Sword from Space! Blacksmith Forges Blade from Meteorite

Metalworking Workshop
Sword from Space! Blacksmith Forges Blade from Meteorite
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The completed sword and hilt.

Modern blacksmith artisans from ASBL Lucilinburhuc use old world craftsmanship to transform a meteorite into a sword.  The meteorite is heated to form the raw material. Then it must be carbonized to transform the brittle iron and trace metals into hardened steel. For the carbonization process the blacksmith chiseled the meteorite material into 80×40mm pieces and heated them to glow for 6 hours to reach 0.5% carbon. Then more heating and hammering, shaping the metal into a rod that will be used to form the core of the weapon.

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Sword without the hilt.

Once the meteoric iron is formed into a rod it is flattened and welded and with two other iron rods to make a pattern welded sword. The rods are heated and hammered to shape and remove impurities and quelched to rapidly cool and further harden the metal. The layering of different metal alloys from the meteorite combine with the earthly iron, making swirling patterns in the steel. These patterns are then highlighted with acid etching and polished to bring forth the natural beauty within the contours of the metal layers. The final product is a historic replica forged from extraterrestrial metal — a sword that’s truly out of this world!

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Glowing metal in the forge.

Check out this video to see how it was done!

[youtube https://youtu.be/K_PS2l31EhM]

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Theron is an educator, business owner, writer, and consultant working within Springfield, MO and the Ozarks community. He enjoys making and building with his 11 year old son and likes to read and write about science, technology, education, sci fi, martial arts, and philosophy.

View more articles by Theron Sturgess
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