The upcycling blacksmith
- Tom's blades are made by hand and hammer only
- His knives and fishing rods are often described as 'functional art'
- The steel he uses comes from recycled agricultural materials
Tom Regula's knives and fishing rods are all handmade, unique creations. "Not only do they work perfectly, but they are also objects of beauty," says Tom. With a background as a garden designer, jewellery maker, and amber carver, Tom combines many skills into his blacksmithing craft today. Born in Poland, he has been fascinated by metal forging since childhood. He made his first knife at the age of 7, when he used to operate the bellows at his uncle's forge. By 8 years old, he was already a passionate fisherman with a dislike for mass-produced objects, so he began to modify his fishing rods. Tom received his first commission at the age of 16. Concerned by the harm caused to the environment by the extraction and processing of iron ore and other rare metals, in the early 2010s Tom chose to work only with what was ethically available to him.
Interview
- What makes metalsmithing so unique?
- As a blacksmith, working with traditional methods allows me to break away from today’s world and go back to the past. It is a special safety valve for my psyche and a motivator for my physical wellbeing as forging is a very hard process.
- Why do you love working with hot metals?
- There is something magical, or even primal, about forging metal. This is especially true when it is done in traditional ways, by hand and hammer. The fire, the flames, the steel changing shape from my efforts. Hand forging is very long and physically hard but also very satisfying.
- Does your heritage influence your craft?
- I am a Pole and I still forge a 'dziwer', a type of pattern welded steel used for making weapons, by hand as blacksmiths did in ancient Poland. But I live in the UK now and for the handles of my knives and the inserts of my rods I use locally sourced wood.
- Are you worried about the ecological impact of your craft?
- When my son was born, I began to wonder what I could do to save the planet he was going to live in and I decided to only make objects that are environmentally-friendly. Therefore, as new steel comes with high ecological costs, I only use steel from old agricultural machinery.
Tom Regula is a rising star: he began his career in 2016
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Tom Regula
