| The process of making a sword is more than | | | | cool very slowly. Often it is wrapped in an |
| what you see in the movies. For many people | | | | insulating material to slow down this |
| being a blacksmith is a fantasy where you | | | | cooling. It can take as long as 24 hours and |
| pound steel against an anvil, dip it in water | | | | this annealing process makes the sword soft |
| and voila! You have a completed sword ready | | | | and easy to grind. |
| to mow down the evil hordes of creatures that | | | | |
| lurk in the forest. But swordmaking is much | | | | Step Three: Grinding Now the blacksmith |
| more than this. Swordmaking is both an art | | | | uses a grinder to work out the edge and point |
| and a craft and it takes hard work, a lot of | | | | of the sword. This would also be when any |
| practice and a significant amount of | | | | engraving is added. This is not a completed |
| specialized tools to create a sword. It also | | | | sword yet. It is still much too soft so it |
| takes many years of practice to become | | | | must be hardened. |
| proficient at this skill. | | | | |
| | | | Step Four: Hardening Now the sword is |
| Before the blacksmith or swordsmith actually | | | | heated to a very high temperature and then |
| starts hammering or heating the metal for a | | | | placed into a quenching tank. (This is what |
| sword there is a lot of work to be done. The | | | | we always see in the movies). This quenching |
| sword size, shape, properties, and metal | | | | allows it to cool quickly and evenly which |
| composition all have to be decided upon. | | | | will harden the metal. After this hardening |
| These factors determine the amount of metal, | | | | the sword is brittle and something must be |
| the temperatures of heating and the specific | | | | done to make it strong yet flexible. |
| steps in the process that have to be | | | | |
| completed. This article doesn't cover the | | | | Step Five: Tempering Again the blade is |
| complete art of swordmaking. It will only | | | | heated and quenched. But now the heating is |
| discuss and outline the process of smithing | | | | at a much lower temperature than was used at |
| the blade of a sword . There are many | | | | the hardening. This heating/quenching cycle |
| different methods for making a sword and the | | | | may be repeated several times. This tempering |
| art has changed over the centuries as | | | | allows the blade to be strong but not |
| technologies, tools and the science of | | | | brittle. This is one stage where the skill |
| metallurgy has changed. But for the past five | | | | and experience of the swordsmith is |
| hundred years there has been one method that | | | | invaluable. It takes a trained hand and eye |
| still stands as the most common. This is the | | | | to understand the properties of the meta. It |
| six step method. of taking a bar of the | | | | will have a certain amount of flexibility yet |
| desired metal to a completed sword. | | | | still retain its sharp edge. Now the sword is |
| | | | ready for completion. |
| The First step is Forging A bar of the | | | | |
| desired metal or combination of metals is | | | | Step Six: Completion The sword blade itself |
| heated in a forge and then it is hammered | | | | is now complete. Now the additional parts |
| into shape.(The shape of a sword) This | | | | will be added such as the pommel the guard |
| hammering process can take a long time and it | | | | and the hilt. |
| is called drawing out the sword. The sword is | | | | |
| worked on in sections (usually around 6 | | | | For the past five hundred years the only way |
| inches in length) and repeatedly hammered and | | | | to learn the art of swordmaking was to find a |
| heated until it comes into the desired shape | | | | skilled blacksmith or swordsmith that was |
| .This process is repeated many times and the | | | | willing to take you on as an apprentice. |
| sword is often heated then allowed to cool | | | | Because of the specialized skills and tools, |
| without hammering. This is required by the | | | | and the skill that is required this tradition |
| metal to keep the desired properties of | | | | remains the best way to do it today. Before |
| strength and flexibility. Once this step is | | | | you invest lots of time in money in equipment |
| completed the sword is in the proper shape | | | | and materials you should find a master that |
| but the properties of the metal make it very | | | | is willing to teach you the basics of the |
| brittle and something has to be done to give | | | | art. You won't have to devote your life to |
| flexibility to it. | | | | endless hours of hammering against an anvil |
| | | | and with a little perseverance, a little |
| Step Two: Annealing Annealing softens the | | | | patience and some practice you will be able |
| sword and makes it easy to grind into shape. | | | | to make some decent swords that you can be |
| The sword is now heated and then allowed to | | | | proud of. |