A question on medieval bladesmithing

[Francis Bendeguuze]

Greetings.

I have a question regarding bladesmithing for you history buffs out there. Would an experienced bladesmith (in medieval times) need any sort of plans or manual for replicating a sword exact, or could he simply go by his experience and look to the sword he's copying, take measurements and so on? Talking about just the blade for a shortsword here.

Might be a hard question to answer. I have not found any info on this anywhere. I guess the reason why I'm asking is that you always have "blacksmithing plans" in various games for learning how to forge new items, but that's obviously no indicator to reality. I would go ahead and assume this could be done without any sort of plans or manual. Sadly, I'm researching for a book, so I'd like to get a definite clarification (if possible) on how this might be done.

[John Farthing]

For the best and most thorough look into the current scholarship on how Mediæval swords were likely produced, I would HIGHLY recommend taking a look at Swordsmith Peter Johnsson's working theories.

A video presentation of Peter speaking about his theory is available on the Arctic Fire 2012 DVD set. Available at: http://arcticfire.mymiddleearth.com

Peter's theories are published and can be read in the Wallace collections exhibition catalog entitled, 'The Noble Art of the Sword: Fashion and Fencing in Renaissance Europe' ed. Tobias Capwell. ISBN: 978 0 900785 43 6

Both are well worth viewing/reading respectively for anyone with even a modicum of interest in the subject of Mediæval swords.

[Stacy Clifford]

I'm no bladesmith, but I think you'll find Peter Johnsson to be a priceless resource for the questions you're asking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaT3GXdr5kM

http://www.peterjohnsson.com/the-soborg-sword/

[Francis Bendeguuze]

Priceless stuff indeed! Thanks a bunch, both of you.