Wisdom from the Forge: Ancient Principles in Modern Craftsmanship

From the Bench: Where Anglo-Saxon wisdom meets the gunsmith's craft

By Hootey Cline | Blue Coat Arms Company

The rhythmic strike of hammer on steel. The patient filing of metal until precision emerges. The quiet contemplation as bluing solution transforms raw iron into something beautiful and functional. These moments in the gunsmith's workshop echo practices far older than our modern craft – they connect us to the wisdom of our ancestors.

As a Germanic Heathen practitioner, I've found that the ancient wisdom of our Anglo-Saxon and Nordic forebears speaks directly to the heart of what we do as craftsmen. The firearms industry is often viewed through a narrow lens, but the truth is that our craft draws from many wells of wisdom. Today, I want to share how these ancient principles guide my work at Blue Coat Arms Company.

The Patience of the Smith

"If you seek happiness, master the art of patience, for this is half of the battle."

Every gunsmith knows this truth intimately. You cannot rush precision. The customer who brings in their great-grandfather's rifle, seized solid from decades of neglect, teaches us that restoration happens on the metal's timeline, not ours. Each careful stroke of the file, each measured application of penetrating oil, each gentle coaxing of frozen parts – all require the patience our ancestors knew when forging the blades that defended their halls.

In our modern world of instant gratification, the gunsmith's workshop becomes a sanctuary where ancient rhythms still hold sway. The metal will tell you when it's ready. The spring will reveal its secrets when you've earned them through patient observation.

Fate and Preparation

"Every man has his fate set before him, have your spirit prepared to withstand the oncoming forces."

The concept of Wyrd – fate or destiny – doesn't mean passive acceptance. It means understanding that challenges will come, and our duty is to prepare ourselves to meet them with skill and honor. When a customer brings in a firearm that's been "worked on" by three different gunsmiths, each making the problem worse, I know this is my ordeal to face. The preparation comes from years of study, practice, and maintaining the tools and knowledge needed for whatever walks through the door.

Whether it's a Civil War musket needing custom parts fabrication or a modern rifle with a mysterious malfunction, preparation meets opportunity in the crucible of craftsmanship.

The Teacher's Voice

"The voices of our greatest teachers are always available for counsel, should you call upon them."

In the Heathen tradition, we honor our ancestors – not just our blood ancestors, but our craft ancestors. The gunsmiths who came before us, who developed the techniques we use, who solved the problems we still face today. Their wisdom lives on in the methods they passed down, in the tools they designed, in the principles they discovered through trial and error.

When I'm working on a particularly challenging restoration, I often find myself drawing on techniques learned from master craftsmen who've passed on. Their voices echo in the workshop: "Let the metal cool naturally." "Feel for the spring's natural tension." "Listen to what the action is telling you."

Necessity as Teacher

"Necessity is a harsh but powerful teacher. No mighty blade is forged without pressure and heat."

The forge teaches us that strength comes through controlled adversity. The steel that will become a barrel must endure tremendous heat and pressure to achieve the properties we need. Similarly, the challenges we face as craftsmen – the impossible deadlines, the "unfixable" firearms, the customers who've lost faith in repair – these forge us into better smiths.

Every gunsmith has their story of the project that nearly broke them, that pushed them beyond their known limits. These are the moments that separate the hobbyist from the craftsman, the tinkerer from the master.

Truth in Speech and Work

"Let the goal of your speech be truth."

In a world full of marketing hype and inflated claims, the craftsman's reputation rests on truth. When I tell a customer their firearm will take three months to repair, that's not a conservative estimate – it's the truth based on my current workload and the complexity of their project. When I explain what's wrong with their firearm, I use plain language that honors both their intelligence and their right to understand what they're paying for.

Truth extends to our work itself. A properly executed repair doesn't need excuses or explanations – it speaks for itself. The action cycles smoothly, the groups tighten, the customer's confidence returns. Truth in craftsmanship is measured in function, not just appearance.

The Right Place for Every Skill

"The sailor should be at sea, the warrior on the battlefield, and the scholar in the library."

This wisdom reminds us that every person has their proper place, their calling. For some, that calling is the gunsmith's bench. Not everyone is meant to be a craftsman, just as not every craftsman is meant to be a teacher or a businessman. Understanding our proper place – and staying in it – allows us to serve our community most effectively.

When customers ask if they should attempt their own repairs, I consider this principle. Some have the temperament, tools, and dedication for the work. Others serve their firearms better by bringing them to someone whose proper place is at the bench.

Continuous Discovery

"Be on a continuous journey of discovery. Do not cease in your quest for wisdom. When good fortune abandons you, your gained insights shall not."

The learning never stops. New firearms designs, new materials, new techniques, new problems to solve. The gunsmith who thinks they know everything is the gunsmith who's stopped growing. Ancient wisdom reminds us that knowledge is the one treasure that can never be stolen, never lost, never devalued.

Whether it's studying historical manufacturing techniques for an antique restoration or learning about modern metallurgy for custom work, the quest for wisdom keeps our craft alive and growing.

Honor in the Work

"It is a mark of wisdom who spends more time talking about the good others have done, than their own achievements."

The firearms community is built on shared knowledge and mutual respect. The old-timer who taught me to read spring tension by feel, the customer who trusted me with their family heirloom, the fellow craftsman who shared a hard-won technique –

These deserve recognition more than my own accomplishments.

Our work stands on the shoulders of countless others who contributed to the body of knowledge we draw from daily. Honoring their contributions keeps us humble and connected to the larger tradition of craftsmanship.

A Broader Vision

The firearms industry benefits when we acknowledge the diverse spiritual and philosophical traditions that inform our work. Whether guided by Christian principles, Heathen wisdom, secular humanism, or other paths, craftsmen share common values: respect for tradition, commitment to excellence, service to community, and the patient pursuit of mastery.

My Germanic Heathen practice doesn't make me a better gunsmith than my Christian colleagues, nor does their faith make them better than me. What matters is that we all bring our whole selves – including our spiritual convictions – to the work of preserving and maintaining the tools that serve our communities.

The Eternal Craft

"Though you may be praised by the crowd, do not be too quick to believe them."

At the end of the day, the work itself is the judge. A properly functioning firearm doesn't care about the spiritual beliefs of the person who repaired it. The metal responds to skill, patience, and understanding – qualities that can be cultivated within any sincere spiritual framework.

The ancient wisdom of our ancestors reminds us that craftsmanship is more than a job – it's a calling that connects us to something larger than ourselves. Whether we call it Wyrd, providence, or simply the satisfaction of work well done, we serve something greater when we dedicate ourselves to excellence in our craft.

No matter your era, we got your six – whether you draw wisdom from the halls of Valhalla, the teachings of Christ, or the quiet voice of your own conscience.

Questions about restoration, repair, or the philosophy behind the craft? Contact Blue Coat Arms Company at 217-416-5962 or BlueCoatArms@gmail.com. All are welcome at our bench, regardless of the path that brought them here.