36 MODERN BLACKSMITHING 



self-possessed and the speech will be changed from 

 unintelligible phrases to logical oratory. When the 

 carpenter's apprentice first begins to use the saw, he 

 will act the same way — be in a great hurry — he will 

 run the saw at the speed of a scroll saw, but only a 

 few inches of stroke; after some instructions and a 

 few year's practice the saw will be run up and down 

 steady and with strokes the whole length of the blade. 

 When the blacksmith's apprentice begins to use the 

 hammer he acts very much the same way. He will 

 press his elbows against his ribs; lift the hammer only 

 a few inches from the anvil and peck away at the 

 speed of a trip hammer. This will, in most cases, be 

 different in a few years. He will drop the bundle — 

 that' is, his elbows will part company with his ribs, the 

 hammer will look over his head, there will be full 

 strokes and regular time, every blow as good as a 

 dozen of his first ones. Some smiths have the foolish 

 habit of beating on the anvil empty with the hammer, 

 they will strike a few blows on the iron, then a couple 

 of blind beats on the anvil, and so on. This habit has 

 been imported from Europe, free of duty, and that 

 must be the reason why so many blacksmiths enjoy 

 this luxury. 



THE SLEDGE 



In Europe great importance is laid upon the position 

 taken by the apprentice and the manner he holds the 

 sledge. The sledge is held so that the end of it will 

 be under his right armpit, when the right hand is next 



