Paul Webster – Blacksmith-Educator-Artist
Paul began working as a blacksmith for Arms & Armor, Inc. in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he made replicas of medieval weapons. Now, at his blacksmith shop in Esko, Minnesota, this Finnish-American smithy produces large works like the pike sculpture below, and smaller pieces like fire steels, hooks, spears, and axes.
One of the four forges in Paul's shop.
One of the larger hammers he uses in his shop.
Paul Webster makes fire-steels in the style of the ancient Vikings in his blacksmith shop. The steels can be purchased from Paul – he can be contacted at forgefiend@msn.com. If you go to http://www.kolumbus.fi/bjorn.corander/al_primi.htm, you will see photos of how to use steels and flint.
Pounding out the shape of a fire steel.
Fire steel with a piece of flint.
In the photo below Paul “spears” - with a fish spear he made in his blacksmith shop - the head of a giant skeletal pike that he is fabricating from steel. When completed (in July) the fish sculpture will be trucked to Deerwood, Minnesota to be displayed at the Forest Road Art Studio. The pike will be 35 feet long.
A well-balanced, very sharp hatchet made by Paul.