Info Favorites Register Log in
myArmoury.com Discussion Forums

Forum index Memberlist Usergroups Spotlight Topics Search
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > How does one become a bladesmith? Reply to topic
This is a standard topic  
Author Message
Matthew Miller





Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Reading list: 4 books

Posts: 17

PostPosted: Mon 03 Sep, 2007 5:27 pm    Post subject: How does one become a bladesmith?         Reply with quote

I am very interested in learning how to make blades, rather specifically blades for medieval swords. Can anyone point me to a place where I could learn about this?

Thanks in advance, Matt.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail MSN Messenger
Jeroen Zuiderwijk
Industry Professional



Location: Netherlands
Joined: 11 Mar 2005

Spotlight topics: 2
Posts: 740

PostPosted: Tue 04 Sep, 2007 4:26 am    Post subject: Re: How does one become a bladesmith?         Reply with quote

Matthew Miller wrote:
I am very interested in learning how to make blades, rather specifically blades for medieval swords. Can anyone point me to a place where I could learn about this?

Thanks in advance, Matt.

In your shed/garden/nearby living history center Razz First question you have to ask yourself: Do you just want to make blades, or do you want to master the medieval craft of bladesmithing? As this will determine what sort of information you need to look for. The first means you can use a lot of modern means, such as powertools, to speed things up and make it easier. The second is much more fun, much more difficult, and takes much more time as well as tons of research in the old craft. But for both, you first need to learn everything there is to learn about swords (balance, cutting edge geometries etc.), so you actually know what you're going to be making. In the mean time, you can get an anvil, bunch of hammers, tongs etc. and some good steel and just start practicing forging knives. There's lots of places on the internet with tips and tricks (such as http://www.anvilfire.com/iForge/), as well as books. But most recommended is to seek out places where they demonstrate forging, and just look at what he's doing, the tools he uses etc. and ask questions (without harrashing the smith of course! Happy ). But most important things you need are: lots determination, lots of patience and practice, practice, practice, practice and then practice some more. And pretty much forget about any other activities you've got planned for the next few years Wink
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Grzegorz Kulig
Industry Professional



Location: Poland
Joined: 22 Mar 2007

Posts: 98

PostPosted: Tue 04 Sep, 2007 4:58 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Jeoren, you are so right! This is pretty the same, as I have written about learning armoring some time ago.

And BTW : you have really great site! I would love to learn how to cast bronze, but still don't have time for that. Worried

Best wishes,
Thorkil.

NEW ONLINE SHOP : www.thorkilshop.com

NEW ADDRESS of my web site: www.thorkil.pl

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Thorkil-Grzegor...7530780383
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Yahoo Messenger MSN Messenger
Bruno Giordan





Joined: 28 Sep 2005

Spotlight topics: 1
Posts: 919

PostPosted: Tue 04 Sep, 2007 5:12 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Learn by bleeding ... I just ran to the first aid post on sunday after a nice micro steel splinter from grinding a falchion started scratching my cornea.

yes, I had goggles but they were foggy out of honest sweet.

get a movable visor .... first move when I was out of the hospital.

Seriously speaking, the crest of the old smithing town of Bienno, in Lombardy, which was hosting more forges than houses, carries a good half of blood.
View user's profile Send private message
Matthew Miller





Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Reading list: 4 books

Posts: 17

PostPosted: Tue 04 Sep, 2007 9:55 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Thanks a lot, I really appreciate your help. To be specific, I want to learn how to make medieval blades with accurate techniques.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail MSN Messenger
Bruno Giordan





Joined: 28 Sep 2005

Spotlight topics: 1
Posts: 919

PostPosted: Tue 04 Sep, 2007 10:17 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Matthew Miller wrote:
Thanks a lot, I really appreciate your help. To be specific, I want to learn how to make medieval blades with accurate techniques.


This website and the www.armourarchive.org website, as well as the old www.arador.com website have all the infos you are looking for, including a good bibliography.

The rest is just work, since all techniques illustrated here and elsewhere ar modern rconstruction, no ancient how to or manual exists.

They have been inferred from still surviving goldsmith, silversmith and tinsmith forming techniques.

Also www.anvilfire.com will teach a lot in smithing, including security, starting from not burning anything zinc coated in a forge (fumes would kill you).
View user's profile Send private message
Steve Sells
Industry Professional



Location: Fort Wayne indiana
Joined: 26 Jun 2007

Posts: 13

PostPosted: Wed 05 Sep, 2007 5:19 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Also don't forget the ABANA web site to look for a forging group near you, where ever that is. Abana is for areas in North America. the web site is http://www.abana.org/ look up your area.
Steve Sells
http://fenrisforge.com
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website


Display posts from previous:   
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > How does one become a bladesmith?
Page 1 of 1 Reply to topic
All times are GMT - 8 Hours

View previous topic :: View next topic
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum






All contents © Copyright 2003-2024 myArmoury.com — All rights reserved
Discussion forums powered by phpBB © The phpBB Group
Switch to the Basic Low-bandwidth Version of the forum