Peter Johnsson - Swedish swordsmith researcher and designer - It is hard to overstate the influence Peter has had on me and the entire emerging craft of western swordsmithing. Peter is a deep lake of knowledge, he has documented hundreds of original swords, taking measurements and weights from them and developing his own sense of how they where designed and the physics of their proportions, and then often making reconstructions of them. His observations on balance and proportions have had a huge effect on my understanding of practical blade design and construction. Peter is making some of the most beautiful swords in the world, his work is unparalleled. He doesn't have a website for his handmade work at present, for now I have linked to a short biography on Albion Swords website where he is the designer and architect of their swords.

Reclaiming the Blade - I have a short documentary about how I make a pattern welded sword in the special features section of the two disc version of this film, featuring my sword "Vardhlokur".

John Howe - a great illustrator, and an inspiring person. I really like his website and discussion forum.

Owen Bush - Bladesmith and Artist Blacksmith, Owen does some beautifull composite patternwelded swords and knives. He is a very tallented smith and a man of integrity. Owen also teaches courses on general smithing and bladesmithing at his forge and school 'Bushfire Forge', If you are in the UK and interested in bladesmithing or pattern welding this is a man you should know.

Jeff Helmes - Bladesmith, Blacksmith and all around cool guy, Jeff is making beautiful pattern welded viking swords and seaxes and daggers as well as being a talented blacksmith and teacher.

Petr Florianek - Making really cool viking gear and knives with lots of beautifull carving out of the Chec Republic.

The Mad Dwarf Workshop - swordsmith David DelaGardelle & knifesmith Andy Davis, making swords in the mythopeotic tradition. I recently had the pleasure of meeting David, he's a really nice guy and does beautiful illustrations and web design as well .

Randal H Graham - Extremely well rounded smith working in many different styles from Japanese to Celtic and Norse. Randal's ingenuity in the forge and ability to cut away the unnesesary in explaining a subject have always been an inspiration to me. Unfortunatly, his website is down for the time being, when a new one appears I will link to it here, meanwile here is a page with some pictures of one of his lovely swords, enjoy - Riding Sword by R.H.Graham

Ric Furrer - Door County Forgeworks, an exceptionally talented smith, Ric is one of the few people in modern times who has mastered the art of making wootz, an ancient middle eastern type of crucible steel. he also makes a variety of other steels from scratch and does complicated composite damascus patterns in middle eastern styled swords. Here is an article by Adrian Ko on a cool piece by Ric Spotlight Richard Furrer.

Jól Arthur Loose - Making really beautiful damascus work in the Norse tradition. Nice website too.

Ben Potter - making very nice hand made knives in a variety of stiles including beautifull viking age stuff; really nice leather work on his sheaths, and a very good carver.

Ulrich Hennicke/Messerunicum - Swordsmith located in Germany, he does beautiful organic damascus, he also makes beautiful fixed blade knives and folders, a great guy, check out his work.

Don Fogg knives- One of the most inspiring sites on the Internet, this site combines a font of technical information with the Zen like observations of one of the great master smiths of our time. This site boasts an excellent links page and updates on bladesmithing courses as well as other current information about the knife making world can be found on his Cup of Coffee page. Don also has a great discussion forum, check it out and learn.

Patrick Bárta - This is the website of a truly incredible Swordsmith from the Chec Republic.

Jake Cleland - Sky Knives - this is the site of a great knifemaker working in the celtic tradition out of the Isles of sky. he does some beautifull carving and some exceptional and inovative dirks and sgians.

Bjorn Hellqvist - Very good Swedish site, also has a nice gallery of work by Peter Johnsson one of the great sword smiths of our time.

Vince Evans - Especially beautifull Scottish highland and middle eastern reproductions.

Rob Miller / Castle Keep - Scottish sword smith from the Isle of Skye.

Powning Designs Ltd. - This is my mother and father's website. My mother is a nature photographer and author and my father is a sculptor and potter. They have imparted much wisdom to me over the years, and are always there to help. Thanks Mum and Dad.

Kevin Cashen - American smith, expert on metalurgy as it relates to swords and heat treating them.

Rob Hudson - Maker of excellent composite billet damascus and beautiful knives.

Albion Armourers - This organization sells afordable production swords designed by master swordsmith researcher and designer Peter Johnsson using his extensive study of historical swords. I have handled some of these swords and discussed the process of their manufacture with Peter, and I can report that they have been made with a great attention to detail especially in their weight and balance, these swords move and cut like historical swords would have done.

Raven Armoury - British custom sword making operation.

Garth Duncan - Scottish jeweller and cutler, makes some of the most beautiful Scottish dirks around, and lives on the Isle of Skye.

Ethnographic Edged Weapons - Good source of historical information

American Bladesmith Society - Excellent resource

ABANA - The Artist Blacksmith Association of North America

Anvil fire- Blacksmithing forums with lots of good info.

Swordforum International - Very well designed site with wonderful and informative discussion forums, an excellent on-line magazine, and a great deal of information covering the broad spectrum of sword collecting and making. This site also has an online store which carries quality user swords by Armart and Angus Trim.

Celtic and Norse Links

Heimskringla - The Chronicles of the Kings of Norway by Snori Sturlusson(c.1179 - 1241)

Orkneyjar - Excellent recource on the Orkney Ilse and their history. "Without the story - in which everyone living, unborn and dead, participates - men are no more than 'bits of paper blown on the cold wind'..."
George Mackay Brown

Bronze Age Foundry - Really nice Bronze Age and La Tène period reproductions, and some beautiful artwork. I particularly like the cauldrons.

The Saga of Grettir the Strong
(Grettir's Saga) - One of the Icelandic sagas, arguably the beginning of modern literature, this story explores the fortunes of a man born into the wrong time.

Regia Anglorum - Interesting renactors site with very good historical resources as well as great images of period costume and lifestile from the saxon british viking period.