Welcome Ladies and Gentleman of DeviantArt

You might be asking "What is The League of Swordmakers?" Well to answer that question I must first talk about Swordmaking, the sacred Artform. Swordmaking, you might think of that as the work of Blacksmiths or Swordsmiths. Swords have been made of many different materials over the centuries and with a variety of tools and techniques. In countless numbers of historical battles, swords have been used many times as the tools of war. From those wars emerge civilizations, so swordmakers can be considered a crucial part to the gears of war. Nowdays swords are a form of martial arts, consider for example western fencing and eastern kendo. However in the turn of the century swords are mostly becoming display pieces in homes, replaced by firearms as the tools of wars. This has led to the decline of swordmakers around the world.

Now swordmaking is an artform, it is an aristan craft where a sword can be made of any material. So swordmaking rightfully has a place here in DeviantArt. The problem is there are so few artists who are swordmakers. Swordmaking on DeviantArt is like a naked candle flame and swordmakers are the candles, there are only a few candles lighting the darkness. If swordmaking is to be widely recognised then the candles flames must join together to form a blazing inferno dispelling the darkness. That is what The League of Swordmakers is:

The League of Swordmakers :The Organisation of Swordmakers on DeviantArt

With the creation of this organisation our aims are:

.To show Deviants the swords and swordmakers of DeviantArt

.To show Deviants how to learn the ways to become a swordmaker

.To show Deviants appropriate swordmakers for commissions

This piece of News is the declaration of The league of Swordmakers. What shall be included here is the list of all the current Swordmakers on DeviantArt. Originnaly all the artists who had made at least one sword were recognised Swordmakers. However, the number of people became too large and uncontrolled, so requirements were implented:

Requirements of The League of Swordmakers:

.To be a recognised swordmaker you must have made a minimum of 2 swords.

.Swords made have to be the same size as a reasonable sword would be.

.There must be deviations showing the swords you have made to be accounted for.

For the first requirement this does not mean that if you make only one sword you are not a swordmaker. Making a sword makes you a swordmaker. Nobody can take that away from you. You just simply have to make at least 2 swords. For the second requirement this prohibits people making swords only 4 inches long. A reasonable sword should be anywhere roughly over 15 inches long.

Obviously, if this is an organisation, then the swordmakers must be organised. Thus this led to the creation of a ranking system for swordmakers. Now this ranking system DOES NOT rank swordmakers in the quality of swords they make. How swordmakers are ranked is by how many swords they have made, so the ranking procedure is of quantity not quality. A swordmaker who continues making swords is a true swordmaker becuase it shows experience.

The "Dan" Ranking System

How swordmakers will be ranked depending on the quantity of swords they make, is using the "Dan" ranking system. "Dan"is a Japanese term used in martial arts, chado, ikebana, go, shogi and other similar activities to designate various grades or levels of proficiency or experience. Using the Dan ranking system is appropriate becuase, it is used in the majority of weapon martial arts in bushido which is the "way of the warrior" so it is appropriate to use, to rank the swords that swordmakers make. The Dan Ranking system starts at "1st Dan" which is the lowest ranking and ascends all the way to the highest rank "10th Dan".

Swordmakers who achieve a Dan Rank are given are given a symbol to show their experience. For example in some martial art's you are given a coloured belt to wear dependent on the rank of your experience. For swordmakers on DeviantArt they will receive an icon! With an account icon it can be shown in your journal with or without a subscription. In the individual accounts of all the Dan Ranks, in those journals will be the list of all the current swordmakers with that particular rank. We are not telling people to wear the Dan Rank Icon as their own account icon. We are saying for example just put it someone in your journal.

The Dan Ranks




How the Dan Ranking system works

How this ranking system works is for example you have made "3" swords. The requirements to be a "1st Dan swordmaker" is to make "2 to 4 swords" since you have made 3 swords that is within the requirements. If you wish to become a 2nd Dan Swordmaker the requirements for that is to make "5 to 7" swords. This process keeps going until you reach "10th Dan" where you have made OVER 29 swords.

The Swordmakers of the League of Swordmakers


29+ (~10th-Dan-Swordmaker)



26 - 28 (~9th-Dan-Swordmaker)



23 - 25 (~8th-Dan-Swordmaker)



20 - 22 (~7th-Dan-Swordmaker)



17 - 19 (~6th-Dan-Swordmaker)



14 - 16 (~5th-Dan-Swordmaker)



11 - 13 (~4th-Dan-Swordmaker)



8 - 10 (~3rd-Dan-Swordmaker)



5 - 7 (~2nd-Dan-Swordmaker)



2 - 4 (~1st-Dan-Swordmaker)




Frequently Asked Questions:

Q) What is the purpose of this organisation?

A) It is to raise the awareness of Swordmaking and Swordmakers on DeviantArt.

Q) Are only swords allowed? what about daggers?

A) For now only making swords will make you a swordmaker

Q) Who decides what is a sword and what is not?

A) I will decide what is a sword, or I will consult to another swordmaker

Q) Will this be implemented into a club?

A) A club may be created depending on the popularity of this Organisation

Q) How will you update the "Dan" Rankings of the Swordmakers?

A) After a period of time I will repost this News Topic with updated rankings

Q) Which gallery should swords be uploaded in?

A) Handmade Swords should be uploaded in the gallery "Aristan Crafts"


Credits goes to ~MetroidManiac for help making the Dan Rank Icons

If you have any questions about this Organisation please feel free to ask me.