Every day, from the forge of Mr. Mua Say Tua’s family, in Hang Chu village, Hang Chu commune, Bac Yen district, Son La province, the sound of forging and the sound of hammers hitting iron bars still resounds steadily. From this forge, he has produced many products to serve the daily needs of the people here.

Mr. Mua Say Tua said that his forge is always burning all year round. During the off-season, he focuses on forging knives and other items according to the needs of the people. Each knife is sold for 250-500 thousand VND depending on the size and type of iron used. After deducting expenses, he earns about 4-5 million VND per month, helping his family have an additional source of income.

Mong people forge knives by hand

“I mainly forge knives, mostly for sale to the villagers. Many people even order in advance, but I still can’t make them in time to sell to them. When the harvest season comes around February and March every year, I forge, train, and repair other tools, such as hoes, shovels, and knives, for the villagers. Each time I repair, I charge 20,000-30,000 VND, depending on the tools brought in for repair,” said Tua.

To make a product requires meticulousness of the maker. In the past, iron was mainly estimated to make, so there was sometimes a surplus, sometimes a shortage. Nowadays, iron has been measured, cut and weighed, so each knife and hoe can be forged to suit the needs and tastes of customers. For example, knife products: iron (mainly from car springs, excavator chains, saw blades) is measured and cut into pieces depending on the thickness of the iron, weighing about 5 taels. Smaller types only weigh 2-3 taels, depending on the preferences and needs of the buyer.

Red hot knife is beaten again and again

The cut iron is put into a charcoal furnace to heat until it turns red, then taken out and hammered to make the iron thinner. Put it in the furnace to heat it red, then take it out and hammer it until the iron piece is long and thin, forming the shape of a knife. Then put it into water, or oil, or banana tree trunks to temper it again to create a complete knife. All stages are done by hand by the blacksmith, without using grinding machines or cutting machines. The knife products made by Mr. Mua Say Tua are highly appreciated by the people in the area and people in neighboring areas such as Mai Son, Muong La, Tram Tau (Yen Bai) ... and come to buy them for use because of the durability and famous quality of the products.

The Knives are fully made

Mr. Ho A Va, in Na Bo commune, Mai Son district, Son La province said: “If you want to use knives for a long time, you have to use knives forged by the Mong people, because the Mong people's knives are forged by the forgers, so they can be used only by sharpening them over and over again. As for knives bought from outside, after a while they will lose their sharpness.”

In the whole Hang Chu commune, Bac Yen district, besides Mr. Mua Say Tua's family, there are 5 other Mong ethnic artisans who are also preserving and developing the traditional blacksmithing profession.

Mong people's knives are favored and ordered by many people in and outside the region because of their durability and sharpness.

Mr. Ho A Dua, Chairman of Hang Chu Commune People's Committee, said: The commune has developed a plan according to Resolution 20 of the Standing Committee of Bac Yen District Party Committee on preserving and promoting the cultural identity values ​​of the nation and Project 1719, requesting the state to continue to pay attention to supporting part of the funding to maintain and promote local traditional occupations, including the traditional blacksmithing profession of the Mong people.

“Currently, the commune is also reviewing the artisans and people who know the blacksmithing profession in the area to preserve, maintain and teach it to the younger generation. In addition, it is doing it to promote, introduce and sell to tourists to increase income for households,” said Mr. Dua./.

Thao Ly