: Autobiography

– Inventor of the steam hammer and shaper.
SEE The complete on-line version now hosted on the anvilfire story page!

Chainmaking in the Black Country

A brief history of chain making and methods used in the 18th and 19th Centuries. By Ron Moss
Review with supplemental photos by Jock Dempsey

Working in Metals

A young adults text suitable for all. New anvilfire eBook
Review and eBook by Jock Dempsey

Hand Forging and Wrought-Iron Ornamental Work

A text book for blacksmiths circa 1911. By Thomas F. Googerty

Review and eBook by Jock Dempsey

On The Construction of Locks and Keys

By John Chubb and 1850 classic. New anvilfire eBook

Review and eBook by Jock Dempsey

Authors and publishers are invited to contact us about reviews and on-line sales.
anvilfire.com, Dempsey’s Forge, 4714 Granite Trail, Boonville, NC 27011
336-367-3499