I know. it's an ornamental blacksmith's joke...

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All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to stand by and do nothing.

Too many people tip toe through life, never attempting or doing anything great, hoping to make it safely to death... Bob Proctor

'95 S320 LWB
'87 300SDL
'04 E500 wagon 4matic

I know some blacksmiths and farriers. The blacksmiths don't shoe horses but the farriers do some nice ironwork, mostly as a hobby.

I'm no blacksmith, and I sure as heck ain't no farrier, but I would like to have a forge some day. I like hot metal.

My research over the past few days lead me to a company called G.E. Forge & Tool. I haven't seen any of their stuff in person, but I gather that it is high quality stuff. George Ernest started the company in 1946. He had been an itinerant blacksmith who traveled with a partner from one race track town to another, stopping to make tools for the local farriers. Ernest and his partner would make a little bit of money and then go on to the next town. They were essentially highly-skilled hobos who made great tools. Check out this interview: http://www.horseshoes.com/advice/garner/aninwtbg.htm

Neat story. I think I'll get the wife a few G.E. Forge tools for her birthday. They are pricey tools, so her kit will be modest at first.

My horseshoeing tools are all Diamond brand by Cooper Hand Tools. They've held up very well. I recently bought a long handled nail puller by Diamond new and it's made as well as the old stuff. Lots of Diamond stuff online at various retailers and in feed stores, although the feed stores will charge more. The nail puller was 75 bucks at the feed store and I think I paid about 45 for it online.

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You're a daisy if you do.
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