Henry T.

The blacksmith also used larger tools to beat his hot iron into sellable items. The main tools he used that were not related to the forge were anvils. An anvil is a large metal piece cut into ways that is used for many purposes. Most people think that it is used to hammer iron. This is true but they were also used to chip, bend, cut, and put a hole in iron. Anvils are 300 pounds and were put on top of a large stump buried into the ground. The stump would have to perfectly match the height for the blacksmith because he would become tired if he had to bend down or hold his hand high. Then the blacksmith would secure the anvils with large heavy metal hooks that would be deep in the stump. On page 12 of The Blacksmith, it says” The anvils were the only tools that the blacksmith did not make himself. It was made for him at a foundry.” This shows that the blacksmith himself could not make an anvil because he could not melt iron. This also shows how important it is that the anvil was perfect because that could not be cheap to make and deliver.

Freddie F.

Analysis: The Native Americans carved stone and wood to make their tools. This was similar to the British and Africans because they carved tools out of iron and wood. Each culture had their own unique tools. The Native Americans most used weapon was a bow and arrow. The other cultures didn’t use that weapon. The English had muskets, and the Africans had knives and daggers. All three cultures had their own type of blacksmithing that was unique.