swordmaking
Crafting edged weapons
Swordmaking is the craft of forging swords—shaping metal through heating, hammering, and tempering to create bladed weapons.
The term covers both historical techniques and modern practice, which ranges from functional reproduction weapons to decorative pieces.
He studied traditional Japanese swordmaking for years.
Metal-shaping block
- hammerTool for striking nails
- forgeFurnace for shaping metal
- tongsHinged grasping utensil
- bellowsHandheld device forcing air
quenching · tempering · heat · shaping · billet · welding · smelting · flux
Flat cutting edge
fuller · tang · crossguard · hilt · pommel · guard · double-edged · single-edged
Skilled manual tradesperson
- bladesmithForges edged weapons professionally
- polishingSmoothing by friction
- grindingMolar action sometimes
- etchingAcid-incised metal print
inlaying · engraving · fittings · hilt · guard · pommel · tang · fuller
Roman infantry blade
- katanaCurved Japanese fighting blade
- wakizashiJapanese auxiliary blade
- spathaRoman cavalry sword
- vikingMedieval Nordic raider
samurai · hoplite · legionary · bronze · iron · claymore · broadsword · longsword
anvil
Metal-shaping block
bellows · quenching · tempering · heat · shaping · billet · welding · smelting · flux · carburizing
blade
Flat cutting edge
spine · fuller · tang · crossguard · hilt · pommel · guard · double-edged · single-edged · taper
artisan
Skilled manual tradesperson
- bladesmithForges edged weapons professionally
- polishingSmoothing by friction
- grindingMolar action sometimes
etching · inlaying · engraving · fittings · hilt · guard · pommel · tang · fuller · handle
gladius
Roman infantry blade
viking · samurai · hoplite · legionary · bronze · iron · claymore · broadsword · longsword · scimitar
steel
Carbon-hardened iron alloy
chromium · vanadium · molybdenum · nickel · cobalt · pearlite · ingot · billet · smelting · hardness
edge
Boundary or sharpness
- whetstoneStone for sharpening blades
- honingGradual sharpening or refining
- grindingMolar action sometimes
stropping · grindstone · abrasive · keenness · bevel · geometry · angle · grit · polishing · razor
- old tradesblacksmith, cooper, carpentry, cobbler, masonry
- medieval craftsblacksmith, goldsmith, silversmith, goldwork, goldsmithing
- craftssewing, knitting, painting, glue, scissors
- Gifu
swordmakingtoolmaking
Creating implements for work
pottery · weaving · farming implements · breadmaking · healing arts
make, sword, making, swords, swordplay, swordsmanship, blacksmithing, swordsmith