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, Spain 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.
Movie and Television[]
- In Avatar the Legend of Aang cartoon series, Piandao a famous Fire Nation swordsmith forged a unique Jian from a meteorite for his student Sokka which is strong and sharp enough to cut through armored tanks
Anime[]
- In Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest light novel series, the main protagonist Hajime Nagumo, despite being a gunsmith, could improvised his craftsmanship into swordsmithing to mass produced powerful Indian Chakrams and Japanese Kodachis, even crafted a legendary Katana Tsumehirameki which he gifted to one of his future lovers Shizuku.
- In Bleach manga series, Oetsu Nimaya a Soul Reaper who possessed godlike skills in swordsmithing, invented the Zanpakuto, spiritual swords with the ability to adapt and evolve in proportionate to their owners's potential, Oetsu also personally forged Zangetsu, the Zanpakuto of the main character Ichigo Kurosaki.
- In the Inuyasha Manga series, a great yokai swordsmith Totosai have forged Tessaiga and Tenseiga from the fangs of an Inugami Daiyokai named Toga which were passed onto his sons Inuyasha and Sesshomaru. Totosai's apprentice Kaijinbo who has a penchant for crafting swords which are malicious and bloodthirsty in nature such as Tokijin
- In the One Piece Manga series, there were countless master swordsmiths in ancient times whose masterpieces became legendary known as Meito, one known surviving legendary swordsmith is Tenguyama Hitetsu who have forged Ame no Habakiri and Sandai Kitetsu during his youth. Hitetsu's ancestor Kotetsu named after the real life Edo era Japanese swordsmith Nagasone Kotetsu was also a famous swordsmith who crafted a legendary Katana called Nidai Kitetsu.