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A collection of exceptional knives, gardening tools and everyday utensils made by the oldest blacksmith workshop in South Korea.
From cutting fresh bread to chopping vegetables and planting flowers in the garden, having a good tool is crucial. The Master Shin’s Anvil utensils surpass their pure functional purpose to become veritable heirlooms and treasured objects. Established in 1845 in Anseong, the Shin smithy is the oldest blacksmith workshop still operating in South Korea. Renowned for its brass, stone and iron tools, the city is also famous for its traditional craftsmanship and master artisans. The workshop is now run by Master Shin In-Young, representing the 5th generation of the family, who started his apprenticeship at the age of 13. Only four years later, at the age of 17, he became a master – a remarkable achievement.
In 2016, the master received an important honor as the Korean government and the Gyeonggi Province named him an Intangible Cultural Heritage Treasure. Rarely given to an individual, the prestigious title recognizes Master Shin In-Young’s unparalleled expertise in traditional metalworking skills. Currently the only artisan who still uses the ancient technique of attaching steel sheets to clay to craft blades, he makes kitchen knives and gardening tools that are works of art. The utensils also have a minimalist design that make them not only versatile, but timeless.
Versatile products crafted to last.
The Master Shin’s Anvil collection comprises around 40 different products. While they have different purposes, all of these utensils come to life through the same age-old techniques. To make each knife and gardening tool, the Master Shin uses repurposed railroad track steel and slowly dried chestnut or oak handles. Rich in manganese, the reclaimed railroad track steel is safe to heat at extremely high temperatures. Shin In-Young then hammers each blade a thousand times to sharpen it to perfection. Extra tough and hard, the steel becomes incredibly sharp, thin, wear-resistant and durable. As for the handles, they’re carefully made from chestnut wood that has been left to dry naturally over the course of several years. This drying process hardens the solid wood and also makes it lightweight, rot-resistant and water-resistant.
The Master Shin’s Anvil kitchen knife collection includes every type of knife a cook needs, from the chef’s knife to vegetable, paring, bread and sashimi knives. All of them have an extra-sharp blade and a balanced weight that makes cutting, slicing and peeling easy and smooth. Just like the different knives suit different tasks, so do the gardening tools. The different weeding hoes, trowels and sickles suit specific types of soil and digging or plant cutting needs. Finally, every handle features a signature “X” mark and a traditionally embedded steel band. Hand-forged and hand-hammered in South Korea, every Master Shin’s Anvil product is one-of-a-kind and has an unmistakable heirloom quality. If there ever was a kitchen knife and gardening tool range worthy of the ‘collector’s item’ label, we’d say it’s this one. Photography © Master Shin’s Anvil.
