Bowles says, in his "Introduction to the Natural and Geographical History of Spain," that the steel used at the manufactory of Toledo was taken from an iron mine existing at a league from Mondragon, the only one then known in Spain.

The celebrity of Toledo blades has excited the curiosity of many who wished to ascertain the cause of their great excellence and renown. Some supposed the sword manufacturers of Toledo possessed a secret for tempering their arms: it was not so, however; their only secret being the waters of the Tagus and the fine white sand on its banks. This sand was used for cooling the steel: when the steel was red-hot, and began to give forth sparks, it was uncovered a little and sprinkled with sand, and sent on to the forgers. As soon as the blade was ready it was tempered in the following manner: a line of fire was made and the blade placed in it in such a manner that only four-fifths of its length should touch the fire. As soon as the blade was red-hot it was dropped perpendicularly into a bucket of Tagus water; when cold, if it was found to be bent, a small portion of sand was poured on the yoke, the blade was placed upon it, and beaten until properly straightened. After this the fifth part of the blade was fired, and when red-hot was seized with tongs and rubbed with suet, which soon began to melt; after this the blade was sent to the grinding-stones, and finished by being polished by wooden wheels with emery powder.

Charles the Third, a year after he became King of Spain, re-established officially the manufactory of arms of Toledo. He placed it in a building near the Miradero Alto, and the works began in 1761. The king soon found the building too small for the purpose, and ordered his architect, Sabatini to build the present one, outside the town near the river Tagus, which was finished in 1783, and from this time has been under the superintendence of the Royal Artillery. Not a single sword maker existed in 1760 of any note who was competent to be placed at the head of the works, and it was found necessary to bring a proper person from Valencia.

Palomares, who was present, says: "As soon as the building was ready and disposed for working, Luis Calisto, a famous sword maker, began to work. Calisto was a native of Valencia, and more than 70 years of age when he was appointed. Other artists were chosen at the same time by the Director. In the short space of time in which that chief master armourer lived, he made most excellent weapons; he was most skilful, and was probably imitated by his successor."

Names of the Sword Makers of Toledo.

The numbers given correspond to the plates of their marks, given in "Catalogo de la Real Armeria."

1.Alonso de Sahagun, el viejo, 1570.
2.Alonso de Sahagun, el mozo.
3.Alonso Perez.
4.Alonso de los Rios; he also worked at Cordova.
5.Alonso de Cava.
6.Andres Martinez.
7.Andres Herraez; he also worked at Cuenca.
8.Andres Munesten; worked at Calatayud.
9.Andres Garcia.
10.Antonio de Baena.
11.Antonio Gutierrez.
12.Antonio Gutierrez, a son of the former.
13.Antonio Ruiz, 1520; he used the initial letter of his name.
14.Adrian de Zafra; worked at Sn. Clemente.
15.Bartolomé de Nieva.
16.Casaldo y Campañeros; worked at Cuellar and Badajoz.
17.Domingo de Orozco.
18.Domingo Maestre, el viejo.
19.Domingo Maestre, el mozo.
20.Domingo Rodriguez.
21.Domingo Sanchez; called el Tigerero.
22.Domingo de Aguirre.
23.Domingo de Lama.
24.Domingo Corrientes; worked also at Madrid.
25.Fabrian de Zafra; hijo de Adrian.
26.Francisco Ruiz, el viejo, 1617.
27.Francisco Ruiz, el mozo.
28.Francisco Gomez.
29.Francisco de Zamora; worked also at Seville.
30.Francisco de Alcozer; worked at Madrid.
31.Francisco Lurdi.
32.Francisco Cordiu.
33.Francisco Perez.
34.Giraldo Reliz.
35.Gonzalo Simon, 1617.
36.Gabriel Martinez.
37.Gil de Almau.
38.Hortuño de Aguirre, 1604.
39.Juan Martin.
40.Juan de Leizalde; worked at Seville.
41.Juan Martinez, el viejo.
42.Juan Martinez, el mozo, 1617.
43.Juan de Almau, 1550.
44.Juan de Toro.
45.Juan Ruiz.
46.Juan Martinez de Garata.
47.Juan Martinez Menchaca; he lived at the beginning of the 16th century, and worked at Lisbon, Seville, and Madrid.
48.Juan Ros.
49.Juan Moreno.
50.Juan de Saludo.
51.Juan de Meladoria.
52.Juan de Vargas.
53.Juan de la Horta, 1545.
54.Juanes de Toledo.
55.Juanes de Algruniva.
56.Juanes de Muleto.
57.Juanes, el viejo.
58.Juanes de Uriza.
59.Julian del Rey, the Moor; he worked for Boabdil, King of Granada, 15th century.
60.Julian Garcia; worked also at Cuenca.
61.Julian de Zamora.
62.José Gomez.
63.Jusepe de la Hera, el viejo.
64.Jusepe de la Hera, el mozo.
65.Jusepe de la Hera, el nieto.
66.Jusepe de la Hera, el visnieto.
67.Jusepe del Haza.
68.Ignacio Fernandez, el viejo.
69.Ignacio Fernandez, el mozo.
70.Luis de Nieves.
71.Luis de Ayala.
72.Luis de Belmonte.
73.Luis de Sahagun.
74.Luis de Sahagun.
75.Luis de Nieva; worked at Calatayud.
76.Lupus Aguado, 1567.
77.Miguel Cantero, 1564.
78.Miguel Sanchez.
79.Melchor Suarez; worked at Lisbon.
80.Nicolas Hortuño de Aguirre, 1637.
81.Pedro de Toro.
82.Pedro de Arechiga.
83.Pedro Lopez; worked at Orgaz.
84.Pedro de Lerzama; worked at Seville.
85.Pedro de Lazaretea; worked at Bilbao.
86.Pedro de Orozco.
87.Pedro de Belmonte.
88.Roque Hernandez.
Sarabal; used no mark.
89.Sebastian Hernandez, el viejo, 1637.
90.Sebastian Hernandez, el mozo; he worked also at Seville.
91.Silvestre Nieto.
92.Silvestre Nieto.
93.Tomas de Ayala, 1625.
94.Zamorano, el Toledano.

Nos. 95, 96, 97, 98, and 99, are the marks of sword makers whose names are unknown.

Miguel y Manuel Fernandez; worked at Toledo in 1786.

Pedro de Barreta; at Bilbao at the end of the 16th century.