Fantasy tropes: fear of cold iron. A prejudice from Africa?

G. McCormack · 22nd September 2010, 06:01 AM

If anything steels will lose carbon from being worked in the forge.

To get iron to pick up carbon (carburise) you generally need the iron surrounded by carbon in a pretty airtight spot, under heat for time.

In many African cultures the blacksmith was seen as separate from the community- he who could smelt dirt into a tool or weapon- this magic- best to not get too close to.

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22nd September 2010, 06:01 AM	#4
G. McCormack Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 131	If anything steels will lose carbon from being worked in the forge. To get iron to pick up carbon (carburise) you generally need the iron surrounded by carbon in a pretty airtight spot, under heat for time. In many African cultures the blacksmith was seen as separate from the community- he who could smelt dirt into a tool or weapon- this magic- best to not get too close to.