Greasy Luck Forge

Thomas Boucher, a part-time blacksmith in New Hampshire, USA, delves into the fascinating world of traditional locksmithing, crafting handmade locks, keys, and tools. Drawing inspiration from family roots and guided by a passion for utility and complexity.

Jack W Lennie

Jan 15, 2024 — 4 min read

Edition Four Feature
Words by: Thomas Boucher
Location: New Hampshire, USA
Photo Credits: ©Chris Boucher @granitefly

I’m a part-time blacksmith who focuses on traditional locksmithing, and I’m currently located in New Hampshire, USA. I explore and experiment with the construction of handmade locks and keys and the tools used to make them, as well as other related items. I’m actively seeking out new knowledge and learning about the craft while sharing my skills and explorations to inspire others to make and to help them learn how.

Working with my hands and trying to understand how certain things work has always been part of my life. Much of my childhood was spent in and around my father’s workshop, which was also here in New Hampshire. He opened his doors as a blacksmith in 1978 but switched over to welding in the early 1990s. I have memories of my father forging, but as the years passed and the craft faded with them, a chance to swing a hammer eluded me. Many years later, in 2012, post-college and living outside Atlanta, Georgia, I found myself looking for a pastime. I went back to my roots and sought out a way to learn to forge through the local blacksmith guild. I spent nearly every weekend forging and exploring the craft.

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