Bladesmithing is the art of making
knives,
swords,
daggers and other
blades using a
forge,
hammer,
anvil, and other smithing
tools. Bladesmiths employ a variety of
metalworking techniques similar to those used by
blacksmiths, as well as
woodworking for knife and sword handles, and often
leatherworking for sheaths. Bladesmithing is an art that is thousands of years old and found in cultures as diverse as China, Japan, India, Germany, Korea, the Middle East, and the British Isles. As with any art shrouded in history, there are myths and misconceptions about the process. While traditionally bladesmithing referred to the manufacture of any blade by any means, the majority of contemporary craftsmen referred to as bladesmiths are those who primarily manufacture blades by means of using a forge to shape the blade as opposed to
knifemakers who form blades by use of the
stock removal method, although there is some overlap between both crafts.