This year in May (2016) I got the opportunity to return to the Hjerleid Craft School in Dovre, Norway to teach a one week class on forging hammers in the Viking tradition. The year before I had taught Viking era axe forging – also at Hjerleid. Benjamin Kjellman-Chabin, the regular instructor of these students during their one-year blacksmithing course, was gracious enough to open this possibility to me once again, and the director of the school, Helle Hundevat, was generous enough give it her blessing. The students were a fine, enthusiastic lot and all succeeded in forging hammers by a historical and fascinating set of techniques.
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The blacksmithing, wood carving and joinery shops of Hjerleid.
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Hjerleid student quarters.
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Gudbrandsdal countryside near Dovre.
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The students will forge this size and style of hammer. It is inspired by beautiful pieces from the Viking age.
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Firing up the coke forge to get started.
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Forge welding a high carbon steel face to a mild steel body – the first step of making a forge welded hammer.
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A hammer billet with a forge welded face that has been squared and marked for punching.
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Punching the hammer eye.
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Driving in the drift to enlarge the eye.
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Refiining the form.
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Marcus and Magnus shape the hammer on a special bolster.
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Using a 2″ fuller to shape the langets.
1 comment
Bryce Vernon
Seems like a really cool trip and some really nice work you’ve done.
Seems like a really cool trip and some really nice work you’ve done.