forge welding

Forge welding is a technique for joining two pieces of hot metal by hammering them together on an anvil. This method dates back to the earliest uses of iron, where smiths would heat iron in a forge and then hammer it into larger, usable pieces. The process involves shaping the parts, heating them to a welding temperature in a forge, and then hammering or pressing them together. Historically, this was used to create items like Damascus swords, by repeatedly hammering thin layers of iron together, and cannons made from welded iron bands. While modern welding techniques have largely replaced forge welding in industrial applications, it has persisted as a blacksmithing craft and is still used in some chain making.123