KoRT (Knights of the
 

Clearly, the first forging of Excalibur occurred when a meteor fell from the heavens, probably sometime in the Neolithic Age. Unfortunately, no one who lived on the Isle before the megalithic period knew how to forge bronze, much less meteor iron. The only possibility was that the forgers of long ago had tried to hammer it into rough shape with stones. If the second forging produced a leaf-shaped blade, it could only have happened around 1200 BCE, near the end of the Bronze Age, when that style of blade appeared. 

It is probable that the roots of Excalibur’s myths stem from people’s belief that sword making and metallurgy is in fact a magical process. Through the fires of the forge, fire is also given spiritual connotations; a lump of earth is transformed into a shiny usable object that can be hammered into many shapes. Extending further from the transformation of ore into metal, the difficulty of actually obtaining a quality blade; which takes intense concentration and skill added to its esoteric qualities... while any blacksmith can manufacture a knife or an axehead, only a swordsmith can create a high quality sword. The secrets of doing so are jealously guarded as well as formulas for alloys.

The skill necessary to forge a balanced blade - one which is not too brittle or too soft and able hold a usefully sharp edge - makes the creation of a sword seem almost miraculous. A few degrees too hot or too cold within a very limited temperature range, which can only be discerned by the glowing hue of a hot billet, can make or break a sword. A lack of expertise in knowing when and how to apply carbon and flux and quench the blade can ruin weeks of work. Thus the swordsmith almost feels like he is one with his work, giving the process his complete devotion of concentration and thought. This leads to the belief that he is actually imbuing the blade with an essence of his spirit. It is also important to note, metal is used as money, and thus a sword is a very expensive and highly prized item, a sign of wealth, status and given holy connotations in many cultures. 
 

“That sword you carry is made of iron from this earth, 
forged in the fires of Britain.”

Excalibur has a fascinating history and the untold stories of how the lump of iron became a recognizable sword. Arthur's sword, the symbol of divine kingship, is as much a character in the legend as any human or supernatural being. Excalibur is a symbol of the responsibility of power, ruling a kingdom. 

A legend and powerful symbol, Excalibur is a sword, the weapon of Britain’s most renowned king. Its popularity is based in the kingdom it represents. It was wielded by the creator of an empire, a brotherhood of knights, and a chivalrous court at Camelot. For many, Excalibur symbolizes everything that is noble and valiant. Its mysterious origins and power only add to the allure of the myth. Excalibur has transcended the simple description of a gilded long sword and become a symbol of the strength, pride, and power of an age long passed.
 

“Behold! The Sword of Power! Excalibur! 
Forged when the world was young, 
and bird and beast and flower were one with man, 
and death was but a dream!”

To Arthur, it began as a tool of war. The last remaining item of his Father’s existence. But to others, it was a symbol of divinity. 

To the Woad, it was sacred… 
 

“Spill my blood with Excalibur and...make this ground holy.”

To the Romans, it was the linchpin of a new era in Britannia…

To the Briton, it was a symbol of unity… the sight of Arthur lifting it aloft, the hand of his wife and Queen, upon it securing the unity of a new land. 


 

“King Arthur! Hail, Arthur!
Let every man, woman, child bear witness that from this day 
all Britons will be united in one common cause.”