Weapons for the Vatican
Now it is more and more difficult to meet people who are engaged in traditional crafts. The Schmidberger brothers make armor for the Swiss Guard of the Vatican in their forge in Meaulnes, Austria. It takes 120 hours to make some armor, which practically does not differ from the original armor forged 500 years ago. Fifteen generations of the Schmidberger brothers' family were engaged in blacksmithing, and Georg and Johann continued this tradition.
The sign "Old Forge" at the forge of brothers Johann and Georg Schmidberger in Moln, Austria, June 12, 2012. Johann, 29, and Georg, 28, are forging armor for the Vatican's Swiss Guard. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
The smithy of the Schmidberger brothers in Moln, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
Brothers Johann and Georg Schmidberger stand outside their forge in Moln, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
Georg Schmidberger forges armor for the Vatican's Swiss Guard at his forge in Molna, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
Georg Schmidberger forges armor for the Vatican's Swiss Guard at his forge in Molna, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
Georg Schmidberger forges armor for the Vatican's Swiss Guard at his forge in Molna, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
The Schmidberger brothers forge armor for the Vatican's Swiss Guard at their forge in Molna, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
Georg Schmidberger forges armor for the Vatican's Swiss Guard at his forge in Molna, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
The Schmidberger brothers forge armor for the Vatican's Swiss Guard at their forge in Molna, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
Hammers lie in a forge in Moln, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
Brothers Johann and Georg Schmidberger make armor for the Swiss Guard of the Vatican in their forge in Moln, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
Part of the armor lies by the hearth in the smithy of the Schmidberger brothers in Moln, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
Brothers Johann and Georg Schmidberger make armor for the Swiss Guard of the Vatican in their forge in Moln, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
Johann Schmidberger makes armor for the Swiss Guard of the Vatican in his forge in Moln, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
One of the Schmidberger brothers forges armor for the Swiss Guard of the Vatican in his forge in Molna, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
Johann Schmidberger forges armor for the Vatican's Swiss Guard at his forge in Molna, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
Brothers Johann and Georg Schmidberger forge armor for the Swiss Guard of the Vatican in their forge in Moln, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
Johann Schmidberger makes armor for the Swiss Guard of the Vatican in his forge in Moln, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
Johann Schmidberger makes armor for the Swiss Guard of the Vatican in his forge in Moln, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
Johann Schmidberger makes armor for the Swiss Guard of the Vatican in his forge in Moln, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
Johann Schmidberger makes armor for the Swiss Guard of the Vatican in his forge in Moln, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
Johann Schmidberger makes armor for the Swiss Guard of the Vatican in his forge in Moln, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
Brothers Johann and Georg Schmidberger make armor for the Swiss Guard of the Vatican in their forge in Moln, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
Armor made for the Swiss Guard of the Vatican in a forge in Moln, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
Ready-made armor made for the Swiss Guard of the Vatican in a forge in Molna, Austria. (LISI NIESNER/REUTERS)
Keywords: Vatican | Forging | Blacksmith | Craftsman | Traditions