Bladesmithing is the art of blacksmithingA blacksmith is a person who creates objects from iron or steel by "forging" the metal; i.e., by using hand tools to hammer, bend, cut and otherwise shape it in its non-liquid form. Usually the metal is heated until it glows red or orange as part of ...blacksmithing that relates specifically to creating knivesA knife is a sharp-edged (single or double edged) instrument consisting of a thin blade used for cutting and fitted with a handle. The knife can be used as a tool or a weapon. Considered by some to be one of the most useful tools of all time, its origins date as far back as two-and-a-half million ...knives, swordsA sword is a long-edged piece of metal, used as a cutting and/or thrusting weapon in many civilizations throughout the world. The word sword comes from the Old English sweord, which cognates to Old High German swert, Middle Dutch swaert, Old Norse sverð (cp. modern Scandinavian sværd/sverd/svärd: Danish sværd, Norwegian sverd, Swedish svärd) Old Frisian and Old ...swords, and other bladesA blade is the flat part of a tool or weapon that normally has a cutting edge and/or pointed end typically made of a metal, most recently, steel intentionally used to cut, stab, slice, throw, thrust, shoot (an example of this is the ballistic knife) or strike an animate or inanimate object.blades using a forgeThe forge or smithy is the workplace of a smith or a blacksmith. Forging is the term for shaping metal by plastic deformation. Cold forging is done at low temperatures, while conventional forging is done at high temperatures, which makes metal easier to shape and less likely to fracture. A ...forge, hammerA hammer is a tool meant to deliver blows to an object. The most common uses are for driving nails, fitting parts, and breaking up objects. Hammers are often designed for a specific purpose, and vary widely in their shape and structure. Usual features are a handle and a head, with most of the weight in the head. The basic design is hand-operated, ...hammer, anvilAn anvil is a manufacturing tool, made of a hard and massive block of stone or metal used as a support for chiseling and hammering other objects, such as in forging iron and steel items.anvil, and other smithing toolsA tool or device is a piece of equipment which typically provides a mechanical advantage in accomplishing a physical task, or provides an ability that is not naturally available to the user of a tool. The most basic tools are simple machines. For example, a crowbar simply functions as a lever. The further out from the pivot point, the more force is transmitted along the lever. When particularly intended for domestic use, a tool is often called a utensil. Philosophers once thought ...tools. Bladesmiths employ a variety of metalworkingMetalworking is the craft and practice of working with metals to create structures or machine parts. The term covers a wide range of work-from large ships, bridges and oil refineries to delicate jewellery and instruments. Consequently, this craft covers a wide range of skills and entails the use of many types of tools.metalworking techniques used by blacksmiths, as well as woodworkingWoodworking is the building, making or carving of something using wood.woodworking for knife and sword handles, and often leatherworkingLeather is a material created through the tanning of hides and skins of animals, primarily cattlehide. The tanning process converts the putrescible skin into a durable, long-lasting and versatile natural material for various uses. Leather is an important material with many uses. Together with wood, leather formed the basis of much ancient technology. The leather ...leatherworking for sheaths.
Bladesmithing is a branch of blacksmithing, so most, if not all, blacksmiths will be familiar with bladesmithing as well as the other aspects of their craft, while bladesmiths will not necessarily be familiar with blacksmithing that do not relate to the making of blades.
