Swordsmiths were held in extremely high regard in Japan, to the extent of attributing magical powers to their work: Masamune, it was said, made a sword that would cut everything sinful while not cutting that which was innocent. His tools, the forge, hammer and tongs, and the anvil are rich with metaphorical meaning. The smith is often used symbolically to represent mankind's creative abilities and the advances of technology. The blacksmith was an invaluable member of the community until the advent of mass-production techniques in the Twentieth Century and is still a substantial figure in less industrialized areas.
Metalworkers specializing in bronze or copper are sometimes referred to as "redsmiths", note A more common word historically was "coppersmith" and those that work with tin or pewter (or who finish and polish metal goods in general) are known as "whitesmiths." note Historically also "tinsmith" and "tinker", although the latter became a derogatory term for Irish Travellers (since their main trade historically was itinerant tin-working) "Goldsmith" and "Silversmith" are self-explanatory. This craft has been around since humans first learned to shape iron and iron alloys. Someone who shapes things out of iron and steel, so called because iron is a "black" metal.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Village Smithy
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