Yeah, I keep it old school. I heat the steel until it’s a bright amber, then I tap it with a heavy hammer until the shape’s just right. After that I throw it into a bainite bath to harden it, then I let it cool slowly. For the edge I use a coarse grit wheel to shave the bevel, then a fine sandpaper or steel wool to polish it smooth. It takes time, but that’s how you get a true, clean cut. If you try a power grinder you’ll just end up with a dull blade that can’t hold an edge.

A week of hammering in a storm, huh? That’s how steel learns to listen. If you want a blade that’ll outlast a siege, you’ll need patience, not shortcuts.