Preserving the traditional blacksmithing craft.

For over 20 years, the family of Mr. Sung Trang Tua, in Pa Khoang village, Muong Leo commune, Sop Cop district, has preserved the traditional blacksmithing craft of the Mong ethnic group. With their family secrets, their products are exquisitely crafted, sharp, and durable, making them popular with customers.

Mr. Sung Trang Tua (on the right) checks the quality of the knife after forging.

Mr. Tua's family forge is located near his house, covering an area of about 40 square meters. Mr. Tua shared: "At 15 years old, I helped my father with some of the steps in forging knives and learned the trade. When I was 40, my father passed away, and I continued the blacksmithing tradition. To create a beautiful and functional product, many steps are involved, from selecting the steel, shaping the blank, heating, forging, tempering, sharpening, making the handle, and the sheath... In addition, the length, width of the blade, the handle, and the thickness from the handle to the tip of the knife are all carefully calculated for proper use."

The traditional blacksmith's forge of the Mong ethnic group in general, and of Mr. Tua's family in particular, is constructed from a mixture of clay and finely ground straw, then left to dry naturally. The furnace surface is concave to hold a certain amount of charcoal, and a circular hole on the side allows for air circulation during forging. The charcoal used is from longan and chestnut trees; after burning, the charcoal is left to settle in an earthen pit for a week before use. Depending on the properties of the steel, different quenching methods are applied, such as quenching with water, banana tree trunks, pond mud, or lubricating oil; only a part of the blade or the entire knife can be quenched...

According to Mr. Tua, the most difficult part of the forging process is heating the iron blank. After heating, the iron blank is hammered, a process that requires strength, speed, and decisive strokes. To ensure the tool is sharp and the blade doesn't crack, it needs to be tempered to the right degree. The steel's color after heating is reddish to determine the precise tempering time. The knife sheath is usually made of cypress, ebony, or mulberry wood, because these woods have beautiful grain, tough fibers, are easy to shape, and maintain their durability and shine over time. The knife handle and sheath are reinforced with copper rivets or braided with rattan to enhance aesthetics.

In 2020, his family expanded the blacksmith's workshop and added electric fans to blow air into the furnace, grinding machines, and forging machines. Currently, his workshop produces 30-40 products per month, mainly hunting knives, priced from 250,000 to 400,000 VND per product, generating an average income of 7-8 million VND per month. These products are sold within the commune, district, and province, and are shipped to customers in Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, and Hanoi .

One of Mr. Nguyen Van Long, a resident of Ngoc Thuy ward, Long Bien district, Hanoi, who regularly orders knives from Mr. Tua, said: "The products he makes are not only durable, beautiful, and sharp, but also reflect the heartfelt desire of someone who wants to preserve the traditional crafts of our nation."

Text and photos: Truong Son

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