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After years of looking at objects from the royal armouries in photos online, I finally had the chance to visit the museum in Leeds. I saw some of the ancient artefacts up close and in person for the first time. Below I am going to share some photos of some of the things that stood out to me. A collection of the Roman Gladius and scabbards. I was particularly drawn to the second from the left in this picture because it shows off the simplicity of these weapons and a clear indi

I make most of my weapons about of medium to high carbon steel to ensure that they perform well for the modern consumer. However, if you're a re-enactor and looking for weapons that perform like historical weapons, mild steel might not be the worst choice. A 13th century sword made of EN9 steel with similar properties to some of the very high quality medieval steels Throughout history, steel quality has varied. People were able to make good-quality steels that were capable of

Hudson Hammerworks is launching an exciting new YouTube channel all about the historical craft of forging. With seven years of experience, blacksmith Conor Hudson now wants to share the journey, tips, stories and more about his trade. Conor Hudson, founder of Hudson Hammerworks and professional blacksmith A one-man business, Hudson Hammerworks has brought the historical craft of blacksmithing to Leamington Spa and other communities in the West Midlands where history plays an

Conor Hudson, a self-employed blacksmith, in his workshop. Hudson Hammerworks is bringing the old art of blacksmithing back to communities like Leamington Spa. Conor Hudson has started his own business dedicated to bringing hand-crafted, hand-forged tools, wares, jewellery and decorations to those who value unique design. Conor has been blacksmithing for seven years, having been drawn to the world of historical crafts and ironwork. He opened his own workshop in 2025 and has

Part of what makes Hudson Hammerworks special is my dedication to recreating authentic, historical blades as they would have looked at the time they were used. I handfinish all my blades by eliminating any machining marks with a file. I also handpolish them to get the desired result. In the eyes of a modern consumer, this is often seen as unacceptable - many people desire a blade with a pristine finish and not a single mark to be seen. But this just wasn't how blades looked t

My tiny workshop When you think of a blacksmith's workshop, you might be thinking of a huge industrial setting with a deep inferno for a...