There are a lot of people who will say that blacksmithing, bladesmithing, or any other kind of metal smithing is a dying trade that will so be lost. That is so, so utterly wrong.
Why do I make this claim, you might ask? It is quite simple, really. I make this claim because the smithing community is so adamant about sharing knowledge with our fellow smiths, regardless of their skill level. Concepts, techniques, and even ideologies are passed down through generations of smiths much like what is passed down through generations of martial artists and warriors. Some of these things are retained and some are lost, as is the cycle of many traditions in an ever-changing society.
There are some smiths that when contacted, they are not willing to help and share what they know, or even answer even the slightest, most broad questions. There may be some people out there (and there probably are) that inherently disagree with me, but I think this is not the mentality to have in this trade and lifestyle that we so diligently practice. Granted, there are some things that people may not be inclined to share, for it may give their product a special niche within their market. (For example, some knife smiths will tell you that their quenching liquid for hardening is a brine, animal fat, or used motor oil mixture... but may not tell you what exactly that mixture is).
You may be wondering what has spurred this latest rant of mine. It isn't because I asked someone something and they gave me a curt reply, it is actually due to the opposite. There have been a few recent conversations I've had with some smiths asking of material, technique, and general information that were responded to with the utmost detail and helpfulness. What better source of information is there for a beginner smith like myself than to receive first hand, interpersonal help and information from people who produce awe-inspiring show quality work?
Social media has opened up an entirely new realm for sharing the knowledge of trades. For example, the blacksmithing, bladesmithing, and blacksmith guild Google+ communities I'm involved in has flourished to a roster of smiths from all across the globe that are always willing to offer advice, constructive criticism (NOT SLANDERING OF WORK), and ideas to help each other further their skill. These are some of the nicest people I've come to know in my life. It's frequent to have someone join the community, state that they're interested in getting started in smithing, only to be responded to by multiple posts that are saturated with experience, knowledge, and great links to other sites. It's all about involvement, folks. There's a reason why seminars and rendezvous are such a great place to pick up tricks of the trade and establish contacts.
On a side note, here's my latest little blade that I forged out of a section of high carbon concrete drill bit. The lines that look like cracks are actually weld lines from the twist of the drill bit.
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