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Concept
Metalsmith
Summary
A metalsmith or simply smith is a craftsperson fashioning useful items (for example, tools, kitchenware, tableware, jewelry, armor and weapons) out of various metals. 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 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 Schmidt or Schmied, 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.
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.
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:
A blacksmith 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.
A bladesmith forges knives, swords, and other blades.
A brownsmith works with brass and copper.
A coinsmith works strictly with coins and currency.
A coppersmith works with copper.
A goldsmith works with gold.
A gunsmith builds and repairs firearms.
An armourer working in an armoury maintaining and repairing small weapons traditionally had some duties of a gunsmith.
A locksmith works with locks.
A silversmith, or brightsmith, works with silver.
Official source
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