The Blacksmith can be described as the classic American work shoe. It dates back to the early 1900s when Red Wing began to serve rural America. The reliable shoe was worn in agriculture and in blacksmith shops - the latter gave the model its name. Red Wing modified the shoe slightly and resumed production in 2014: For example, a Vibram® sole is now used as the outsole, the tread of which provides grip even on uneven terrain without being visually bulky. The upper material is a waxed, full-grain cowhide leather from the company's own tannery, which has a rugged appearance thanks to the distinctive grain.

Work boots and shoes famed for their comfort and durability originate from Red Wing, Minnesota, since 1905. Red Wing treats the full-grain cowhides the company uses for its shoes according to a particular technique, developed at the end of the 1940s and patented for Red Wing. The company purchases hides that have been pre-processed with chromium salts and then tans them using mineral oil, hence the term “oil-tanned”. The procedure results in an oil content of 22% (8 to 10% is standard) and makes the leather exceptionally flexible despite its material thickness, hard-wearing and water-repellent. The quality of the craft corresponds to the high quality of the leather: Red Wing has its shoes mechanically welted using the complex Goodyear welt technique.