The art of making swords has
experienced renewed interest in modern society. Whether it's due to gaming, or
a general interest in the war arts of the past, how a sword is made peaks the
interests of many people. This solitary and efficient weapon is a favorite of
every society. It is revered, and requires a dedicated passion to old arts, as
well as, new notions of construction. Making a sword requires knowledge of
metallurgical properties, and a love of efficiency.

Throughout history, sword makers have been
tasked with the job of supplying reliable tools of killing to armed soldiers,
guardsmen, and to collectors in the modern era. Tradesman swords are the
product of a virtually lost craft, and certain artistic passions. Modern
artists who concentrate their craft on producing authentic swords use methods
from yesteryear to create unbelievably accurate models of authentic weapons
used throughout history. These modern sword craftsmen use three processes to
refine their craft: forging, tempering, and folding.



FORGING

Forging a sword requires several important steps.
The first is extraction of metals. In ancient days, sword makers were required
to collect metals in amounts that could be used for practical purposes. This
included separating iron from other minerals in great amounts. Once the metals
were separated, they were heated and mixed. In a forge, the collected metals
were heated to a point where they became liquid, and were poured into a mold.
These were rough templates that mirrored the final form of a sword. The point
of forging metals into a mold is mixing the metal elements together so they
evenly produce a final piece.

TEMPERING

The next step is tempering. Once a forged piece
of iron is formed, it is subject to many cycles of heating and cooling. These
cycles bind the molecules of metal to make them stronger. With every cooling
and heating cycle, the metal is tamped by hammer into a desired form. This
process represents the bulk of the sword-making process and can be quite
laborious. With every tempering cycle, a rough sword form becomes stronger. 

FOLDING

Folding is an advanced sword construction process
that was used by armory technicians. Just like a baker folds dough to smooth
bumps in a loaf of bread, swordsmiths used folding as a way to infuse strength
into each sword. When a heated piece of iron is folded, its molecules bind
together to create added strength properties. Folding can be performed with a
singular piece of iron, or with differing metals. The result of folding is a
tempered alloy that is exponentially stronger with an enhanced construction and
honing potential. 

Creation Is Key



Forging, tempering, and folding are the three
most important steps that a sword maker engages in to create a functional and
long-lived sword. The forge creates the desired shape, size, and volume of a
weapon. Tempering delivers the elemental curing for a sword's strength. Folding
is the process of infusing a sword with properties that exceed the typical
properties of its design. These stages of sword construction require patience
and an instinct for metal working. Well-crafted sword using techniques in each
stage will appear more authentic, retain sharpness better, and provide more
appropriate hilts for stylish and attractive handle design.