First things first, the forge must be prepared. seen here is the smith making the vent that will feed the fire with air from the blower behind it.

To forge the blade, a strip of steel, used here is high carbon steel, is cut to the approximate needed size.

When the fire is set and the glow has reached a high enough temperature -

- the cut strip of steel is heated in the glow, consisting of burning bamboo coal  -

- until it is ready to be transformed.

It is tempered, and formed as well -

- so it is hammered -

- and hammered more

- until it attains the desired shape -

- or becomes too cold for further crafting.

A last hit and then back to the fire

An immediate forming of the tip

A quick look to check for the next hit, some cooling with water to harden and temper it -

After a minute or two, back in the glowing coal, then the forming goes on -

- until the shape of the desired sword is attained.

Nearly there -

It is now the work of the master smith to judge the work made during this part of the sword making procedure. The finishing and the testing will be accomplished by the master smith unless he is confident enough to rely on an assistant to go on with the next phase.

In some cases some very final touches are made by the master himself to obtain for example the famous extra hardened edge of a sword. Sometimes this is done even when engravings have already been put onto the blade. These steps are revealed in our next pages finishing and testing

- a few adjusted hits and the rough work is done