I am Tibor Buchholcz, born in Gödöllő, a 69-year-old mechanical technician. I have been running the Blaha ironworks shop for 35 years now. A few years ago, I received a rusty leaf spring as a gift from a friend who asked me to make a good butcher’s knife out of it.
I already had an anvil and a hammer in my workshop, so I only had to make a coal blacksmith stove. I thought I would try – whatever happens. The first knife went so well that there was no stopping from then on. The requests were received one after another: various knives, daggers, carambits, and kukris – and suddenly, an order for a samurai sword (katana).
The sword has been completed, and since then, several katana left my workshop. There is always a new invitation, a new challenge. With the first knife, I had no idea that all this would become a serious hobby and passion for me.
I love every moment of forging – shaping the glowing steel by the hot fire is a special experience. Each piece is made of unique, hand-made, recycled materials. I am happy that a new piece from my works is now in the gallery’s exhibition hall.
The swords are made of 5160 spring steel, carefully retrained and shaped by hand.
Tibor Buchholcz
