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Sawyers, Joiners, and Blacksmiths
. Sawyers, Joiners, and Blacksmiths
Our approach is simple: keep with tradition.
It all begins in the local woodlands, where we personally source our timber and mill it to our exact specifications. Since quality cannot be rushed, every board is stacked to air-dry naturally for several years, allowing the wood to stabilize and reveal its own character.
Once seasoned, the wood moves to our two traditional wood-shops in Pennsylvania and Maryland. You will not hear the rumble of modern machinery, only the steady rhythm of historic hand tools. We rely on time-honoured techniques to shape our pieces. We never follow a standard blueprint; we are guided by the material.
By letting the wood dictate its final form, we create pieces that are as much a product of nature as they are of our craftsmanship. What you see today is simply what the wood was always meant to be.
Events and Opportunities
How can you bring the warmth and authenticity of traditional, handcrafted wood into your home? Either visit us at our modest Maryland wood shop or catch us at upcoming regional markets and craft shows, and experience the quality, texture, and lasting beauty of our handmade wooden products firsthand.
Upcoming Markets & Events
We regularly travel to local festivals and artisan markets to display our work. Catch us at these upcoming locations:
The Tin Rabbit
17319 Falls Road, Upperco, MD 21155
July 25
August 22
September 26
October 17
Market is open from 9am-2pm
Join Us at the Bench
It’s time to step away from mass-produced furniture and rediscover the time-honored techniques of traditional woodworking. When you visit our shop, you won't just see finished products; you will experience the rich, familiar scent of freshly cut timber and witness the dedication that goes into every piece we build.
Why Stop By?
Hands-on demonstrations: Watch raw, locally sourced Maryland and Pennsylvania lumber transformed through classic joinery techniques using historic hand tools.
See our inventory: Browse our current collection of finished furniture, home goods, and bespoke pieces.
Get an insight into our designs: Meet us and see how we come up with new ideas, and see exactly how our heirloom furniture is built.
Plan Your Visit
We love sharing our passion with the community. To ensure a woodworker is available to guide you through the shop and provide a personalized, hands-on demonstration, please reach out ahead of time to schedule a visit.
Join Us at the Forge
Discover the art of smithing at our Gettysburg forge. We don't just practice historic trades; we dedicate time to preserve and pass them on. Just bring a keen interest and wear appropriate clothing. We provide all the tools, safety gear, and materials you need for free.
Why Smith With Us?
Hands-on experience: Try your hand at heating, hammering, and shaping metal the traditional way.
Cost-free learning: All equipment and materials are provided at zero charge.
Historic setting: Fully immerse yourself in an atmosphere dedicated to blacksmithing history, preservation, and traditional metalworking.
What to Bring
Keen interest: An eagerness to learn the craft.
Appropriate clothing: Long pants (cotton/denim preferred) and sturdy, closed-toe shoes or workboots are mandatory for safety.
If you would like to join us, let us know through the contact form.
Current Products
Boards are priced individually by size.
Unique Live Edge Walnut Board - Glue-Free!
Add a touch of rustic magic to your countertop! These locally sourced walnut boards are totally unique, handcrafted from a single, piece of solid walnut to ensure a 100% glue-free product. Each board is handmade, following the natural contours of the tree. Several of our boards feature stunning, live edge, making them one of a kind, durable, and full of character, a true showpiece for your kitchen.
Handmade One-Piece Walnut Cutting Board
100% Glue-Free & Solid: No laminates, no joints—just one solid piece of premium locally sourced walnut.
Totally Unique: Each board showcases distinct grain patterns and several have natural live edges.
Versatile Artisan Piece: Perfect for cutting, rustic serving, or charcuterie.
Natural Edge: Follows the wood's organic contours for a rustic charm
Care Instructions: Hand wash only. Avoid soaking or dishwashers. Dry thoroughly and maintain with food-safe oil to keep the finish silky smooth.
This item is only available for local pickup or at events we are attending.
