BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – There’s no question about it, Jesse Savage of Savage Forge is a brilliant blacksmith.
“For me, it’s therapeutic,” he said. The Rutland-based creator got his start in Wallingford, ironing out his skills under Kevin Mulholland.
“I just would go down there on weekends and luckily he didn’t kick me out of the shop, he let me hang out,” Jesse remembered, fondly. “It’s a lot easier than wood. To fix a problem, you just hit it again, you know?”
Some of his time is spent making things to sell at Wallingford’s Handmade in Vermont store.
“This is the stuff I really like to do, like traditional ironwork with the scrolls,” he said, showing off some of his work. “I like to do these for people’s cemetery plots.”
If cemeteries aren’t your speed, he makes fun stuff, too.
“It’s a braided steel slingshot,” he said.
Most of all, Jesse Savage likes demonstrating and teaching alongside his wife, Carrie.
“She’s kind of my striking partner,” he said with a smile.
“Blacksmithing is something I never thought I would ever do,” explained Carrie. “But, we have four daughters and when they all became teenagers, it got a little hostile in our house.”
Carrie is a teacher by trade with 27 years in education. Together, the two have forged an iron-clad bond with Jesse’s expertise, and Carrie’s education know-how.
“When I work with beginning blacksmiths, I’m able to easily translate the steps into really digestible pieces of information for them, so by the end of our classes people are just having fun,” she said.
Jesse still uses a coal fire to heat the metal, which is a bit different than what’s common for modern blacksmiths. That’s what you’ll find in the blacksmith booth at the Vermont State Fairgrounds, built for this couple to demonstrate at fairs and events.
“That’s the idea behind this, that I feel really passionate about is that it’s going to be a place for people to come and learn,” Jesse said.
Together, the duo travels the country inspiring future smiths to hammer out their dreams.
“It’s really fun to see the possibilities light up in their eyes,” said Carrie.
Whether you want to learn or just buy, Savage Forge offers something for everyone. Anyone interested in learning the tricks of the trade should reach out to Jesse Savage via Instagram.
“Seeing people’s appreciation for things that aren’t disposable, for things that they’ll have a lifetime and then hand down. There’s a story behind handmade pieces,” she said.
Handmade pieces and the future of blacksmithing both forged in Vermont.
