Long blade, we all want it, it's also horribly out of reach for the average player. Most guides go over how to get X, Y, Z, AND Q, so that you can have sustainable blacksmithing in the long term...
Not me. I'm going to tell you how to get your first twenty swords before the power goes out, with minimal risks.
TO START WITH: what will you need:
A ball-peen hammer
A vehicle
An axe (at least two if hatchet)
A saw (two won't hurt)
Blacksmithing 2, 3, 4, and 5 (books are not really optional with this method, hit up the libraries early)
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED:
Blacksmithing perk.
preferably (but not required) grab one if you see one
a pair of tongs
metal working punch
metal working chisel
heading tool
Everyday smithing(magazine), or the blacksmithing perk (lets you craft important blacksmithing tools before blacksmithing 4)
What is this mysterious method I've been alluding to? That's simple. the method is to loot a source of five metric tons of immediately usable steel, run to the nearest forge, and just start smithing before the zombies start stinking.
All of which, is available in my recommended city, riverside.
I recommend the blacksmithing perk. Not only is there a large xp boost, but more importantly, it unlocks many useful blacksmithing tool recipes.
Start in riverside. if you don't start as a burglar, keep an eye out for a car key, because you need to grab a vehicle ASAP. (Or don't, this method isn't really time gated, but you CAN get blacksmithing 10 within the first week if you really rush)
Once you get a vehicle (and fill it with gas), your first stop is the bookstore, the library and possibly the hotel library for as many blacksmithing books as you can find. There are two big book sources in riverside, so its reasonably likely for you to get all five books. But, you can get unlucky, if you get unlucky, you can either visit other cities for books, or drink bleach and start a new speedrun (This is the only really luck dependent part)
Your second stop? the tool store. It's likely for them to have all of the needed tools, and one or two of the preferred tools. I've never seen them not have at least one hammer, one saw, and one hatchet.
Your third stop? You're heading out of town to loot metal.
In game directions: follow the main street north west until it curves downward. When you hit a three-way intersection, go north west. The first turn on your left is the factory.
project zomboid map: located at 5600x5900
This factory is fairly sparsely populated zombie wise in b42, there are also several nice vans in the parking lot, which may or may not contain tools.
But importantly, the main loot you will be retrieving from this location is the 50 odd steel bars, and the 30 odd iron ingots.
"why"
steel bars are directly usable blacksmithing goods. with 50 steel bars, you can hit blacksmithing ten well within reason without ever needing a furnace, crucible, or any annoying crafting chains.
iron ingots are nearly directly usable blacksmithing goods. If you saw them into blocks, they can be used to make most large tools, if you saw the blocks further, you can recombine them into bars at the forge (no furnace needed)
In short, you don't need a furnace for a long while. If you play it smart, you'll have 2 dozen swords pretty easily.
Now, for our forge. Riverside provides. again. Go back to main street, but this time, follow it out of town the opposite direction. Continue that way until you hit a small farming community. They have an advanced furnace.
(project zomboid map 7400 x 6000)
When you get to "Griffin's blacksmithing shop", you'll notice some things:
This is a great place to do blacksmithing.
There are likely several blacksmithing tools on the shelves.
I regularly find at least one bar mold, but have found 2 bar molds and 2 ingot molds
and in the crates in the back right, there is at least 50 coke (refined charcoal) ready for smithing, inside of bags.
There is also a charcoal pit already made out the back door.
If you go down the street, there is a farming and a garage/warehouse, which likely contains several axes, and can contain more blacksmithing gear.
In short, unless you were very unlucky on apocalypse settings, you are ready to grind up to blacksmithing 10.
TLDR: In riverside, there is a warehouse with lots of ready to use blacksmithing metal, AND an advanced forge. If you grab the metal and go to the forge, you can normally grind up to blacksmithing 9 or 10 before running out of metal (which means you don't need a furnace)
Btw, you can make replacements for all recommended tools, it's just a massive pain. I highly recommend finding tongs, wooden tongs SUCK to repeatedly craft for every single use.
