A blacksmith is a skilled tradesperson who creates iron objects using hot and cold forging techniques on an anvil's surface. Farriers were blacksmiths who specialised in the technique of forging horseshoes. The Latin words iron and Ferrum, which translate to "black metal" and "iron," respectively, were used to create the two terms.

The forge, a furnace for heating smelted iron, an anvil, a heavy, securely fastened steel-surfaced block upon which the iron piece is processed, tongs for holding the iron piece in place on the anvil, and hammers, chisels and other tools for cutting, shaping, flattening or welding the iron into the desired final product make up the main tools of a blacksmith.

Blacksmiths are mainly concerned with the production methods of:

• nails, hammers, screws, bolts
• fasteners such as sickles, plowshares, axes
• artisan tools such as candlesticks
• household objects such as swords, shields, armor, wheel rims
• metal parts of wagons and carriages such as spikes, chains, and cables that are used in ships
• ironwork used in furniture and building trades

Study Levels:

There are less academic programmes for a blacksmith to choose from. Yet the courses on blacksmith are offered by a few programmes, including:

• Bachelor in Blacksmithing
• Bachelor in Design
• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Fine Arts
• Certificate in Blacksmithing
• Diploma in Blacksmithing
• Master in Blacksmithing
• Master in Design
• Master of Arts
• Master of Fine Arts

Specialisations:

There are just a few specialisations available to students doing Blacksmith courses, including:

• Armorsmithing: For the paladin's defence.
•  Weaponsmithing: For combatants, armed personnel, and protection personnel, weaponsmithing.
• Axesmithing: For combat, armed, and defence warriors who specialise in smithing axes.
• Hammersmith: For fury warriors, combat and sub rogues, weapons warriors, and enhancement shamans.
• Swordsmithing: For protection warriors, arms warriors, and retribution paladins.

Employability:

Different specialties of blacksmiths deal with a variety of functional and artistic things. Some people keep to decorating metal sculptures and artefacts, while others forge tools, horseshoes, and even ornamental and elegant fences.

In the modern world, the majority of blacksmithing is carried out on an industrial scale by individuals who operate large machines that cut, shape, and turn metal into a variety of useful items.

Even technology has had a significant impact on commercial work, including:

• Drafting, interpreting, and comprehending designs and sketches
• Setting up and using various machinery for casting, cutting, and moulding
• Modifying the machine's settings for feed rates, temperature, time, and speed
• Directing computer-controlled machinery to carry out specific tasks and functionalities for metal work pieces
• Running test cycles
• Finishing metal components via sanding, polishing, and other methods

Artistically inclined blacksmiths choose to work alone or in groups of other blacksmiths in small-scale or regional workshops. Factories, fabricators, and manufacturers in the machinery, primary metal, transportation, and fabricated metal industries are some of the most well-known employers for blacksmiths and metal workers. The work of a blacksmith requires continual use of heavy machinery, open fires, and a hot, dirty environment, making it a hazardous occupation. The mechanical procedures of welding, soldering, and brazing are to blame for the majority of injuries suffered by blacksmiths.