Category Archives: Articles

Articles and Press regarding Dragonfly Forge, Tomboyama Nihonto Tanren Dojo, and other things sword related.

The Sword Maker – A Short Documentary

Posted on January 5, 2012

Handmade Portraits: The Sword Maker from Etsy on Vimeo.

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The Making of a Classic Kinko Tsuba – Ford Hallam

Posted on December 24, 2010

Ford Hallam, the very talented and award-winning shiroganeshi (literally “silversmith”, but the term refers to soft-metal artists of kodogu and tsuba) is featured in this two part video, an enlightening window into his methods and technique. The tsuba is the … Continue reading →

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“Forged Art” by Teri Albert

Posted on May 25, 2010

“Michael Bell is both alchemist and artist. Using heat, hammers, and 40 years experience, he is a master swordsmith in the Japanese tradition.” Continue reading this article in The World newspaper by Teri Albert at theworldlink.com…

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Michael Bell, Swordsmith of Dragonfly Forge

Posted on May 8, 2010

A brief video interview with Michael Bell, founder of Dragonfly Forge, has been uploaded to YouTube. He speaks regarding becoming a swordsmith, his apprenticeship, developing forged cable swords, and our swordsmithing school, Tomboyama Nihontō Tanren Dōjō. We would like to … Continue reading →

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“A Slice of Japan” – By Frank Knight – Ethos Magazine

Posted on May 5, 2010

“About 30 minutes outside of Coquille, Oregon, a small wooden marker written in kanji stands at the base of a hill. Another 15 minutes up the rough dirt road nestled amongst the trees of the rugged Oregon coastline sits the … Continue reading →

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Unveiling Dragonfly Forge’s New Mon

Posted on April 7, 2010

Dragonfly Forge is proud to unveil our new mon, which will serve as a logo for our business and swordsmithing school. Our mon features three dragonflies facing outward, enclosed, like the majority of mon, within a bold circle. Mon are … Continue reading →

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art – Art of the Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armor, 1156–1868 Exhibit

Posted on November 10, 2009

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is currently featuring an outstanding exhibit: Art of the Samurai Japanese Arms and Armor, 1156–1868. The ambitious loan exhibition will bring together 214 masterpieces, including 34 National Treasures, 64 Important Cultural … Continue reading →

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So you want to become an apprentice swordsmith…

Posted on January 31, 2009

Some of the most frequently asked questions we receive are in regards to becoming an apprentice swordsmith. This article is meant to help answer many of the questions we are asked about apprenticeships. Michael Bell undertook a traditional five year … Continue reading →

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Interview with Pieces

Posted on January 30, 2009

Michael Bell was recently interviewed by the online magazine Pieces, which seeks to explore the various materials that we use so often in everyday life and their multi-faceted functions. The current issue focuses on steel, it’s many applications in modern … Continue reading →

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Swordsmithing – an ancient art

Posted on March 29, 2008

From The World Newspaper, Coos Bay, Oregon By Jo Rafferty Michael Bell started up the electric motor on a gigantic press he uses to shape the blades of Japanese swords. “Bam! Bam!” The dies clanked together on the approximately 3-foot-long … Continue reading →

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