For the hit HBO series House of the Dragon, a Welsh blacksmith has been instrumental in bringing realistic combat to the screen. Aaron, who grew up reading Game of Thrones and was drawn to its sense of realism, now works with the production to craft weaponry that enhances the show's authenticity.
The on-set armoury team, operating from a truck with numerous swords, plays a crucial role in the visual storytelling. Aaron explained that different materials are used for swords depending on the scene's requirements. Actors are filmed using swords made of plastic, aluminum, or steel to achieve specific visual effects and safety protocols.
For background extras or scenes requiring actors to move around, lighter aluminum swords are employed. When more dynamic action is involved, such as fighting, falls, or rolls, synthetic versions made of cast polyurethane are utilized. These are painted to closely resemble real metal. For stunts involving significant physical activity like falls and rolls, a completely flexible rubber version of the sword is used.
Aaron also noted the importance of ensuring background actors had the appropriate sword for their role, emphasizing that "knowing what swords look like in real life helped quite a lot." The director's willingness to experiment with different shots requires the armoury team to be agile, ready to change swords as needed. For the third series, Aaron was also tasked with creating a collection of daggers used on set.
Beyond his work on House of the Dragon, Aaron combines his television set experience with teaching others how to forge items like knives and axes.