Awesome Blacksmithing

We’ve seen knives made from some unusual materials before. Knives Project took a box of metal arc welding electrodes, sanded off the slag layer, then forged them into a block which he hammered, cut, and polished into a knife blade. The finished piece is unique work of art – and incredibly sharp.

Blacksmith Mark Aspery walks us through the process of hand-forging a traditional corkscrew. He starts out with a rod of 3/8″ square chrome-molybdenum steel, which he hammers, stretches, bends, and twists into the final shape. Anyone got a good bottle of wine to test it on?

Black Beard Projects shows us how he created a unique weapon that looks like a single blade but can become two for dual wielding. Its halves required great precision to interlock and sandwich together so well. The design was inspired by Blade of the 47 Ronin, in which a mythical sword is split in two.

Natasha, aka Cannon Doll-X, is just learning about blacksmithing. She recently attended Catskills Maker Camp, where she picked up some new skills and shows us some of what she learned by welding and hot-bending a metal rose. The event looks like a great opportunity for makers of all skill levels to get hands-on experience.

We always enjoy seeing craftspeople turn one kind of object into another. Maker Jimmy Diresta shows off his blacksmithing skills by melting down a steel crowbar in his forge, hammering it into the shape of a bowie knife, and crafting a wood and brass handle. He only used about a third of the metal, so he could probably make another.

We’ve seen many different tools and weapons crafted by blacksmiths, but we’re guessing they don’t often get requests to make a trident. Rigoni Ironworks walks us through the satisfying process of forging, hammering, and shaping a steel rod into the kind of three-pronged implement that Aquaman or Neptune might wield.

Titanium is just as strong as steel but weighs about 45% less, making it ideal for pocket tools. But hammers depend on their heavy steel heads to drive nails effectively. Regardless of the reduction in driving force, Timothy Dyck’s titanium framing hammer looks amazing, especially with its accidental rainbow anodized finish.

Blacksmith Denis Tyrell of Tyrell Knifeworks shows off the build process for one of the most beautiful bladed weapons we’ve seen. He created this cumai katana with a Damascus blade comprised of twisted layers of steel and copper. He finished it with a copper blade collar and a stingray skin and leather-wrapped wood handle.

Random Hands pulled off one of the most dramatic transformations of an object that we’ve seen. They started off with a rusty old industrial drill bit, heated it up in a forge, and reworked it into a pointy Japanese kunai. It took a whole lot of work to get it into the right shape, then they polished and finished it with a 24K gold plating.

Ilya and Matt from That Works show how they fabricated an impressive historical weapon inspired by the game Outward Definitive Edition. They created the Italian Halberd from a 200-year-old wrought iron barn door hinge that they refined and forged into an elegant yet deadly axe with a spike on the end.

Wootz steel is a tough high-carbon metal that’s been used to make swords since the 5th century BC. FZ – Making Knives used the technique to create a beautiful and strong katana by melting down an ingot made from ball bearings, forging it into a blade, then honing it to an incredibly sharp zero-point edge.

A group of knifemakers is participating in a challenge to make the best dagger they can from a random assortment of scrap metal. Black Beard Projects shows off how they made their entry into the contest, which we have to say is quite a handsome weapon. Check out the other entries and vote for your favorite here.

Random Hands had an old anvil he used for blacksmithing tasks. When it was time to replace the rusty old thing, he chopped out a 40-pound chunk from its center and gradually reworked it into Thor’s mighty hammer, Mjölnir. Stick around to the end to see if he’s worthy and can lift it.

Let’s face it. You never want to get stuck in the face with an arrow. Blacksmith Alec Steele replicated the Bradmore Extraction Tool, a medieval device that was used to remove an arrow from 16-year-old Prince Henry’s skull back in the 15th century. As awful as it sounds, it saved the future King Henry V’s life.

An essential reference guide for setting up your own blacksmith workshop and working with metal. The first half of author Nicholas Wicks’ book covers shop safety, equipment, and techniques, while the second half offers 55 simple projects like tools, hardware, utensils, and decorative objects you can create.

Swordsmith Ilya Alekseyev of That Works walks us through the process of making the weapon that won the Best Sword of the Year award at Bladeshow 2021. The ornate, hardened steel sword incorporates a beautiful mosaic Damascus, along with incredible engraving and inlay work.

Thor’s mighty hammer can only be lifted by those who are worthy. Random Hands qualified for the feat by building their own Mjolnir, cutting apart an old bench anvil, attaching laser-cut decorations, lathing a metal handle, then covering it with wood and metal rings. Watching the grinder remove the old surface is so satisfying.

Kitchen knives are the right size for chopping veggies and butchering meats. But that didn’t stop Faraway Forge from making this impractical chef’s knife just to prove that it could be done. Its blade started as a rusty piece of scrap metal, and the finished piece looks more appropriate for combat than for cooking.

As we’ve seen before, blacksmith Dmitry Shevchenko (aka Shurap) loves to make things by melting down metal hardware. While he usually forges knives, this time he turned his attention to making a uniquely-textured hammer out of a bunch of screws.

Blacksmith Black Beard Projects shows off a really sweet build – a replica of a Viking-style bearded hatchet. Its sweeping axe head started off life as a section of a railroad track, and its handle was hand-carved from elm wood. Also, we’re suckers for anything with a Damascus pattern.

Industrial Studio’s build video features the construction of a stand for his workshop’s anvil, and shows off one of the more satisfying methods of joining together steel – using molten hot rivets and an industrial press to smush them into place.

The guys from That Works show off the build process for another awesome weapon replica. Matt and Ilya turn their attention to the ornate Dagger of Death’s Flowers from Resident Evil Village. Carving that handle from a solid block of aluminum looked like a ton of work.

Ilya from That Works turns to traditional Japanese blacksmithing methods to create a short sword known as a tantō. To accompany the crafting footage, he offers an in-depth lesson on the history of these weapons and their swordsmiths. The finished sword is a true work of art – and deadly sharp.