There are about 30 people in the world today that still know how to make swords.
A good, hand-made Katana goes for roughly $8000.
Don’t believe that line about new technology and how machine-made anything is better. Metallurgic technology can supply the best feed stock; but the sword smith is going to recognize the differences in each sword as he forges them, adjusting his process to take advantage of and compensate for the differences in development of the metal. This will always produce a superior product. Machines have their advantages elsewhere, but lutes and swords are in the realm of men.
This is a skill I should learn. It seems easy enough–but time consuming as hell. It can take days or weeks to make a good sword; even a kitchen knife isn’t really a several-hour job. The skills are akin to piano playing–years of practice to get there, and still more to learn. People have built forges appropriate for high-quality steel smithing out of metal coffee cans, so I’m sure this is a fine back yard project. Really, though, is the knowledge even out there in this day and age?
Things like this will one day die out… perhaps it’s futile, and best left alone.
