One of the largest obstacles to making it through a long-term survival situation is that most of us lack the basic skills needed to perform trades that used to be commonplace.

This is particularly true as it comes to the work of a blacksmith.

While as recently as a few decades ago, one could find someone who knew how to work with metal, it has become harder and harder.

As cheap, mass manufacturing and box store availability became more commonplace, working with metal became more of a novelty than a necessity.

You buy something; it wears or breaks, and you throw it away and get a new one.

You won't always be able to buy something new in a longer term survival situation, which is why learning the craft of the blacksmith is of vital importance.

On the next page, we show you how to build a forge for under $40 to get started.

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