Hammer Forge And File, Inc.

Hello. I'm Robert P. Shyan-Norwalt. I started hobbiest smithing in the spring/summer of 1989, on a whim, actually. I didn't have the money to buy my own armour and swords for my various Reenactment groups. So I decided to make my own. I have started many hobbies in my life. Little did I know that this one would take over completely, and that I'd end up working full time as a Blacksmith, Bladesmith, and Teacher.

My tools of the trade, in the beginning, were a railroad rail anvil, a 20 oz. ball-peen hammer, and a charcoal grill, using "briquettes" for fuel. We now run a full-time smithy (see "Tour the Smithy" on the Navigation Menu). Hammer Forge and File, Inc. is a hot-forge smithy, using coal-coke and bellows, and Propane gas forges.

We employ both period and modern techniques. We specialize in authentic, documented work, but will also create modern pieces. We are not a purist company, but we do, at times, smelt our own ore, and use only hammer and anvil to do Period work.

We produce quality reproductions of dark age/migration period through early middle ages wrought iron accoutrements, damascus-pattern welded swords, seaxes, cutlery, and other metal artwork. We create swords, knives, fences, and furniture.

Quality, attention to detail, and perfectionism are our blessing and our curse.