How to make a sword? See the step-by-step guide to a forge

Swords were the main instruments of war until firearms were mass-produced. However, they are still widely used in historical celebrations and military ceremonies, in addition to being present in sports.

Today, the main types of swords are acquired in various models by collectors. It is no coincidence that the cutlery industry has increasingly specialized in creating exclusive pieces for resale.

In this post, we will describe a step-by-step guide on how to make a sword with techniques for forging it. Continue reading and learn!

1. Buy a steel bar

Acquire a steel bar with dimensions proportional to the size you want for your sword. The ideal is between 60 and 100 cm in length, 5 to 8 cm in width, and an average of 1.5 cm in thickness.

2. Heat the steel in a furnace

Take the material to the furnace or oven until it reaches approximately 700ºC so that the steel becomes malleable and eliminates alloy elements, such as oxygen and sulfur. This removal of materials makes the steel firmer.

3. Pull the material and place it on an anvil

When the steel bar is orange-red, place it on an anvil to allow the instrument to be shaped. At this stage, the process that will give your sword the intended shape begins.

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4. Forge the steel

This step is fundamental for the process to be successful. Therefore, you need to perform some procedures:

• Make several folds in the bar before pressing it again. This will make the alloy heterogeneous and have elements such as carbon, iron, nickel, and chromium throughout its distribution;
• Hammer the bar and guide it as you forge. Reheat the metal whenever necessary to keep it malleable;
• To shape the blade, fold and place the bar on an anvil. Hammer it more precisely so that the blade has the desired basic shape;
• Forge it to stretch the metal and thin the tip of the blade for the cutting edge, and thus obtain the curvatures according to the proposed sword;
• Finally, thin the blade at the tip where the hilt will be.

5. Adjust the blade's aesthetics

This moment encompasses the art of cutlery and its techniques. You must use sandpaper and trim the blade to make the material smoother and obtain the desired shine. This way, you will have the structure for your sword and can create one in the style you wish.

6. Temper the blade

Here, you must cover the blade with clay, except for the edges, to keep them sharp, and then subject the metal to heat treatment. This stage is also divided into a step-by-step guide.

Step-by-step to temper the blade

1. First, you must heat the material until the crystals in the steel restructure. Then, the tempering process must go through the cooling of the elements;
2. Submerge the hot metal abruptly in water or oil, starting with the tip and edge of the sword. This phase is ideal for keeping the blade malleable, giving it rigidity;
3. The tempering stage is also necessary. Here, you must heat the blade again at a lower temperature, which will depend on the type of steel used;
4. Finally, you must cool it to room temperature. This ensures a durable and firm material, constituting the desired sword.

7. Polish the blade

After cooling, remove the clay from the blade and sand the sword. For this process, use sandpaper and stones to polish the material.

Then, sharpen the sword on the harder part and sand again to get a better shine. This will ensure the cutting result of the blade.

8. Connect the blade to the hilt

In the last stage of building your sword, the blade is connected to the hilt, which is made up of three elements: guard, grip, and pommel.

The guard is welded to the sword and prevents your hand from slipping onto the blade. The grip is the part where the weapon is held, and you can make it from wood or metal, so that it maintains the balance of the sword. Finally, the pommel is screwed to the end of the material like a steel ball.

You have just seen the main information about the process of how to make a sword. So, are you ready to make yours?

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