Supply of metal (iron) in the Wilderland

[Winterwolf]

Trade has been mentioned in various threads in this forum between settlements and cultures covered by TOR.
A lot of communities, small and large, within the Wilderland would be relatively self-sufficient in most foodstuffs and many other essentials. I'm not sure about cloth (wool, linen, cotton?) for clothing but with sheep or a crop of the right plant, it can be made.
Metal (let's face it - we're talking iron) for weapons and tools is very important for surviving, both for making food and other day to day requirements and for fighting off wild animals and goblins, etc. Also think metal hinges and other everyday devices. This metal can only be obtained through limited sources - that is, ore from mines. (Disclaimer here - I have no experience in the ore/metal industry and only recent more in-depth knowledge of Middle Earth so corrections might be needed.)
Iron/steel weapons and tools may be repaired by a blacksmith but eventually they wear out or are irreparably damaged and new ones are required for agriculture, etc.
There are various mines mentioned in the Wilderness in TOR:

At Mountain Hall copper, tin and iron is mined (p267 RE) and some gold (p92 TfW). As well as the mines, forges operate here too (p92 TfW). Therefore smelting is going on here to convert the iron ore to metal, requiring timber to make charcoal. If so, Mountain Hall would require timber (from the Wolfswood?) to make charcoal and would export metal, either as weapons and tools or in bars/ingots.
[If the brigands in the Wolfswood realise why woodcutters are taking timber from their neighbourhood, maybe their leader will ask for a increasingly outrageous 'contributions' to allow that activity to continue… Hartfast of Mountain Hall might ask a company of heroes to put a stop to their stand over tactics.

Presumably there would be ore mined by the goblins in the mountains around Mount Gundabad but this would not usually be available to the Free People - except from captured weapons?

When occupied by dwarves, in the Greydelve "iron was found in abundance, as well other useful metals" (p20-21 HotW) and it was "famed for the quality of its steel" (p22 HotW). There are some dwarves remaining here (p21 HotW) who presumably still mine ore and smelt it in small quantities. [It seems logical to me that dwarves here would do what comes naturally whilst living in tunnels.] They could probably obtain timber for charcoal from the edges of the northern Mirkwood, although at risk from Elves. Presumably these dwarves would occasionally trade metal products with the cotters, River Folk and others to supplement their food and other supplies.

Erebor's mines provides gold and gems and probably(?) iron whilst the Iron Hills definitely supply the latter. However both are on the wrong side of Mirkwood for a reliable source of iron, unless closer sources are shut down.
Traders humping tools and weapons for sale west along the Elf Path?

[As an aside - where do the Thranduil's Wood Elves obtain their steel - and what about when Smaug occupied The Lonely Mountain? The Mountain Hall hasn't been a source of iron for that long. Was there iron in the Mountains of Mirkwood? Do Elves mine at all anyway? They have been makers of the best weapons for millennia, so where did they obtain the metal if they didn't extract and smelt it themselves?]

Anyway, it seems that the closest known source of iron or steel west of Mirkwood for the people of Wilderland would be the Mountain Hall. Would there be regular wagon-loads of iron/steel tools, weapons or ingots rolling from Mountain Hall over the Old Ford and supplying the Beornings and Woodmen? This would open to raiding or even blockading by goblins/orc if their leaders had any sense. A shortage or lack supply of iron/steel to the Free People in the Wilderland would cause huge problems for their survival in the long term.

So I'm suggesting LM's can include the supply and trade in iron or steel and the requirements of the iron-making industry in their campaigns as an interesting addition.

[zedturtle]

In my game, that's exactly what Baldor and Belgo were up to (iron tools from Erebor, in trade for honey and furs) as well the Dwarven trader whose name escapes me at the moment.

[Otaku-sempai]

Don't forget that coal would doubtless be available in some places, so lumber would not always be required as a fuel source.

[beckett]

In my Darkening of Mirkwood campaign, Mountain Hall fell to the Goblins of the Misty Mountains. I now wonder how the loss of these mines will affect the remainder of the Woodmen settlements. You've given me much to think about! Thank you!

[Terisonen]

Don't forget that coal would doubtless be available in some places, so lumber would not always be required as a fuel source.

Not really: you should use coke to made steel, not coal. Or you must have exceptionnally pure coal to do so.

[Glorelendil]

Still, the actual wood requirements for making sufficient coke for day-to-day smithing wouldn't be that great. They'd need more wood for building than for smithing.

I could see swords coming from Erebor & Dale (which means fine swords would be relatively rare thing prior to 2945), while smiths of the Woodmen and Beornings would mostly make axes and spear heads. That would jibe with cultural weapons.

West of Mirkwood I would assume some/much iron comes from the Blue Mountains.

[DavetheLost]

If you have coal you can make coke.

I would expect that most Woodmen axes are made of wrought iron bodies with steel edges forge welded on This is the way axes, draw knives etc were made until the advent of modern steel foundries.

I would agree that much of the iron/steel west of Mirkwood probably comes from the Blue Mountains.

In much of Wilderland things like door hinges, latches, etc are probably made of wood rather than metal.

[Glorelendil]

I would expect that most Woodmen axes are made of wrought iron bodies with steel edges forge welded on This is the way axes, draw knives etc were made until the advent of modern steel foundries.

Agreed, but how does that affect (or is affected by) supply?

In much of Wilderland things like door hinges, latches, etc are probably made of wood rather than metal.

A recent post of mine in Zed's PbP:

Egil happily partakes of the food, but his attention is absorbed the observation that there is very little metalwork in this strange house. The bowls and utensils are made of pottery and wood, and even the door hinges are cleverly carved from dense knots of wood. "So much for offering my services," he mutters, "but that's some right fine craftsmanship."

[Terisonen]

If you have coal you can make coke.

I would expect that most Woodmen axes are made of wrought iron bodies with steel edges forge welded on This is the way axes, draw knives etc were made until the advent of modern steel foundries.

I would agree that much of the iron/steel west of Mirkwood probably comes from the Blue Mountains.

In much of Wilderland things like door hinges, latches, etc are probably made of wood rather than metal.

Yes, but this kind of knowledge was not available until end of XVIII century. So you should stick by wood coal so far. Yes, I agree, this is more a geek point of view more than an interesting debate

[Otaku-sempai]

If you have coal you can make coke.

Yes, but this kind of knowledge was not available until end of XVIII century. So you should stick by wood coal so far. Yes, I agree, this is more a geek point of view more than an interesting debate

It might not be common knowledge, but the Dwarves might have figured out that technique. There are plenty of other anachronisms in Middle-earth (not that I would want to introduce many more).