swordsmith
Forges edged weapons
A swordsmith is a craftsman who forges swords.
The term distinguishes this specialized work from general blacksmithing, emphasizing the skill required to create functional blades.
Swordsmiths appear frequently in discussions of Japanese katana-making, where the craft carries particular cultural prestige: The swordsmith folded the steel dozens of times.
Metal-shaping block
- bellowsHandheld device forcing air
- furnaceEnclosed heat-producing structure
- coalCombustible sedimentary rock
- fireCombustion with flames
tongs · hammer · quench · heat · workshop · bloomery · foundry · hearth
Carbon-hardened iron alloy
- ironElement twenty-six
- alloyMetallic combination
- carbonSixth element, atomic symbol C
- oreMetal-bearing rock
smelting · folding · hardness · toughness · ingot · billet · bloom
Boundary or sharpness
- tangSharp, biting flavor
- fullerSmithy's channeling implement
- spineColumn of vertebrae
- bevelSloped edge or cut
grind · profile · taper · point · tip · flat · geometry · curvature
Curved Japanese fighting blade
- longswordTwo-handed medieval blade
- rapierSlender dueling blade
- sabreCurved single-edged sword
- broadswordWide-bladed cutting weapon
claymore · gladius · scimitar · falchion · cutlass · wakizashi · tanto · dao
Smoothing by friction
- grindingMolar action sometimes
- sharpeningMaking more cutting
- whetstoneStone for sharpening blades
- etchingAcid-incised metal print
Satisfy or extinguish
- annealHeat-treat to strengthen
- hardeningBecoming less soft
- normalizingMaking conform to norms
Authority or controller
- apprenticeLearner bound to employer
- journeymanQualified trade worker
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- guildProfessional mutual-aid society
secrets · heritage · school · sensei · certification · generational
Saddle's front knob
- crossguardSword's protective bar
- gripSecure manual hold
- handlePart for gripping
- guardWatchful defensive attention
anvil
Metal-shaping block
- bellowsHandheld device forcing air
- furnaceEnclosed heat-producing structure
- coalCombustible sedimentary rock
fire · tongs · hammer · quench · heat · workshop · bloomery · foundry · hearth · spark
steel
Carbon-hardened iron alloy
ore · smelting · folding · hardness · toughness · ingot · billet · bloom
edge
Boundary or sharpness
bevel · grind · profile · taper · point · tip · flat · geometry · curvature
katana
Curved Japanese fighting blade
broadsword · claymore · gladius · scimitar · falchion · cutlass · wakizashi · tanto · dao
polishing
Smoothing by friction
- grindingMolar action sometimes
- sharpeningMaking more cutting
- whetstoneStone for sharpening blades
etching · engraving · inlaying · buffing · honing · filing · blueing
quench
Satisfy or extinguish
- annealHeat-treat to strengthen
- hardeningBecoming less soft
- normalizingMaking conform to norms
master
Authority or controller
- apprenticeLearner bound to employer
- journeymanQualified trade worker
- lineageDescent from progenitors
guild · secrets · heritage · school · sensei · certification · generational
pommel
Saddle's front knob
- crossguardSword's protective bar
- gripSecure manual hold
- handlePart for gripping
sheath
Protective blade covering
- craftspeoplepotter, weaver, artisan, potters, craftsman
- craftsmencarpenter, cobbler, mason, weaver, potter
- old occupationscarpenter, miller, farmer, shepherd, tailor
- old tradesblacksmithing, cooper, carpentry, cobbler, masonry
- skilled artisanscraftsman, artisan, watchmaker, chocolatier, silversmith
- ancient shopsbakery, butcher shop, wine shop, spice shop, pottery shop