Editing Blacksmith (section)

{{Short description|Person who creates wrought iron or steel products by forging, hammering, bending, and cutting}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Redirect|Blacksmiths|the suburb in New South Wales|Blacksmiths, New South Wales}}
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{{More citations needed|date=July 2009}}
{{Infobox Occupation
| name= Blacksmith
| image= [[File:A blacksmith at work.jpg|250px]]
| caption= Picture of Vince J. Heilman (1918–2000) taken by the local newspaper around 1970
| official_names=
| type= [[Profession]]
| activity_sector= [[Vocation]]
| competencies= Physical strength, conceptualization
| formation=
| employment_field= Artist, Craftsman
| related_occupation= [[Farrier]]
}}
A '''blacksmith''' is a [[metalsmith]] who creates objects primarily from [[wrought iron]] or [[steel]], but sometimes from [[#Other metals|other metals]], by [[forging]] the [[metal]], using tools to hammer, bend, and cut (cf. [[tinsmith]]). Blacksmiths produce objects such as gates, grilles, railings, light fixtures, furniture, sculpture, tools, agricultural implements, decorative and religious items, cooking utensils, and weapons. There was a historical distinction between the heavy work of the blacksmith and the more delicate operations of a [[whitesmith]], who usually worked in [[Goldsmith|gold]], [[Silversmith|silver]], [[pewter]], or the finishing steps of fine steel.<ref>{{Cite web|title=blacksmith |url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/blacksmith|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Online Etymology Dictionary |language=en}}</ref> The place where a blacksmith works is variously called a '''smithy''', a '''forge''', or a '''blacksmith's shop'''.

While there are many professions who work with metal, such as [[farrier]]s, [[wheelwright]]s, and [[Armourer|armorer]]s, in former times the blacksmith had a general knowledge of how to make and repair many things, from the most complex of weapons and armor to simple things like nails or lengths of chain.
[[File:Belgique - Bruxelles - Monument à John Cockerill - 08.jpg|thumb|<div style="text-align:center">Statue of a blacksmith (Monument to John Cockerill in Brussels).</div>]]