The town has over 20 forging facilities specialising in making farm tools for people in the area and neighbouring provinces. To make forged products, first of all the blacksmiths must purchase and store the materials. Fuel for the furnaces, which are mainly charcoal, mangrove charcoal and coal, must also be prepared carefully.
The traditional craft of forging has existed for centuries in Ngan Dua. Photo: Trong Chinh/VNP
There are now over 20 forging facilities in Ngan Dua, among which that owned by Nguyen Van On family’ has operated for more than 40 years. Photo: Trong Chinh/VNP
The stage of baking, forging and shaping the iron ingots into knives. Photo: Le Minh/VNP
Fuel for the furnaces are mainly charcoal, mangrove charcoal and coal. Photo: Trong Chinh/VNP
Sharpening products after forging. Photo: Le Minh/VNP Sharpening and filing the knife’s edge. Photo: Le Minh/VNP
Hand-sharpening, which forms the sharp edges for products, is done by the main black-smith. Photo: Le Minh/VNP Finished blade is then firmly put into the handle. Photo: Le Minh/VNP
Tools used by blacksmiths in Ngan Dua. Photo: Le Minh/VNP Nhay (a type of cutting tool) is made to cut materials taken from the furnace. Photo: Trong Chinh/VNP
Agricultural tools are made and sold right at the forges in Ngan Dua. Photo: Trong Chinh/VNP
| « According to historical documents, during the uprising in 1927, farmers in Ninh Thanh Loi used different kinds of weapons, such as spears and broadswords made in Ngan Dua to fight against the colonialist to regain their land. Besides, they also used the forgings to reclaim new land and do farming. » |
Nguyen Van On, who has been a blacksmith for more than 40 years in Ngan Dua said that the forging process has many stages, from working the bellows and tonging the piece to heat it, to hammering the piece. After the piece is shaped it is transferred to another stage, including trimming, making the handle, joining the handle, cleaning and finally handing over the product to the consumer. The tonging process is very important. It is the stage of forging, reinforcing and shaping the iron ingots. The manipulations of tonging, hammering and cooling the piece in a slack tub are repeated many times to shape the iron ingots. Due to the importance of this stage, the work is usually undertaken by the furnace owner. With much experience and high expertise, the furnace owner, through looking at the fire, can know when to increase or stop the fire.
The forgings made in Ngan Dua are fairly diverse. They include hoes, rakes, knives, hammers, sickles, scythes, ploughs and harrows which have several advantages, such as the sharpness, durability and ductility, which are very suitable for the farmers. Together with many families involved in the traditional forging in the town, the smithy owned by Van Nguyen On has existed for three generations. He said: “My grandfather was familiar with forging and taught the craft to my father. I started forging when I was 18 years old and have been involved in this craft for 40 years.” His smithy always has four or five workers who make about 20 products/day. Each of them earns an average of 180,000 VND/day. Due to the nature of this craft, the furnaces often work 15-20 days/month, so the blacksmiths still have time to do other jobs to earn more money.
The “Knives of Ngan Dua” have become a special brand of the town. Furthermore, Ngan Dua forged products are also essential to the life of the people living in the Cuu Long River Delta. In fact, in the old days, forging was a job honoured by the society, because not everyone could do it. Over hundreds of years of using the tools made locally, the farmers have created an invaluable source of food through agricultural production. In modern times, although the traditional forged products must compete with many mechanically-made products, the traditional value of Ngan Dua forging still remains and the products are still preferred by the farmers in the locality and surrounding areas.
Story: Nguyen Vu Thanh Dat
Photos: Trong Chinh & Le Minh
Đăng ký: VietNam News
