At the Forge I turn different metals in to usable works of Art. Get yourself a cup of coffee and pull up a chair a sit a spell. Let me tell you a bit about myself; my name is Danny Mitchell I was born and raised in Virginia. I grew up on my family’s farm located in the beautiful mountains of Southwest Virginia which is located at the Horse Ridge / Peapatch area of Jewell Ridge, Virginia, where I n
ow reside. I am a self-taught Blacksmith and Bladesmith. I have always been interested in knives and swords since a young age. Growing up on my families’ farm in Southwest Virginia, a knife is a necessity for everyday use; anything from food preparation, starting fires, hunting, to feeding livestock. I founded Horse Ridge Forge in 2010 and named my blacksmith shop or “Smithy”, “Horse Ridge Forge” after my family’s homestead, my forge is also located on Horse Ridge, Virginia. Some of the tools I use have been in my family since the 1800’s such as my anvil, forge blower, hammers, and tongs which belonged to my Great Grandfather Reese Mitchell and Grandfather Noah Mitchell; these tools have been in my family for 4 generations. My Grandfather Noah Mitchell was born in the late 1800's; growing up his father Reese Mitchell taught him how to Blacksmith, Ferrier, and Farm. My Grandfather Noah settled his own farm in the early 1900’s on Horse Ridge, Virginia; he and his son’s would make their own tools and equipment they needed for their day to day needs on the Farm; such as hand tools, screwdrivers, hammers, hoe’s, pick’s, axes, mattocks, chains, horse drawn plow parts, horse drawn sleds, work horse harnesses, horse shoes, basically anything they needed at the time. I enjoy Blacksmithing and Bladesmithing using the same tools that my Great Grandfather, Grandfather, and Father used. To me my old tools have a better feel than any new tools I use. I feel as though the old hammers I use have a life of their own and guide my hand as I am forging. I like to use and forge with materials found around on Farms, Railroads and such and turning it from what it was originally intended for, into a totally new object and works of Art that are both functional and usable. I forge my knives, tomahawks, swords, and many other items using things like iron, plow parts, horse shoes, Ferrier rasps, railroad spikes. To me, seeing the hot metal being transformed by hand using heat and manipulation of the hammer is so satisfying. My passion for making my knives is the forging process; especially making knives, tomahawks, swords, and usable blacksmith tools. My favorite style of knives range from; primitive knives and tomahawks to Japanese style knives and swords. Each knife or tomahawk I make is an individually handcrafted work of art, representing many hours of my very best effort. From the first heat and hammer blow, until the finished end product, I strive for absolute quality in each item I craft’s. I am a Juried Member of Appalachian Arts Center since 2010. My work can been see at the Appalachian Arts Center which is located on Rt. 19, 2 1/2 miles south of the intersection with Rt. 460 at Claypool Hill, or 2 1/2 miles north of Southwest Virginia Community College, just beyond the Wardell stop light in what is known locally as the Old Archie Helton Store. So come on down and visit. Please feel free to browse my photos of my current and past works and feel free to contact me for similar pieces and or for something unique and custom.
