Ruaridh Pooler, the 27-year-old Scot from Edinburgh has made up his mind: He wants to forge knives. A clear announcement for one who grew up in the MAYBE generation. A generation that supposedly does not want to commit itself – there could still be a better way of life. But how do you find your way?
The Scot has already started and tried a lot in his life so far. He was a student of German and Japanese, bouncer, whiskey salesman, bricklayer, carpenter, masseur. Has completed forging courses in America and Scotland and worked at an engraver. He knows how to grind knives, can handle wood well and carves magnificent handles for his knives. He lived in England, Scotland, Japan, America and again Scotland, until he came to Germany by a fortunate coincidence. Now he forges his knives in the listed blacksmith shop of 1620 in the small village of Haunsheim.
The path is the goal
Generation Y doesn’t have an easy thing. Driven by the desire to always have chosen the best option, to miss nothing important, to be always spontaneous and flexible, to take the either-or-to-life into account, today almost 30-year-olds live under constant pressure. They would like the direct route from A to B to be very lucky. But the fact that life needs dead ends and aberrations, that it’s not always about all-or-nothing, is hard to accept. It is only through experience that we can develop a gut feeling for our interests, and then make decisions with our head and abdomen that we stand behind. Guarantees for the right decision are not included.
Ruaridh does not know today whether he will stay in Haunsheim, but he can draw on a wealth of experience for his decision. A year ago, he heeded the call of his friend Thomas Deisler and went to Germany with his only possession, his white box car marked VOYAGERFORGE. With the help of his patron, the mayor of Haunsheim, Chistoph Mettel, he has built up his blacksmiths. It’s been a tough year and, according to Ru, staying in one place for a year is extraordinary for him. But Ru is certain of his passion:
“I want to make something new out of old things. Put all my strength and creativity in a knife.”
Everyone is blacksmith of his happiness!
Today, the young Scot is back at a crossroads. The one year in the forge has brought him a lot of experience, but it has also shown him his limits. Apart from the chimney and the anvil, he lacks much. Good tool, a decent blacksmith’s hammer and the wealth of experience of a teacher. Forging the unique Damascene knives only with your own body strength is uneconomical in the long run and a disaster for the body. Therefore, Ru will either soon move on and travel to the best cutleries in the world to perfect his skills, or work off his order book with currently 30 new orders and continue to learn from his own experiences and, as always, to do his best. MAYBE. Nobody can take away his talent, creativity and courage.
So proud with my new knife – it cuts well!