About Jim Brown, The Traveling Blacksmith in Central Ohio

Raymond James Brown, also known as Jim "Radar" Brown, began his love for the sound of the anvil as a young boy growing up in Lockbourne, Ohio (a very small town outside the city limits of Columbus).

His grandfather taught Jim many skills, but one of a particular interest was blacksmithing which was later known as family tradition, so it was in his blood, so to speak.  Jim was an adventurous young man and knew there was more to life than the few streets that Lockbourne had to offer, so after high school, Jim was offered a job as a horsegroomer.  Now that was exciting!

Jim was fortunate to have one the greatest farriers in all the Eastern states working right there on the grounds and he saw that Jim had that spark in his eye to take on such a specialized skill.

Being a farrier is one of the most dangerous occupations a man can have due to the temperament of the horses and requires blacksmithing skills.

Just think about lifting up the leg of a 2,000 pound animal and pounding horseshoes on their hoofs.  Plus you need to have stamina and know the composition of a horse's bone structure.

It is a huge responsibility and can be stressful, but nonetheless, Jim was eager and ready to learn.  He became known throughout the community for his ability to make a horse "sound" .

This started his carreer as a farrier and making horseshoes on the anvil was his passion.

Jim moved Georgia and set up shop as a traveling farrier servicing many horse farms.  He won several Georgia state horseshoeing and forging competitions and was well known throughout the state as a top notch farrier. 

But, life happened and in 1995 his career was ended when a horse fell on him and Jim's back was broken and required several surgeries.  Jim's physicians recommended that he change occupations since his injuries were severe in nature.  This was devastating to Jim and his horse community that depended upon him to make their horses sound. 

But Jim knew that the Lord had something else in mind.  During his recovery and healing period, Jim sought the Lord's will and went to the anvil while wearing his back brace and said "Lord, show me what I can do with this anvil since I am no longer able to be a farrier".  And the Lord answered.

Jim began making the Christian symbol Ichthus out of old used horseshoes.   This sparked his creativity to use blacksmithing as an artistic outlet to produce the many beautiful items that are mostly one-of-a-kinds as well as finding his personal testimony of Jesus Christ.

Jim has been creating unique and useful pieces of blacksmith ironworks for over the past decade and plans to continue to use the skills that the Lord has given him to HIS glory in all that he does with a traveling blacksmith shop called Iron Mule Blacksmithing.

Jim currently resides in Grove City, Ohio.  He is a traveling blacksmith and is available for fee-based Heritage skills presentations on the basic skills of blacksmithing to school groups, re-enacters, church organizations, or private gatherings.