The Armour Archive

Greetings,
I'm not sure if this is the correct forum for such questions.

I am a 20 year old male eager to learn blacksmithing, but I do not know where to begin. I have been doing some chainmaille work for a little while(I just completed my first hauberk), and I would like to take the next step. I am interested in making plate armour and weapons, I would also love to turn my hobby into a career. If someone could provide any information on how to get started on the basics or(preferably) where I could find apprenticeship I would greatly appreciate it.

I see that you are from my neck of the woods. I grew up in Bourbonnais.

Feel free to contact me and I can give you a hand. I have open armouring days, in my shop, for the most part on Saturdays. We work until we drop or have nothing to do, whichever comes first.

I would be more than happy to show you a bit of what armouring is like. I would not suggest getting too worked up about making it a full-time career for now, though. Test the waters first.

I am about 75-90 minutes north of you, in Wauconda, IL. Straight up Route 55 to 355 to 53 to 12. Piece of cake drive, I do it a couple of times a month to visit family back home.

There are a couple of other armourers in this area, also.

For the blacksmithing and tools, we are lucky enough to have Centaur Forge (Burlington, WI) just over the border in cheeseland. Actually, I am making a run up there this Saturday if you would like to tag along.

I can hook you up in that department. I am unaware of anyone closer to you that is working with plate. If you find someone, please let me know.

I do know that there are a few actual blacksmiths in K3 area. They are at the county fairgrounds a couple of times a year for show purposes. However, these guys are not in the armour business. I have seen some knives, but mostly decorative wall stuff, bed frames, tables, tools, stuff like that.

You can contact me at pheylin@hammeredsteel.com

or

847/828-7941

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Pheylin Quinn
Hammered Steel by Pheylin
Shire of Ravenslake, Midrealm

[This message has been edited by Pheylin Quinn (edited 03-25-2002).]

as for blacksmithing check out the abana web site
I think it's abana.org
you can also check out keenjunk.com