Solo Forging the blade

[Osd]

20th winter 513 av Osd stood next too silverheart in front of the large forge. It was located a bit away from the other forges he normally used. But from what he saw it wasn't a lot differen't as the forge where he usually worked. Maybe slightly more high quality equipment. But not that much. “So Silverheart, what will we be doing today?” The isur gave him a bemused look. “I will be providing instructions while you'll be trying to forge a dagger. It's pretty easy to start off with.” he gestured towards a small table next to the station. Filled to the brim with metals and working materials. “Why don't you start off with seeing what we got and giving your thoughts. See how good you know your metals.” Osd looked over the materials. They weren't cast into the bars he was used to, but more into smaller rectangular plates. He picked a few up. They were all steel. But the color's between them were different. He didn't have enough experience to exactly pin their properties. But he knew they were differen't. He remembered his former master welding them on top of each otehr when making blades or weapons. Layering them like some kind of metallic cake. “Well they're quite differen't. It's all steel, but they used other recipes. I can see that much. Don't know which steel does what. I think there are,” Osd gave them all a lookover. “Three of four differen't types of steel.” “I got three types laid out here. One is sturdier then the other two. One's more flexible while another one is resistant to corroding. There are more types. But depending what you want you use different alloy's for different types. Take the corroding resistant steel. Not that great on holding an edge. But on a warhammer it would be decent. No sheaths for those weapons. It would be shyke on a cutting weapon though. You'll be spending more time on sharpening the weapon after fights then actually fighting with it.” Osd nodded. “that makes sense. But wouldn't it be possible to use magecrafting to make it stronger or rustfree? Skipping this entire process. Silverheart gave him an annoyed glare. “Yes. But magecrafting is costly, even more so if you have to cover up sloppy work as well as add enchantments. The better your work the less materials and time the magecrafting process uses.” Osd usually stood over silverheart, the isur was smaller then him by a few inches. But he felt small under his stare. “Never rely on magic to shore up weaknesses in your craft Osd. Magic always takes something. With magecrafting it's time and resources. Sometimes though it's not worth to pay the price for the magic. So always use mundane methods to get out of a bind if you can help it. Magic is always either for a last resort. Or to make the impossible possible. Never use it friviously. That path is too decadence and madness.” Silverheart warned him. Osd nodded. “I'll remembert hat silverheart.” He said with a nod. “Good, now back to the smithing. With bladed weapons, you always make everything out of the material that is strong and durable. Start with welding the plates together, a bundle of three, strong in the middle with the hard at the outside.” He took a step back and gave Osd his space.

[Osd]

Osd gathered up the plates and stacked them on top of each other. With only one plate of sturdy steel in the middle the stack was thin, to thin for what he supposed a dagger would have to be. So he added another one. Tightened the stack of steel with a vice on one end, straightened the layers out so they didn't stick out applied some flux on the surface so the welding he was about to do wouldn't be contaminated by slag or scald and then carefully held the unfastened end in the forge with a pair of tongs. When it glowed a nice hot red he pulled it out of the forge with care and laid it on the forge. Using a light hammer he began to weld that part together, using great care not to shift the layers. Which limited him mostly to light blows. He repeated this process a few times, applying the flux, heating it up and then welding the layers together using stronger and stronger blows as he repeated the process. When he thought the weld was strong enough he cooled it off, removed the vice on the other end and began welding together the rest of the plates to form the bar he would be shaping into a dagger later. He was still worried about the thickness of the bar though, It would have to be stretched out for sure. But wouldn't it become too large if he did that. He could cut off the excess metal he supposed. Get the right length that way. “Silverheart, how is the handle attached to the blade with weaponry? How much extra steel needs to be used for that?” “The blade has a narrows a bit at one end, we use it to attach the handle there. Depending on the size of the dagger the blade is usually about as long or a bit longer. Part of learning how to create weapons is figuring out how to balance a weapon. It's a feeling that you cultivate by long stretches of practice.” The isur answered both questions. “I'll explain more when we get there. Focus on what you're doing now.” “Yes silverheart.” He said as he continued welding the stack of plates together in a bar.