Elevate Your Baking with Our Handcrafted Dough Scraper
Bring warmth and artisanal quality to your kitchen with our Handcrafted Solid Walnut Dough Bowl Scraper. Designed to be the ultimate companion for mixing, folding, and shaping, this versatile tool makes handling everything from sticky sourdough to delicate pastry effortless.
Each scraper is lovingly carved from rich, food-safe walnut wood and finished to a silky-smooth texture, providing an ergonomic, comfortable grip that feels natural in your hands.
Why You’ll Love It
Unique Artistry: Hand-cut and finished in small batches, featuring distinct walnut grain patterns that make every piece one-of-a-kind.
Effortless Handling: The ergonomic curve perfectly conforms to mixing bowls, ensuring nothing goes to waste.
Built to Last: Durable, solid hardwood construction combines rustic charm with heirloom-quality utility.
Natural & Safe: A plastic-free, non-toxic, and food-safe tool that is gentle on your dough as well as your hands.
Perfect For:
Sourdough & Other Breads: Effortlessly shaping loaves and creating tension.
Pastry & Biscuits: Cutting and portioning delicate doughs.
Kitchen Cleanup: Quickly clear sticky dough and flour from work surfaces.
Care Instructions: Hand wash only. Avoid soaking or dishwashers. Dry thoroughly and maintain with food-safe oil to keep the finish silky smooth.
Inspired by British spoon-maker Sean Hellman, this modern, versatile tool combines a traditional bodger’s shave horse with a dedicated spoon mule. While the featured walnut model—shown in photos—was crafted as an extravagant showpiece, our standard, robust daily-use models are constructed from durable poplar, with custom hardwood combinations available upon request. Built to order, these adjustable tools accommodate everyone from children to tall adults and include interchangeable inserts for shaving, carving, or spoon-making. A major advantage of this design is its portability; it breaks down completely for compact storage and can be reassembled in under a minute.
This item is only available for local pickup or personal delivery at an additional cost.
Embodying the honesty and utility of early Shaker design, this solid oak bench features clean lines and authentic construction. It is designed with a traditional front skirt, sturdy rear bracing for lasting stability, and our signature exposed wedged through tenons, emphasizing functional integrity over ornamentation.
Dimensions: 5 feet long, 11.5 inches wide, and 19.5 inches high
Solid oak, highlighting natural grain.
Early Shaker-style, with a focus on simplicity and durable functionality.
Classic rear bracing, front skirt, and exposed, wedged through-tenon joinery.
The design is reminiscent of the "lasting forever" philosophy of early communal Shaker furniture, perfect for dining, entryway, porch, or garden use.
We made this bench an ergonomic seat height of 19.5 inches so that every family member can comfortably sit and stand with ease.
This item is available at shows and local pickup only.
Elevate Your Culinary Prep with Our Handcrafted Herb Stripper
Effortlessly remove leaves from stems with this artisan-crafted hardwood herb stripper, meticulously shaped from beautiful, durable walnut. Designed for home chefs, gardeners, and food enthusiasts, this tool brings both functional elegance and efficiency to your kitchen.
What's So Special About Our Herb Stripper?
7 Precision-Cut Holes: Designed to handle a variety of fresh herbs and leafy greens, from delicate thyme and rosemary to robust kale and chard.
Ergonomic Teardrop Design: The comfortable, ergonomic shape fits perfectly in your hand, making the stripping process smooth and easy.
Premium Natural Walnut: Each piece features a rich, smooth finish that highlights the unique, natural grain of the wood.
Heirloom Quality: Unlike mass-produced alternatives, our hand-finished stripper is built to last, offering a sustainable, eco-friendly option for your kitchen.
Effortless Meal Prep
Simply insert the stem through the appropriate hole and pull to instantly separate leaves from stems, saving time on prepping greens and herbs. The smooth design also makes it perfect for scraping herbs from your cutting board into a bowl or pan.
