09/12/2025
Thomas, a Shetland man living in London did a Petefire Dagger Forging Experience recently at the forge in Chiswell Green, near St Albans in South East England.
Peter, the blacksmith’s parents are from Shetland and live in Abbots Langley, North Watford.
Along with his two brothers, Peter was brought us with loads of Shetland dialect words – the brothers sometimes used them with their friends in Watford – thinking they were English words.
Peter gets a laugh from Thomas asking him to ‘shiggle’ the dagger that he forged. In Shetland this mean to give it a shake, in the front bosh, the tank used primarily for cooling down hot tongs. In this case we quenched the blade in a ceremonial sense.
Most Shetlanders think of themselves as Nordic (even though Shetland is legally part of Scotland), and the Shetland dialect is rooted in an old Norse language, know as Old Norn.
Want a pretty special for someone – how about a Petefire Forging Experience – with Peter, a blacksmith from Nordic / Viking stock?
You can choose from a:
Standard Forging Experience – up to 6 people, cost from £120
Papa Knife / Kitchen Knife Forging Experience – up to 4 people, cost from £165
Dagger Forging Experience – one or two people, cost from £275
Sword Forging Experience – max two swords, up to 6 people can take part (great for big birthdays, stag events and hen events, cost from £315
Axe Forging Experience – our most intense Forging Experience! One axe, two people can take part, cost £315.
Contact [email protected], phone or message 0777 999 1551. Phone 01923 350596.
Petefire Forge Chiswell Green
Hanrox Meadows
Blunts Lane
Chiswell Green
Herts
England
AL2 3NJ
