Blacksmith Shop

Black Dragon iron and glass got it start as a old Fashion Blacksmith Shop. Not only do we provide amazing items made in a coal fired forge and Anvil , but we also do some amazing and educational Demonstrations all over!

About the Blacksmith

Chris O

Head Blacksmith , Owner

Chris ( Professor Draggie) has been blacksmithing for 28 years! he has done work in Morivian Blacksmith Shop in beth pa, NMIH , Midevil, Civil War, Industrial Reenactments. He specializes in old world blacksmithing with concentrations on Hardware and cooking tools and less on horse shoes and weapons. Chris loves to teach the craft and with his anvil and forge he loves his craft.

Chris has 4 apprentices one who will be overseeing the blacksmith demos in 2025!

Tools of The Blacksmith Shop

Blower

This blower was manufactured by the Champion Forge and Blower Company in 1904 and was the most popular model. With its patented gearing inside of this machine it allows the operator to crank in any direction great for a left or Right handed blacksmith and the stepped gearing allows it to be turned slowly for a strong constant airflow allowing for a good strong fire. Black Dragon owns 2 of them a model 400 and a model 300 in its traveling forge

Bellows

Before the invention of the hand cranked blowers, blacksmith used the double acting bellows, These bellows allow the blacksmith to have a constant air stream into the forge by using 2 chambers , the top chamber acting like a reservoir storing the air before sending into the forge, the bottom chamber does all the breathing supplying the top chamber with air.

Black Dragon only brings the bellows out for special occasions as they are very big and heavy and can tear very easy.

Anvil

This is the heart of the blacksmith shop, This is where all the shaping of the hot metal ( we also use Post vice or swage block) our anvil was made in the 1800 by an unknown maker. The anvil is a english pattern anvil and is one of 4 anvils we own. this one our main and Chris's favorite is 150 pounds are largest weighs more than 350 pounds!

Forge

The forge is the Lungs of the blacksmith shop. This forge dates back to the 1900s. the style is one the was used in the 1800 called a bottom draft table top forge.

our forge is fueled with soft bituminous coal mined in western pa

Hammers

We use thousands of different hammers and fullers, Black Dragon iron and glass owns over 450 hammers most of them made by a blacksmith and some made by Chris himself!

Tongs

Tongs are an extention of a smiths fingers used to hold a verity of different pieces that are way to short to hold by hand. Black dragon iron and glass owns over 600 pairs of tongs most of them are handed down from other smiths that are hand made and some are made by chris himself!

and no he doesnt bring all of them to every demo !