Metalsmith or forger is one of the oldest crafts in Shkodra city, which mainly treats iron following a traditional pattern by shaping, forging, and tempering it to make mainly working tools, utensils, daily life equipment, railings, doors/gates, etc.

The process of manipulating metals and tempering them goes through several steps.

First, the iron to be worked is taken and cut to the required size with scissors or hand-operated shearing tools.

Next, the coal fire is fueled in a specific spot otherwise called a forge or furnace. Once the coal is well heated, the pieces of metal are placed amidst the hot coal and left there until well heated and ready for manipulation.

The heated metal is taken out of the fire, placed on the anvil, and hammered as hot as possible, gradually taking the desired shape.

After forging, the object is tempered in water under a fragile process that requires long-term experience.

In the end, swaging and necessary adjustments are made and for certain objects, the linseed oil treatment is applied, to enhance the appearance of the object or even engravings (drawing of traditionally practiced decorative textures using a chisel and a hammer, creating various traditional figurative patterns).