Forge from Medby in Saltdal

From Kuholmen in Skrova in Lofoten. Set up in Bodøsjøen in 1939.

A forge is a workshop for the production and repair of iron objects. The forge is the blacksmith's workplace. The farm forge was part of the farmer's subsistence economy, while the village blacksmith was the local community's crafts specialist. For shipyards there was a ship's forge, and at larger industrial enterprises there was a well-equipped forge.

Central to every forge are the forge and the anvil. Iron being worked is moved back and forth between the forge and the anvil. The iron is heated in the forge and shaped against the anvil. The forge has a bellows or fan that provides a good supply of air when the iron is in the forge. The air was blown up through glowing coals. The piece of iron that was to be worked was placed in the embers until it was hot enough to be hammered out. The iron was worked on an anvil using various hammers, chisels and pliers. Nails were made by pulling the workpiece through increasingly thin holes. The quality of the iron set limits on how thin the wire could be.

The blacksmith worked alone, or he could have the help of an apprentice/helper. For larger works, the blacksmith worked together with one or two foremen.

Many farms had their own forge. Because of the fire hazard, the forge was located some distance from the rest of the settlement. In the farm forge, nails, horseshoes, hinges and fittings were forged, as well as iron tools were repaired. Skilled blacksmiths also made knives, scythes and other tools, and many were employed in this on a year-round basis, selling their goods.

Cities and towns had their own forges, both because the horses needed shoes, but also to make barrel bands, knives, small tools, metal repairs, and more. Sometimes the blacksmith had to pull teeth.