The process of making a sword is more than what you see in the movies. For many people being a blacksmith is a fantasy that pound steel against an anvil, dip in water and voila! He drove a sword ready to mow the hordes of evil creatures that lurk in the forest. But Swordmaking is much more than that. Swordmaking is both an art and a craft and have to work hard, a lot of practice and a lot of specialized tools to create a sword. It also has many years of practice to become proficient in this skill.
Before the blacksmith or swords actually starts hammering or heating the metal sword much work do. The sword size, shape, properties and composition of metal have to be decided. These factors determine the amount of metal, the temperatures of heating and specific steps in the process that must be completed. This article does not cover the complete art Swordmaking. It only discuss and outline the process of forging a leaf sword.
There are many different methods to make a sword and art has changed over the centuries as technologies, tools and science of metallurgy has changed. But in the last five hundred years there has been a method that still stands as the most common. This is the six-step method. making a bar desired metal for a sword completed.
The first step is to build
A desired metal bar or a combination of metals is heated in a furnace and then is nailed to the form. (The shape of a sword) This hammering process can take a long time and is called to draw the sword. The sword is worked in sections (usually about 6 inches in length) and repeatedly hammered and heated until it enters into the desired shape. This process is repeated many times and the sword is often heated then allow to cool without hammering. This is required by the metal to maintain the desired properties of strength and flexibility. Once this step is completed the sword is in the form adequate, but the properties of the metal make it very brittle and something has to be done to give flexibility to it.
Step Two: Annealing
Annealing softens the sword and makes it easy to grind into shape. The sword is now heated and then cooled very slowly. Often it is wrapped in an insulating material to reduce this cooling. It may take up to 24 hours and this annealing process makes the sword soft and easy to grind.
Step Three: Grinding
Now, the blacksmith uses a grinder to resolve the border and the tip of the sword. This would also be when any engraving is added. This is not a sword yet complete. Yet is too soft so it must be hardened.
Step Four: Hardening
Now the sword is heated to a temperature well high and then placed in a cooling tank. (This is what we always see in movies). This cooling allows it to cool quickly and evenly, which hardens the metal. After this hardening of the sword is brittle and something must be done to be strong but flexible.
Step Five: Tempering
Again the blade is heated and quenched. But now the heating is at a much lower temperature than is used in hardening. This heating / cooling cycle can be repeated several times. This allows the sheet to be tempered strong but not brittle. This is a stage where the skill and experience is invaluable swords. It takes a trained hand and eye to understand the properties of the target. You will have a degree of flexibility and yet retain its sharp edge. Now the sword is ready for completion.
Step Six: Completion
The blade of the sword itself is complete. Now the additional parts added as the National Guard pommel and hilt.
During the last five hundred years the only way to learn the art of Swordmaking was find a skilled blacksmith or swords that was willing to take as an apprentice. Because of the expertise and tools, and the skill required this tradition remains the best way to do it today.
Before investing much time in money in equipment and materials must find a teacher who is willing to teach fundamentals of the technique. You do not have to devote his life to endless hours of hammering against an anvil and with a little perseverance, a little patience and a little practice you can make some decent swords that you can be proud.
Will Kalif is the author of two epic fantasy novels. Check out his novels, his blog, and podcast or see his fantasy dioramas and get video game design tips at:
Storm The Castle – Creativity With Attitude
Interested in Medieval Things? Visit his website: All Things Medieval:
The Everything Medieval Website
For Daily News and info about Epic Fantasy and everything Medieval: The Heroic Dreams Blog – All Things Medieval Blog
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