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.
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).
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
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
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.
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
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
Review by Bruce “Atli” Blackistone


The Art of Firing
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
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru.


Steel Rolling Mill
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru.
The Golden Age of Ironwork
Review by David W. Wilson


Canedy-Otto Tool Catalog
Review by John Neary
The Wonder of Knife Making
Review by Bruce “Atli” Blackistone


Colonial Wrought Iron - The Sorber Collection
One Turn
Review by Bruce “Atli” Blackistone


The Contemporary Blacksmith
Review by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru

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

Pounding out the Profits
Reviewed by Jock Dempsey, anvilfire guru.
Rare, Out of Print and Collectable

Locks from Iran
James Nasmyth: Autobiography
SEE The complete on-line version now hosted on the anvilfire story page!


Chainmaking in the Black Country
Review with supplemental photos by Jock Dempsey
Working in Metals
Review and eBook by Jock Dempsey


Hand Forging and Wrought-Iron Ornamental Work
Review and eBook by Jock Dempsey
On The Construction of Locks and Keys
Review and eBook by Jock Dempsey

anvilfire.com, Dempsey’s Forge, 4714 Granite Trail, Boonville, NC 27011
336-367-3499