From Steel to Swords!

Описание: Long before swords became ceremonial objects or collectibles, they were essential tools shaped by highly specialized trades. In this Aged Skills history film, we travel to Solingen, Germany—one of the world’s most important centers of blade making—to follow the complete creation of a sword by hand.

The process begins at the forge, where a bladesmith shapes raw steel under the power hammer, forming the tang, blade profile, and fuller. From there, the blade passes through heat treatment, quenching, and tempering to achieve the balance of hardness and flexibility that made Solingen steel famous worldwide. Skilled grinders then refine the blade on large grinding wheels, a demanding and dangerous trade practiced here for centuries.

Beyond forging and grinding, the film documents ornamental damascening, acid etching, nickel plating, and final assembly. Sword fitters complete the weapon by shaping guards, pommels, and hilts before final polishing. Each stage reflects a division of labor that defined Solingen’s blade industry from the Middle Ages into the modern era.

This quiet, process-focused documentary preserves the knowledge, tools, and working rhythms of traditional sword making—capturing a craft where precision, experience, and manual skill determined the quality of every blade.

Original source material:
Herstellung von Blankwaffen
Published by Alltagskulturen im Rheinland
© LVR-Institut für Landeskunde und Regionalgeschichte
CC BY 4.0