Iron Arms and Armor

Bhutan had a long tradition of iron extraction and blacksmithery. According to historical records, Bhutan was also supplying a lot of iron to Tibet, particularly through the famous Tibetan bridge builder and saint, Thangtong Gyalpo, to be used for building iron chain bridges over big rivers. Bhutan's foremost saint Pema Lingpa also practised blacksmithery in the 15th century. Traditionally, the blacksmiths in Bhutan produced a wide range of weapons and armours used for fighting and hunting ranging from swords, knives, daggers, spears and arrow tips to iron mail and helmets. With the disuse of metal arms and armour and the decline of blacksmithery today, production of iron or other metal weapons and armour is declinging very fast.