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One of the oldest traditional blacksmith villages in Vietnam, Phuc Sen forging
village is located in Quang Yen district,
Cao Bang province. Phuc Sen hammer
village is a traditional trade village, appeared over 1000 years ago. Phuc Sen
is a rocky village. Main products of the village are metal and steel hand-held
agricultural equipments and woodwork equipments. During Vietnamese’s war
resistance, Phuc Sen forging village took park in casting cannon and grenade
casing.
Phuc Sen commune has 10 hamlets, 6 of them involved in forging. Stepping into
the village, we can find forging furnace everywhere. Main products of the
village are metal and steel hand-held agricultural equipments and woodwork
equipments. Those bushwhackers, axes, scissors, knives, hoes, shovels, reaping
hooks, etc are made from skillful hands and secret of forgers.
Phuc Sen forged products are identical. By examining the temper water, we can
see the quality of the knife. In addition, professional forgers can test by
moving the knife on a nail. One that moves smoothly is a good one. It’s
important to make an evenly thin blade and use good tempering water. Though
there are not many designs for the products, Phuc Sen farm tools have become a
trade mark around the country.
When visiting these hamlets, one can see a diverse range of forges and tools
sold on both sides of the road, while the sound of hammer blows resounds across
the village. Besides the normal forge tools, such as bellows, anvils, hammers and
water troughs, the Nung An people also build earthen cylinder kilns, about 80cm
in height and 60cm in diameter.
Thanks to their secret techniques and expertise, Phuc Sen villagers have a
reputation for making very sharp and durable products. To promote the
development of the traditional craft, villagers often bring their products to
sell at Quang Uyen Market so they can raise funds for agricultural tools,
blacksmithing tools and materials.
Lately they have started selling their products to other localities in the
country. |
