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Watch as Tony Swatton, Blacksmith to the Gods, Makes Thor's Hammer

By Rain Noe - November 8, 2013

in Materials | Object Culture | Hand Tools

Thor's mighty hammer, Mjölnir, was forged from magic metal in a workshop of the gods, right? Well, not this latest one; it was TIG-welded out of chromoly steel in a workshop in Burbank.

Tony Swatton is a California-based master blacksmith who runs an unusual roster of employees, with a "Warlock of Animal Fibers" working alongside conventional machinists and swordsmiths. Swatton's Sword & Stone operation creates custom armor, weapons and props for Hollywood; if you need an historically accurate medeival broadsword, an anodized 14th-Century suit of armor or a silver Valkyrie's circlet with an agate centerpiece, S&S is your spot.

While they were not the ones contracted to make the version of Thor's hammer used in the forthcoming movie, Swatton & co. took it upon themselves to make a convincing replica as a testament of their skills. (Every week they make a new mythical weapon, and this week Mjölnir's number was up.) Watch as they turn chromoly, aluminum, leather and a rod of allthread into a lead-shot filled 250-pound beast, and use it to smite some of Thor's worst enemies like a lava lamp, a soda can and a watermelon:

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Pat

11 years ago

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The one in the movie was probably made with foam!
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Orion

11 years ago

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if you dont care to witness a behind the scenes look of a metal workshop in action then you are on the WRONG website Eric.
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Jay

11 years ago

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Definitely not 250lbs.
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Esmond

11 years ago

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Seriously? They went through all that to make a beautiful replica and all you can say is its not the one they used for the movie?

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Eric

11 years ago

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Who cares! it not the one they used for the Movie? .....
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