CHEDING, TAIWAN — The sword maker inserts an 18-inch shaft of metal into his red-hot kiln. Then he adds his special ingredient: a human thighbone. The bone, says Kuo Chang-hsi, is supposed to purify ...

In testament to old world craftsmanship, Japan Steel Works is both a samurai sword maker and the only company in the world that’s good enough with steel to produce the central part of a nuclear ...

Shen Xinpei might have been a writer or an official by now if he had submitted to his parents' wishes and finished school. But Shen chose to follow in the footsteps of his family of sword makers. "I ...

This feature is only available to members. Join now for full online access. Editor's Note: The beautiful short film behind this illustration focuses on one of the last remaining Japanese swordsmiths.

IT MUST have been an appalling moment when a Viking realised he had paid two cows for a fake designer sword: a clash of blade on blade in battle would have led to his sword, still sharp enough to ...

The sword is the perennial symbol of empires, knighthood, chivalry and fantasy. But it’s also one of the world’s most ancient technologies, connected with breakthroughs in metallurgy that would change ...