A series I have enjoyed, in spite of the very strict and repetitive format, was Forged in Fire. It all started with my interest in historical weapons. Overtime, there’s a lot I learnt about metallurgy, and I started enjoying it for more than my initial interest. I had a very general idea of how blades were manufactured, but this show – showcasing real blade-makers – got me hooked. A piece of metal has to go through so much, before it can be a worthwhile blade: knives, swords, daggers and the ilk. It is literally trial by fire.
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Blades, like most material things on this planet, have a life. A short one, if the blades aren’t cared for; slightly longer, if they are cared for. And to care for them is not about putting them to constant use for what they are meant for, it could just be about taking care: TLC. And Tender Loving Care is not just about the maintenance. Swordsmen of yore considered the sword an extension not just of their body, but of their self. Their personality, their character, their fears, their mission, and their intent was transmitted to this organ.
Swords have a memory; swords don’t forget.
Warriors may get lost, warriors may give up. But swords never do. A sword just waits for the warrior to find the strength and the intention to wield a sword again. A warrior never forgets, because it is muscle memory. A sword never forgets, because it is a forged memory.
All’s well.
Gaizabonts 