Fire and Steel
Blacksmithing has allowed humans access to incredibly useful metal tools.
The art of forging has long taken mankind from fragility to formidibility both in production of tools needed for tradional arts, as well as the production of protective pieces and weapons for the martial arts.
Cultures all across the world developed their own methods of blacksmithing.
Above is a depiction of a japanese swordsmith, crafting a weapon with an oberver watching. Blacksmithing has been a crucial step for the development and advancement of numerous cultures around the globe. People all over knew the importance and recognized the use of metalworks. While smithing is something that typically takes a large time investment to learn, this didn't stop generations of blacksmiths from handing down their artform to the next.
Tools
- Hammer
- Anvil
- Forge & Bellows
- Tongs
- Quench
- Vise
- Grindstone/Belt Sander
- Steel Billet(s)
- Finished Handle
- Finished Guard
- Finished Pommel
- 1.) Heat until whitish yellow in the forge, using the bellows to add heat as needed.
- 2.) Shape the billets into the sword shape. Using the hammer pount the hot metal out, reheating the blade as needed when it becomes less malleable.
- 3.) Once the general shape is right, use the hammer to pound out a bevel in the cutting edges of the blade. They don't need to be razor sharp just yet, only edged.
- 4.) Now the blade can be normalized. Reheat the blade until it is red hot within the forge before removing it and allowing the metal to cool to room temperature. Repeat this a few times before continuing.
- 5.) Now the blade can be sanded or grinded down to reduce any of the rough hammer marks left down the length of the blade. It should be flat, and each side should be singly-surfaced unless they possess some ornamentation.
- 6.) The blade can finally be quenched. The quench is an incredibly important part of the process, adding the strength and structure necessary to the blade. To quench the sword must first be heated in the forge as ealier, but quickly after removing it from the heat it is to be submerged in the oil of the quenching trough/vessel. This "shocks" the metal into hardening rapidly and effectively.
- 7.) After the quench the blade is essentially finished, save for sharpening the edges into something that can cut. Some smiths recommend reheating the blade to a lower temperature one last time after the quench to facilitate more blade flexibility.
- 8.) With the blade finished, the hilt (crossguard, handle, and pommel) can finally be fitted to the tang of the blade. After this the sword is complete and ready for use!