MEET YOUR MAKER

RICHARD W. HALBERT
ARTISAN blacksmith

Hidden amongst the rolling fields and farmland of rural Cumbria, you'll find Richard Halbert working away at Middle Row Forge.

Day and night, hammers clank on steel and coal-fired furnaces roar. The modern Blacksmith's craft is still hard, but Richard wouldn't have it any other way.

While sharing the history and traditions of a 3,000-year-old art is immensely rewarding, giving it new relevance today is what he lives for.

Fusing ancient craft with contemporary design, Richard makes high-quality Bespoke Ironwork & Tools the pre-industrial way.

Simple forms, clean lines and always made to last - that's the Middle Row Forge touchmark.

Seeing Richard at work, there's something magical in how he transforms a simple iron bar into objects of profound beauty and function through the application of heat and hammer.

So if it's been through Middle Row Forge, you're looking at something unique, bursting with character and a story to tell. A bit like the man himself.

Took a bit of time to modify one of my hand forged axe heads - I usually leave them with a forge finish but this time I did some file and punch work because I had a little spare time to experiment. I also wet rubbed most of the forge scale off using
A selection of woodworking tools finished and ready to go. A small 0.5kg hand axe, test run for a 0.5kg hand adze and 4 of the bearded bushcraft axes (1.5 kg head) #rwhalbertblacksmith #middlerowforge #traditionalblacksmith #handmade #handforged #bes
NEW COURSE LAUNCH!!!!! I am happy to announce the launch of two new courses - knife making 101(by popular request) and the bushcraft tools course. Knife making 101 is an intensive one day course and will take you through the forging, grinding, Hard
A Lovely trio of 3lb forging hammers on their way out into the world. Here we have a cross pein, chunky ball pein and a rounding hammer. All forged from En9 medium carbon steel, hardened and tempered and fitted with 16 inch hickory handles. The hamme
Well.... It's been a while since any of these little critters have flown down the forge chimney and, quite honestly, here at the Dragon adoption agency we feared they might be headed towards extinction. So imagine my surprise when two young males and
3lb chunky ball pein hammer finished up and heading out. Forged from En9 steel and fully hardened and tempered and fitted to a 16 inch hickory handle. #rwhalbertblacksmith #middlerowforge #traditionalblacksmith #handmade #handforged #bespoketools #fo
Been giving the prototype splitting maul a good workout today - weighing in at 8lbs it is forged from En9 steel, hardened and tempered and hung on a 36 inch hickory sledge handle. It has performed beautifully on these large rounds - a mixture of oak
FORGE SOME IRON LEARN BLACKSMITHING.......... DATES AVAILABLE!!!!!! Here at Middle Row Forge we offer various opportunities to learn blacksmithing so whether you are looking to just have a fun day out or really get into the craft then we can help.
Here we have the test run pattern for our light forest axe. Hand forged from En9 medium carbon steel, fitted with an 18 inch handle but would sit well on a 24 inch handle aswell. This axe is designed to be small and light enough to throw in a backpa
First of the new style - 1.5 kg head and a 24 inch handle. Slightly heavier and with a bit more wedge than it's predecessor. #rwhalbertblacksmith #middlerowforge #traditionalblacksmith #handmade #handforged #bespoketools #axe #woodwork #bushcraft #bu