My wife's family tree has a Smith and a Smith who got married, but it got weird because that Smith's parents were Smythe. It looks like they changed their name from German to English during WWI.
I didn't even get into the etymology (besides that little intro I gave), but yeah, the German direction of the word is really interesting. Mike Schmidt? Also a Smith.
Thanks for sharing a bit of your family background. Depending on how you feel about it, there are some AI tools that would let you colorize and otherwise bring these old photographs to life. Or maybe they're best left exactly as is.
Also:
"On your first birthday, a Bible and a hammer were placed in front of you. If you went for the Bible, then you were going to be a preacher. If you went for the hammer, then you were going to be a carpenter."
The Smiths are many. I wonder if there are more Smiths or Joneses in the world. That might lead to some interesting research. And yes, the smiths of each village were highly useful. I think there's something awesome about heating metal and bending it and shaping it into weapons or tools. Maybe it's just the combination of metal and fire. Or maybe I'm just crazy. Great post, Mr. Smith.
Smiths continued to remain important into the 19th century, when they were honored by one American poet: "Under the spreading chestnut tree/the village smithy stands..."
I make a lot of knives as gifts for friends and relations; they're easy and I love making nice handles! I also forge a lot of odds and ends; gate handles, holders (I recently did a holder for our rain gage), latches, etc. My first non-knife project was a pair of tongs which I still use regularly.
When I just feel like beating on some hot steel I make hoof picks out of horse shoes; I give these away to all the horse people I know...😂
That's awesome. You are really in touch with iron age humans in a way! You can really see how they struggled to make something like a blade, kind of mastered that skill, then tried to figure out what else they could make.
The closest I've ever been to blacksmithing is when I did a little bit of welding for a sculpture class in college. I quickly gained tremendous respect for the blue flame that could destroy flesh in a split-second!
This is one of those things I would be doing in another life. This life is just packed too full, but making things from raw materials is always going to be fascinating.
My wife's family tree has a Smith and a Smith who got married, but it got weird because that Smith's parents were Smythe. It looks like they changed their name from German to English during WWI.
I didn't even get into the etymology (besides that little intro I gave), but yeah, the German direction of the word is really interesting. Mike Schmidt? Also a Smith.
Thanks for sharing a bit of your family background. Depending on how you feel about it, there are some AI tools that would let you colorize and otherwise bring these old photographs to life. Or maybe they're best left exactly as is.
Also:
"On your first birthday, a Bible and a hammer were placed in front of you. If you went for the Bible, then you were going to be a preacher. If you went for the hammer, then you were going to be a carpenter."
Jesus: Why not both?!
You're telling me Jesus's last name was Smith!??
The Smiths are many. I wonder if there are more Smiths or Joneses in the world. That might lead to some interesting research. And yes, the smiths of each village were highly useful. I think there's something awesome about heating metal and bending it and shaping it into weapons or tools. Maybe it's just the combination of metal and fire. Or maybe I'm just crazy. Great post, Mr. Smith.
Metal and fire are undeniably cool when they meet. I mean, this is what happens at the hearts of stars.
Smiths continued to remain important into the 19th century, when they were honored by one American poet: "Under the spreading chestnut tree/the village smithy stands..."
Some Smiths hope to remain relevant into the 22nd century!
As a blacksmith myself, I can attest to the usefulness inherent in smith craft. I often can make stuff many others have to buy.
Nice! What things do you enjoy producing the most?
I make a lot of knives as gifts for friends and relations; they're easy and I love making nice handles! I also forge a lot of odds and ends; gate handles, holders (I recently did a holder for our rain gage), latches, etc. My first non-knife project was a pair of tongs which I still use regularly.
When I just feel like beating on some hot steel I make hoof picks out of horse shoes; I give these away to all the horse people I know...😂
That's awesome. You are really in touch with iron age humans in a way! You can really see how they struggled to make something like a blade, kind of mastered that skill, then tried to figure out what else they could make.
The closest I've ever been to blacksmithing is when I did a little bit of welding for a sculpture class in college. I quickly gained tremendous respect for the blue flame that could destroy flesh in a split-second!
Oh trust me; I’ve grabbed the wrong end of a hot piece of steel on more than one occasion…it’s an inevitable part of the craft…😂
This is one of those things I would be doing in another life. This life is just packed too full, but making things from raw materials is always going to be fascinating.
Sniderman, Sniderman, does whatever a Snider can … I’m lucky to have a song for my family name.
Yeah, but there was a whole band named after Smiths!
Girlfriend in a coma is no match for listen bud, he's got radioactive blood!
No, you're not wrong. The Smiths have one thing going for them, though: they're not Morrisey's solo stuff.