National Spotlight: FORGED IN FIRE

Dec 30

Never in a million years did Walter Baranowski of Springville, NY think an obscure backyard hobby would land him on national television … but national television is just where he found himself. As the most recent winner of the History Channel’s Forged in Fire, he took the time to chat with ellicottvilleNOW about everything smithing.

In a fit of internet research, I discovered smithing is considered something of an “Old World” skill in the modern era. Before the industrial revolution, “blacksmiths made an immense variety of common objects used in everyday life: nails, screws, bolts, and other fasteners; sickles, plowshares, axes, and other agricultural implements; hammers and other tools used by artisans; candlesticks and other household objects; swords, shields, and armour; wheel rims and other metal parts in wagons and carriages; fireplace fittings and implements; spikes, chains, and cables used on ships; and the ironwork, both functional and decorative, used in furniture and in the building trades.” (www.britannica.com/topic/blacksmith)

Smiths were an integral part of society and were needed in the creation of nearly every household item you can think of. (I mean seriously, that list!) What fascinated me through my research was finding there is an artesian element to metal work that is not front of mind when you think of a modern day metal worker. In an ironic turn, it is technology in the form of reality television that is shining a light on this fascinating craft.

“Smithing is a good outlet for expression, creativity, and also a good way to escape reality for awhile, and why wouldn't you want to do such a thing?” Baranowski remarked.

He definitely isn’t wrong. In modern America we seem to seek distraction from reality at any length.

Baranowski had hemmed and hawed about entering forged in fire for awhile. “Honestly, 3 or even 4 years ago I probably had no business even trying,” he said. A few folks encouraged him to enter, but it was an interview of another smith who competed on the show that was the true inspiration. “His name is Ray Kirk, a master bladesmith from Oklahoma. Although Ray didn't win, he said it wasn't about the money or the title. It was about promoting our craft.”

Walter expanded on this notion. “Maybe some little kid who knows you, or doesn't, sees the show and you have a positive impact on them, either as a role model or window into the world of smithing. Really it could be anyone, doesn’t matter the age … that is what inspired me to enter.”

As far as the show was concerned, the first and second rounds of the competition were incredibly stressful for Baranowski. “The anxiety of the clock, judges, and a camera following my every move. But, it was more the clock than anything that bothered me in particular.”

Usually Baranowski is used to having as much time as he wanted in his shop. “I did do some timed runs at my home forge, and did well. But that's just it … it was my home forge.”

During the competition he was in an unfamiliar shop, with unfamiliar tools, doing an already difficult job.

In speaking to his skills that helped him deal with the camera and others on set, “I was able to tune most anything and anyone out; everyone was a mere ghost to me.”

Trying to stay out of his own head and in the game was a challenge for him though. “The one thing I kept telling myself is, ‘I know what I'm doing, make good decisions,’ and I think it paid off.”

Walking away as the victor, most would say those tactics more than paid off.

Getting into the history of how Baranowski became involved with knife smithing, we have to go back to his roots. “There were always pictures on the wall of my grandfather in the Philippines of him making knives. He was the local bladesmith on the island where my mother was from, a province of Northern Samar.”

His father was a welder, and one of his great grandfathers was a fabricator in a wrought iron shop in Buffalo, NY that made a lot of the wrought iron finishings you see in downtown Buffalo. “So I guess you could say it's kinda natural [for me], or in my blood rather.”

Baranowski started out with literally quite nothing. “My early knives were made from old wornout files that I pounded out on the backside of a vice or a heavy block of steel.” He used a set of torches to heat the metal and claims to have known next to nothing, but would do it anyway as it felt natural to him. “I had no teacher, as I didn't know anyone around in those days who made knives.” Unfortunately, his grandfather died the year before he was born and was not able to pass down the tradition directly. “Plus, even if he was around, he was another world away anyways,” Baranowski added.

So the fire had been lit and he gained knowledge through books and some videos on youtube. The real teacher ended up being the blood, sweat, tears, and mistakes … “The school of hard knocks can be the best teacher sometimes.” (Wow, I think we all needed to hear that.)

There's a lot about making knives that inspires Baranowski - from the fact he is carrying on tradition as a 4th generation metal worker or being able to create an idea in his head, scratch it down on paper and recreate it in real life. “Probably at the top of my list is how people find value in my work,” he told me. “That still amazes me, how someone, who I may have never met, finds value in something I've created from a mere idea in my mind … that’s just way cool.”

When asking Baranowski what his favorite knife to make was, he couldn’t pick one. The first is a Bowie knife. “I like large blades, and the Bowie is the iconic American knife that conjures up dreams of the wild west and the rough and tough men that carried them.” Also he enjoys crafting a classic 4"-5" hunting knife. “Being an outdoors kinda guy, a good, thin, 4" inch hunting knife is an essential tool that I would not leave the house without.” Barnowski told me it must also be sharp. “A sharp knife is actually safer than a dull knife.” This is because a dull knife will cause you to have to work harder to achieve your task, thus giving you more opportunity to slip and cut yourself.

FAST FACTS:

• Age: 33

• Location: Springville NY

• Family Life: Married for 11 years to his wonderful wife Samantha. “She’s also my biggest supporter.” They have 2 beautiful children, Sage (10) and Wyatt (7).

• Hobbies: Hunting, fishing, and trapping. “There's a surprise,” Baranowski said with a chuckle.

Going on Forged in Fire was one of the greatest experiences of his life. Baranowski learned what he’s capable of, and that he’s got what it takes to work and perform under immense stress and pressure. “Being able to put Springville in the National spotlight and represent our area, well, it's hard to put into words really. Pride. Pride is the one word that says it all. I am proud of what I've accomplished thus far and proud to be able to represent Western New York.”

His advice to anyone starting out: find a mentor, or find someone willing to take time to point you in the right direction and teach you a few things. “This is the age of information; there are plenty of online groups where there are always people willing to take the time to teach and explain anything.”

At first, knife making was just a hobby for Baranowski, but as he progressed, more people wanted knives, and well … the rest is history. “I officially started Baranowski Knife and Tool around February this year.” (Yay, for a COVID win!)

If you're interested in acquiring any of Baranowski’s work, you can find his business page on Facebook as Baranowski Knife and Tool, and on Instagram under the same name. “My backlog is growing for custom orders but I do make one-offs and post them to my page for sale from time to time.” They do sell quickly, he warned me. For lack of sounding like a 90s infomercial, you better act fast and order today!

As if you needed another reason to like Baranowski, he took a portion of his winnings and donated it to cancer research. “Specifically, I donated to esophageal, breast, pancreatic, and huntington's disease research. Partly in memory of those who lost their battle and those still fighting and because I wanted to give back a little.” The rest he said went back into the business in the form of tools. “This will help my process and grow the business.”

Baranowski left me with so many nuggets of wisdom I didn’t know any better way to close this article than like this …

Walterisms:

“Never be afraid to make mistakes, rather embrace them, as there isn't much to learn from being perfect all the time.”
“Never stop trying to become better, be your own worst critic, you never know where the path may lead.”
“Always, always stay humble.”

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