Metalsmith

A metalsmith from Damascus, producing Damascus steel in the year 1900.

A metalsmith is a craftsman fashioning tools or works of art out of various metals.

Etymology

The English word smith is cognate with the somewhat archaic word, "smite", which means "to hit" or "to strike". Originally, smiths were craftsmen who shaped or formed metal with hammer blows. However, the old etymological guess of "smite" as the source of "smith" is without foundation. The word smith derives from an old Teutonic word, smeithan, to forge. The root is seen in the Greek word σμίλη, a burin.¹

As an English suffix, -smith connotes a meaning of specialized craftsmen — for example, wordsmith and tunesmith are nouns synonymous with writer or songwriter, respectively.

History

In pre-industrialized times, smiths held high or special social standing since they supplied the metal tools needed for farming (especially the plough) and warfare. This was especially true in some West African cultures.

Types of smiths

Illustration by Theodor Kittelsen for Johan Herman Wessel's The Smith and the Baker

Types of smiths include:²

An Arrowsmith forges arrow heads for the Fletcher (an arrow-maker)
A Blacksmith works with iron and steel (this is what is usually meant when referring just to "Smith")
A Bladesmith forges knives, swords, and other blades
A Brassfounder works with brass
A Coinsmith works strictly with coins and currency
A Coppersmith (also known as brownsmith) works with copper
A Fendersmith makes and repairs the metal fender before fireplaces, protecting rugs and furniture in mansions and fine estates, and frequently cares for the fires as well
A Goldsmith works with gold
A Gunsmith forges guns
A Locksmith works with locks
A Pewtersmith works with pewter
A Scythesmith forges scythes.
A Silversmith, or brightsmith, works with silver³
A Swordsmith is a bladesmith who forges only swords
A Tinsmith, tinner, or tinker works with light metal (such as tinware) and can refer to someone who deals in tinware
A Weapon-Smith forges weapons like axes, spears, flails, and other weapons.
A Whitesmith works with white metal (tin and pewter) and can refer to someone who polishes or finishes the metal rather than forging it.
A Zincsmith works, fabricates or builds with zinc in sheet or bar form.

Artisans and craftpeople

Coppersmith Abdón Punzo in his workshop in Santa Clara del Cobre, Mexico

The ancient traditional tool of the smith is a forge or smithy, which is a furnace designed to allow compressed air (through a bellows) to superheat the inside, allowing for efficient melting, soldering and annealing of metals. Today, this tool is still widely used by blacksmiths as it was traditionally.

The term, metalsmith, often refers to artisans and craftpersons who practice their craft in many different metals, including gold, copper and silver. Jewelers often refer to their craft as metalsmithing, and many universities offer degree programs in metalsmithing, jewelry, enameling and blacksmithing under the auspices of their fine arts programs.⁴

Machinists

Machinists are metalsmiths who produce high-precision parts and tools. The most advanced of these tools, CNC machines, are computer controlled and largely automated.

References

^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Smith". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
^ John Fuller, Sr., Art of Coppersmithing, Astragal Press, 1993 (reprint of original edition, 1894) ISBN 1879335379^page needed
^ Rupert Finegold and William Seitz, Silversmithing, Krause Publications, 1983, ISBN 0-8019-7232-9
^ Tim McCreight, Jewelry: Fundamentals of Metalsmithing, Hand Books Press, 1997, ISBN 1-880140-29-2