Subject: Blacksmithing

From: "John W. Pollins, III" <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 1996 23:11:57 -0500 (EST)

"Blacksmithing" is not limited to historic reconstruction or
European dark ages Gothic style. Nor will I sanctify medievel journeyman
smiths simply because they're dead.  As my father used to say, "Not only
aren't things as good as they used to be, they never were." I'll compare
Peter Ross at Williamsburg and George Dixon favorably with any ancient
European Master. It isn't that what the historic "purists" are doing isn't
wounderful, it just isn't the only thing. Confine the question of "hammer
marks" to the traditional historic style sspecialty. It's irrelevant to
other equally valid styles.
        One story on our Sysop, a truely anal "purist". George was spliting
a bar and a student asked, "Couldn't you do that with a band saw?" and
George answered, "Sure, but you won't go to heaven when you die."

                Pollins