This could be a good skill to know. Back in the day the blacksmith was the most important person in the kingdom/village or town. Almost everything could be related back to the blacksmith. Carpenter-nails and tools,farmer-tools,army-weapons. I do blacksmithing and have learned some of the history. During the War of Northern Aggression the northern troops instead of taking the anvil they found(some are really heavy) they would knock the horn off the anvil and take it with them and throw in a creek or river.This would make the anvil useless for making horseshoes.
