Meet Bennett Life

When I was 14 years old I was reading one of the books in the Foxfire series and came across a chapter that described how blacksmithing was first introduced into Appalachia back in the 1800s. I was intrigued by the important role the blacksmith played in the lives and culture of the Appalachian people back then. Not only did they do all the metal work, but at times had to fill different roles such as dentist and veterinarian.

The more I read of these smiths, the more I began to realize…. I wanted to be that guy.

I decided to build my own small forge and began making my own tools and experimenting with different types of metal and different fire temperatures. I used steel that I purchased from local steel yards, car parts, and scraps I found in junkyards. I learned how to heat steel to the right temperature so I could forge them into tools and other objects.  It soon became an obsession.

There was only so much information In the old Foxfire book, I came to a point where I had to look elsewhere if I were to grow in my skills.  There were no smiths In my area from whom I could learn the trade, so I gathered and read every book about the subject that I could get my hands on and proceeded from there. It wasn’t long before I knew I wanted to, in some way, make a career out of this.

I began selling my creations at local art shows and fairs. My skills and interests continued to grow as I made more varieties of fireplace tools, knives, decorative ironworks, hardware and furniture. I also began fulfilling custom orders.

Today, I primarily do commissioned work, specializing in architectural components and furniture. I have chosen to make blacksmithing my life’s work. I am committed to doing everything I can to help the ongoing effort to bring back this amazing art form and keep this vital part of our history alive.