Cowboy State Daily Profiles Blacksmith N.J. Pawley, Credits Redford

Cowboy State Daily published a profile this week built around a single line: a blacksmith identified as N.J. Pawley, referred to in the piece as the "Cody Blacksmith," is described as not having seen himself as an artist until actor and director Robert Redford told him otherwise. The claim appears in the outlet's own headline, and HTT News has not independently verified details beyond what Cowboy State Daily has published.

What does the Cowboy State Daily headline claim?

The story runs under the headline "Cody Blacksmith N.J. Pawley Wasn't An Artist — Until Robert Redford Told Him He Was." The framing credits Redford — known both for acting and for founding the Sundance Institute — with reclassifying Pawley's forge work as fine art rather than trade labor, though the specifics of when or where that exchange took place are described only in the outlet's own account.

What is confirmed about N.J. Pawley's work?

Material reviewed for this report does not include Pawley's training history, forge location, or a direct quotation from either Pawley or Redford beyond the headline framing. Readers seeking those details — including how the two met and what pieces of Pawley's work prompted the remark — should consult Cowboy State Daily's original report directly, since those facts are not independently reproduced here.

Why is blacksmithing drawing renewed attention this year?

The Pawley profile lands amid a string of blacksmithing stories gaining notice outside trade publications. HTT News reported in September that blacksmithing returned to Gretna Green after a 150-year gap, reviving a trade tied to the Scottish border village's history of anvil-side weddings. Separately, HTT News reported that a Portland, Oregon blacksmith began offering knife-forging classes to the public, part of a pattern of working smiths opening studios to hobbyists rather than keeping the forge a closed trade. Taken together, the stories point to a wider press interest in smithing as both craft and spectacle, with the Redford framing giving the Cowboy State Daily piece a notable hook.

Where can readers find the full profile?

The complete account, including whatever additional detail Cowboy State Daily provides about Pawley's background and the circumstances of Redford's remark, is available at the originating story. HTT News will follow the profile for additional sourced detail, including any public statement from Pawley or Redford's representatives, before expanding coverage of the claim.