[TheForge] Blacksmith Sledge

[Washington, Aubrey O.]

Dave,

That's a great story about A.P. Billingsly.  I think I could probably swing a 20 lb sledge about 4 times, then I would be done for the day.  My 12 pounder did not have a handle when I got it.  It now has a full-length sledge handle.  But, as I said, since my son grew up and moved out, it doesn't get much use.  My son Tim still comes over to use the shop to work on his projects.  He just doesn't have time to strike for Dad anymore.  (sigh...)

Aubrey

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From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net [theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of David E. Smucker [davesmucker at hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 12:35 PM
To: AAA TheForge AAA
Subject: [TheForge] Blacksmith Sledge

This is a repost (is theforge having problems? this was refused last time.)

Does it have a handle?  If it does how long is it?  Some strikers used to
swing hammers (sledges) that could weigh 20 pounds. 12 pounds would be more
common.  A. P. Billingsly when he was a young man would swing a 20 pounder.

He was working on an industrial site as a brick mason's helper when the
plant blacksmith saw him swing a 20 pound sledge and ask if he wanted a
raise and a job as a helper in the blacksmith shop.  He said YES, got a 25
cents per day raise and move to the blacksmith shop.  (25 cents was a lot
when you were making $10 per week in the 30's.)  He tells a story about how
he thought he was going to get fired one day for damaging company equipment.
He and the blacksmith were making a large bic for the sheet metal shop and
drawing it out over the horn of the 400 pound anvil.  The blacksmith kept
saying to A.P. "Hit it harder" so he did.  The smith said one again "Hit it
harder" and next thing the horn broke off of the cast iron anvil.  (It had a
steel face but the anvil itself was cast iron.)  The smith then said "Not
that hard".  A.P. did not get fired.

By the way, he used to swing that 20 pound sledge "round house style".  Full
overhead swing, not just the typical striker swing.

Dave Smucker

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