Hmm. This has been an interesting read. Sad to see people who seem to be against newbies, like my self, who wanted to "make a sword". That said they have some darn good reasons. I am very new to blacksmithing. First picked up a hammer half a year or so ago. haven't gotten steady with my smithing until the recent month or so though. That said the whole reason I got into it was because I wanted to make a sword. Specifically I hope to make a replica of the sword of truth. It had nothing to do with wanting to make money by making them or not being able to afford one. I simply wanted to make it and