Kansas Historical Society Date Created: August 2012 Date Modified: July 2017
https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/blacksmithing/17872
“Blacksmiths were essential members of any community. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, they created all iron or steel tools. The relatively high cost of such tools meant that most were repaired rather than being discarded. Local blacksmiths were responsible for these repairs. Without the blacksmith, no community could have survived for long.”
“The growth of cheap industrially produced items greatly reduced the market for the blacksmith’s products. Although their merchandise is superior in quality, the higher labor costs of individually produced items put blacksmiths at a disadvantage. Some blacksmiths are employed in fields in which their services can not be replaced, such as horseshoeing. Most have moved from the manufacture of utilitarian items to specialty work. In particular, blacksmiths are employed for producing ornamental pieces or for reproducing antique hardware for restoration of historic houses. Recent increased interest also is seen in manufacturing high quality handmade knives.”
“The declining need for blacksmiths has created additional difficulties for those who choose to remain in the field.”
“The necessary tools also are often hard to acquire. Unfortunately the growing use of old tools as antique decorator objects has put blacksmiths at odds with antique dealers for the few useful tools still available. A working blacksmith requires a wide range of specialized tools. As these are seen as oddities rather than as functional pieces by much of the general public, blacksmiths find themselves being squeezed out of the market for the tools of their trade.”
Mitch: If the admittedly thorny issue of higher costs due to skilled labor could be circumvented this would make for an exciting and interesting business model. A business model that reflected the historic local blacksmith who would produce tools to the specifications of their clients. If local fire departments could have artisans create high quality tools built to their unique requirements, we could get away from ill-fitting universal solutions to very specific realities. There is no one size fits all solution in any field, let alone one with so many variables as firefighting. Allowing semi custom to fully custom tools would create a highly effective fire department. Many firefighters are currently adapting and inventing tools, with varying degrees of skill and at their own cost. A blacksmith could certainly make these efforts more successful. This expressed need is currently underserved as evidenced by the prevalence of user-made solutions.