Perfect for Gifting
With its elegant look and practical utility, this handcrafted tool makes a perfect, unique gift for housewarmings, holidays, or any home cook who loves working with fresh ingredients.
Built from locally sourced oak, this classic bench is a true labor of love. We personally milled the lumber and let it air-dry for over five years before shaping it in our shop using historic hand tools. We rely on traditional joinery to ensure every piece is functional, timeless, and completely one-of-a-kind. Since we craft them one at a time, no two benches are ever exactly alike.
A generous 6 foot long and 12 inches wide and features:
Solid oak, highlighting natural grain
Classic front and rear skirts, and exposed, wedged through-tenon joinery
Traditional pegged stretchers
Ergonomic 21 inch height, rather than the traditional 16”-18”
Live edge
This item is available at shows and local pickup only.
Handmade using methods from a bygone era, this solid oak bench honors the timeless, rugged designs of early America. We handcraft each piece, ensuring that no two are alike. This is not just a bench; it’s a heritage piece meant to last generations. Built at an ergonomic 21 inch height, it allows for easy, comfortable seating, keeping the hips above the knees for better posture and effortless sitting and standing for every family member.
This one of a kind bench is 5 feet long and a comfortable 12 inches wide.
We build a variety of shave horses tailored to both traditional craftspeople and mobile woodworkers. Crafted from locally sourced poplar, our MK2 Shave Horse combines a classic feel with a sleek, modern aesthetic.
Designed for versatility and comfort, the MK2 is fully adjustable, lightweight, and features an ergonomic saddled seat.
It is the perfect companion for a wide range of crafts, including:
Bodging (Chair making)
Bowyery (Bow making)
Coopering (Barrel making)
Timber framing and wheelwrighting
Modern green woodworking and hobbyist projects
The Mobile Spoon Mule is the perfect space-saving solution for green woodworkers.
Ultra-Compact: Packs down easily to store on a shelf or in a drawer.
Quick Setup: Clamps directly to any standard table or workbench.
Highly Versatile: Features adjustable, padded jaws to securely hold various shapes and sizes.
Help Us Preserve History
We Buy and Accept Donations of Vintage Tools
Our Mission
We are preserving historic woodworking traditions through our own endeavors and the promotion of adult education and youth programs. As practitioners of this timeless craft, we strive to ensure these historic skills are never lost.
Why It Matters
Maintaining historic hand tool skills is vital to preserve the direct connection between the craftsman, the material, and the heritage. Modern machinery detaches the maker from the wood, whereas traditional tools require reading grain patterns and understanding material physics. This hands-on mastery creates heirloom joinery built for absolute longevity. Keeping these techniques alive protects irreplaceable cultural knowledge and promotes eco-friendly, low-waste fabrication. Ultimately, traditional woodworking ensures furniture remains a soulful art form defined by quality rather than mass production
Help Us Pass on the Legacy
Do not let historic tools gather dust. If you have individual tools or a beloved collection, consider selling or donating them to us. We act as proud custodians of your legacy, restoring your tools, if needed, storing and preserve them correctly to ensure they stay in working condition. Most importantly, we make sure they are used as intended, remain in active use, and in the right hands.
Our Services
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Transform your raw logs into valuable, custom-cut lumber. Bring your logs to our Gettysburg location, and we will mill them precisely to your specifications.
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We make it simple to convert your timber into usable wood through three easy steps:
Drop Off: You haul your raw logs directly to our facility.
Custom Milling: We cut the logs into lumber using your exact dimensions.
Reloading: We stack and load the finished lumber back onto your truck or trailer.
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Local Expertise: Conveniently located in Gettysburg, PA, serving local landowners and woodworkers.
Tailored Cuts: You specify the thickness, width, and lengths required for your project.
Heavy Lifting Handled: We take care of the heavy equipment work to load your vehicle.
Maximum Yield: Our precise milling maximizes the usable lumber from every log.
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