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Metalsmith

Ametalsmith or simply smith is a craftsperson fashioning useful items (for example, tools, kitchenware, tableware, jewelry, armor and weapons) out of various metals.^[1] Smithing is one of the oldest metalworking occupations. Shaping metal with a hammer (forging) is the archetypical component of smithing. Often the hammering is done while the metal is hot, having been heated in a forge. Smithing can also involve the other aspects of metalworking, such as refining metals from their ores (traditionally done by smelting), casting it into shapes (founding), and filing to shape and size.

The prevalence of metalworking in the culture of recent centuries has led Smith and its equivalents in various languages to be a common occupational surname (German SchmidtorSchmied, Portuguese Ferreiro, Ferreira, French Lefèvre, Spanish Herrero, Italian Fabbri, Ferrari, Ferrero, Ukrainian Koval etc.). As a suffix, -smith connotes a meaning of a specialized craftsperson—for example, wordsmith and tunesmith are nouns synonymous with writer or songwriter, respectively.

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Inpre-industrialized times, smiths held high or special social standing since they supplied the metal tools needed for farming (especially the plough) and warfare.^{[citation needed]} More details on the history can be found in the article blacksmith.

A metalsmith is one who works with or has the knowledge and the capacity of working with "all" metals.

Types of smiths include:^[2]

• Ablacksmith works with iron and steel (this is what is usually meant when referring just to "smith"). A farrier is a type of blacksmith who specializes in making and fitting horseshoes.
• Abladesmith forges knives, swords, and other blades.
• Abrownsmith works with brass and copper.^{[3][citation needed]}
• Acoinsmith works strictly with coins and currency.
• Acoppersmith works with copper.
• Agoldsmith works with gold.
• Agunsmith builds and repairs firearms.
• Anarmourer working in an armoury maintaining and repairing small weapons traditionally had some duties of a gunsmith.
• Alocksmith works with locks.
• Asilversmith, or brightsmith, works with silver.^[4]
• Aswordsmith is a bladesmith who forges only swords.
• An arrowsmith is a blacksmith who specialises in forging arrowheads.
• Atinsmith, tinner, or tinker works with light metal (such as tinware) and can refer to someone who deals in tinware.
• Aweaponsmith is a generalized bladesmith who forges weapons like axes, spears, flails, and other weapons.
• Awhitesmith works with white metal (tin and pewter) and can refer to someone who polishes or finishes the metal rather than forging it.
• ATinker archaic term for an itinerant tinsmith.

The ancient traditional tool of the smith is a forgeorsmithy, 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.^[5]

Machinists are metalsmiths who produce high-precision parts and tools.^[6] The most advanced of these tools, CNC machines, are computer controlled and largely automated.

• Ferrous metallurgy
• Smithing gods
• Metallurgy

Wikisource has the text of a 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article about Metalsmith.

• The dictionary definition of smith at Wiktionary
• Media related to Smiths at Wikimedia Commons