Swords and Knives

A swordsmith’s goal was to produce a sturdy fighting blade hard enough to hold a fine edge or point, yet was also resilient (able to flex under strain but immediately after return true). He was far more than a “blacksmith,” who would hammer out or cast common tools from soft iron. A swordsmith typically had to know how to make steel---the harder form of iron that contained minute traces of carbon (usually from charcoal).  Steel, or carburized iron, enabled a metal blade to have a far sharper edge and to withstand much greater stress without breaking or staying bent.