Typical items made or repaired include wrought iron gates, staircases, furniture, candlesticks, light fittings, parts for carriages and vintage agricultural machinery, garden railings, metal fire escapes, security grills and reproduction weapons and armour.

Many trade as ‘artist blacksmiths’ and specialise in producing sculptural artistic works, often to commission, and some also sell ready-made pieces either directly from their forge and website or via retailers such as garden centres and galleries. Some blacksmiths carry out restoration of original metalwork in churches, cathedrals and historic or listed buildings, or carry out blacksmithing projects as an addition to their main trade as a farrier, fitting shoes to horses. However, starting up and trading as a farrier is covered separately in MBP098 Farrier.

This profile provides information about starting up and trading as a blacksmith. It describes the skills required, the training available, the current market trends and the key trading issues. It also explains the legislation that must be complied with and provides sources of further information and support.