Figure 1. This shows the construction of a smith's forge and bellows.

• A marks the fire pit or hearth where the fuel is burned.
• B is a large, curved metal hood used to collect smoke and direct it into the chimney.
• C identifies a small square iron plate with an aperture, often called a "tue-iron," which protects the bellows' nozzle from the intense heat of the fire.
• The bellows are large, horizontal, and pear-shaped, suspended between two vertical wooden beams.
• F is the lever, historically called a "rock-staff," used to pump the bellows.
• G marks the cross-bars that connect the lever to the bellows' mechanism.

Figure 2. A heavy iron anvil (A) mounted firmly on a thick wooden block. The block is usually made of oak or elm to absorb the shock of hammer blows.

Figure 3. A metal punch or chisel used for piercing or cutting hot iron.

Figure 4. A pair of dividers or calipers used for measuring and marking distances on metal. A and C are the legs, while B is the hinge or joint.

Figure 5. Two types of hammers. The top tool is a heavy sledgehammer with a long handle, used for heavy striking. The lower tool is a smaller hand hammer with a shaped head, used for lighter, more precise work. B and D point to the striking faces of the hammer heads.

Figure 6. A heavy-duty blacksmith’s vise.

• A and B are the jaws that grip the metal.
• D is the handle used to turn the screw and tighten the jaws.
• E is a thick vertical post that extends downward to the floor.
• F marks where the post is anchored into the ground. This design transfers the force of heavy hammering directly to the earth rather than damaging the workbench.

Figure 7. A sizing plate or "nail-bore." This long, flat tool has a series of holes of different sizes and a wooden handle. It is used to shape the heads of nails or to check the diameter of iron rods.

Figure 8. A pair of tongs or pliers used to hold small pieces of metal during the forging process.

Located beneath the vise in Figure 6 is an unnumbered set of large, curved tongs, labeled A, B, C, and D, designed for gripping bulky or awkwardly shaped pieces of hot iron.