We forge quite a few blades. It does not take alot of equipment to get started either. A forge and anvil is all that is needed to form the blades. Most of ours are forged out of coil springs. They are high carbon steel and easy to reharden. A small bench grinder is handy, but any grinder wil work such as an angle grinder. Heat treating and tempering blades requires very little tools. A bucket of oil and a toaster oven will do. A belt sander is also helpful but the blades can be sanded by hand if you do not have a belt sander. Other than that, handle material, guard material and a set of files is about all that is needed.