Blade Forger - Albert Craven (1979)

Albert Craven had retired to Bridlington after after 72 years in the industry as one of the last maker of hand-forged knife blade forger in the city. He laments the passing of his trade providing a vivid demonstration of his skill one last time.
One of the series of South Yorkshire County Council sponsored films commissioned from Sheffield Independent Film and the Sheffield City Polytechnic to document ‘little mester’ trades. This film was No.7 in the series entitled 'Trades & Crafts'.
To find out more about the Hawley Collection and to donate, visit our website: www.hawleytoolcollection.com/
See also our sister website at hawleysheffieldknives.com/

[@tedking6790]

What an inspiration. My great grandfather was born 1899 and was a stone mason, a craft that is all but truly lost, and I did it for a summer and decided it was a craft I wouldn’t be keeping alive either. Into my 20s I was drawn to the forge, and today I do my best to keep the cutler’s tradition alive. If, when I die, I am half as good at the craft as this man, I will be overjoyed. Thank you for sharing.!

[@daibhiseaghdha153]

I knew a skilled man from Sheffield In his 50's, back in the 80's, he came down to London, to teach us welding, he came down because they were shutting all the works down, and demolishing every thing, he told me that the skilled people who had learnt their skills from generations of knowledge and experience, were trying to get jobs, just to survive, doing anything, and were going to end up in their graves with all their knowledge, what a waste.and shame. once " the workshop of the world " now the UK is mainly a nation of consumers of foreign stuff, made not to last., and with built in Obsolescence.. not good. thanks for the video, I remember a true story about a" little mester " who even the skilled japanese wanted to meet over here, to learn from him, but either the council, or the government would not le it happen, due to the " little mester " not having paper qualifications or something irrelevant, if you know anything about it, please fill me in, thanks.for doing a great job.

[@alexanderguesthistorical7842]

That was truly fabulous! Absolutely wonderful to see one of the original craftsman, see how he worked and what he produced. Great to hear his comments about piece work and making 2 over to the dozen for "breakages". I wonder who benefitted from the extra 2?? And his comments about how he started as child and was apprenticed to his grandfather til he was 21. The blades he made were only little tiny ones, and one thought "Oh he's only used to making pen knife blades, that's probably all he could do". Then at the end he just blew me away with the two massive bowie knives and a skinning knife which looked a bit awkward, until he unfolded it!!! So he really knew his onions. Great shame it's all gone. Crafts like this still survive in various countries like Japan, but here......"not so much". I would have loved to take up the reigns from him and be apprenticed to him, but I was only 8 at the time. And didn't know he existed. although I wasn't far away in Solihull at the time. Ah well.

[@daemonharper3928]

As an amateur knife / sword / axe maker I can confirm that this guy is incredibly good at his job - if I ever get to be 10% as good as him I'll be happy.

[@precertvideo]

Another very interesting video, thank you very much.

[@KenHawleyCollectionTrust]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@johnryan2193]

He makes it look easy , respect !

[@gadgetgus]

I first watched this video about a year ago and was fascinated by it - great, humble craftsman 🏅 In the last 5 minutes, he shows off some of his amazing work - I wonder how many missed that? I would have loved to meet him and learn some new skills 🔥 🗡 I will visit the museum and take a tour of Sheffield soon... Thanks for sharing, Gus

[@althesmith]

This was a man.

[@zen4men]

I bought an 8 inch Bowie knife in a secondhand shop in Plymouth over 40 years ago, and sadly lost it ( stolen ) within 5 years. ...... I lived on a country estate, and it would chop down a branch without worrying about it. Maybe Albert Craven forged the blade! ....... What a Gentleman - a True Englishman!

[@anthonyconlon8609]

hard man!

[@CanadianBriar]

Does anyone know why he makes that final little "tail" when he's constructing the tang?

[@geofftp]

I would say that the small tail he forged in serves two purposes. 1. Something to hold on to when forging the tang to keep the tongs away from the hammer blows. 2. To hold the blade when heat treating the blade. The tongs act like heatsinks.

[@Peter-od7op]

What year was this taken. Did i miss it

[@KenHawleyCollectionTrust]

The film was made in 1979 and you didn’t miss it if you meant by that being on tv. It was made as part of a series only available on video

[@user-hm3tu5cf5f]

Как же он без гриндера и Rex 121 выживал

[@slick_slicers]

Does anyone still forge blades like this? Most are laser/water cut from rolls of steel, CNC ground and tumble polished.

[@user-hm3tu5cf5f]

Leonid Arhangelsky Леонид Архангельский. Ученый, инженер, кузнец и металлург

[@tedmartin5402]

What a shame their expertise has died with them.