When you’re just starting off with blacksmithing, you can try to gather all of the information you need online. But it can be more convenient to take advantage of the many books written on the topic that sum up everything you need to know in one convenient place.

Here are four of my favorite blacksmithing books for you to check out.

The title of each book below is a link to the Amazon store where you can purchase copies, so feel free to give them a click!

New Edge of the Anvil by Jack Andrews

If you have to pick up just one blacksmith book, make it this one. It will teach you pretty much everything you need to know. Including:

  • How a workshop works
  • All the basic blacksmith tools
  • How to work with metal (all the major techniques like heating, cutting, twisting, forge welding, etc)
  • Metallurgy
  • Heat treating
  • Corrosion and protecting metal surfaces
  • Charts and guidelines to streamline many tasks
  • How to set up a blacksmithing business and manage it
  • Plus a lot more

The Art of Blacksmithing by Alex Bealer

This book features over 500 illustrations, which can be very helpful if you’re a visual learner like me.

It’s another book that gives a great overview of blacksmithing and covers most of the same topics as New Edge of the Anvil.

The Complete Modern Blacksmith by Alexander Weygers

Learn how to repair, design, and forge your own household accessories, tools, and hardware. This book features great step by step instructions and lots of drawings. It’s great whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or experienced blacksmith.

This book is actually a combination of three books that have been out of print for a while:

  • The Modern Blacksmith
  • The Making of Tools
  • The Recycling, Use, and Repair of Tools

The Backyard Blacksmith by Lorelei Sims

One of the few blacksmithing books written by a woman. So if you’re buying for the lady blacksmith in your life, this might be the one.

Like all of the above books, this one will show you all the basics of blacksmithing like tools, metals, and different techniques. It also features plenty of illustrations and full-color photos, plus detailed instructions.

It’ll teach you how to make all sorts of things handles, hinges, nails, wall-mounted hooks, and more.