What sorts of things in a typical fantasy village would be made of iron?

Question

I'd like to run an adventure where the party needs to improvise and find some sources of iron when they're in and around a small village. Cold iron plays a role in a lot of games as the bane of fey and sometimes other supernatural creatures, and I'm going by the wikipedia article definition where "cold iron" really just means "iron". I have no real sense of how common such weapons would actually be, or where someone might find iron in an emergency. Plus, I want the focus to be on improvisation, not running down to the shop and buying a "cold iron greatsword".

I don't really have much of a background in knowing what metals are commonly used, and when iron would be used versus steel or other metals. Without having a sense of which common items might be made out of iron, it will be difficult to carry out my plan.

What types of items made out of iron would probably exist in a typical fantasy village (say, < 1000 people)? Setting equivalent probably wouldn't be far off the technological level of, say, your average Forgotten Realms village.

Answer 1

It will depend on the technology level of the world as well as the logistical connectivity of the village to the rest of the world, if the villagers don't travel or have access to good ore then they're not going to have as many tools unless merchants brave the far reaches of the unprofitable areas of the kingdom/empire/etc.

As technological levels increase then steel will become increasingly prevalent over iron as a tool (replacing other metals as well as wood); a brief history of steel/iron refinement is here

For a generic fantasy world I'd have that the more backward and out-of-the-way the village the more likely they are to use iron (or possibly even wood or bronze for certain applications).

Typical items are going to be hammers, nails, scythes, saws, horseshoes, tongs, chisels, knives, hooks and plows.

Answer 2

Go to the sourcebook: the article Economy of England in the Middle Ages on Wikipedia.

At least the knife of most ploughs in settled areas. In newly settled areas or "forest" as in "desert waste" communities expect cheap wooden scratch ploughs. Expect more iron on land owned and managed by devotional communities, as opposed to land owned and managed by absentee wizard, noble or "noble-hierophant" owners.

Finally, given that the game can't accurately simulate a fantasy medieval past, because the source material isn't simulatable, make it up based on what you think is dramatically more interesting.

Answer 3

Just think of what kinds of items would be metal, and which of those need to be of a harder metal. A backwoods village is more likely to have a smaller supply of the more sought after material, so it would likely be used in the most critical of places.

Examples of metal objects might include: lamps/lanterns, axes, scythes, rakes, shovels, gardening tools, pots/pans, food utensils or butcher's implements, leatherworking implements, shearing tools, spits, horse shoes, barrel straps, various blacksmith metal stock and of course the rare sword or bit of unused armor in some farmers attic from a long past war from far away or somesuch. ;)

As for which of those items might be made of iron, that would be up to you in determining how widely used iron is.

Answer 4

Farming tools and even then they use as much wood as possible. Odds are the only weapon and armor smiths are with the local lord, and thus metal objects (that aren't used by knights/vassals/militia) would be limited as much as possible. As far as Steel vs. Iron, steel is iron and carbon, and varying levels of carbon (as well as the heating and cooling methods) make the varying types of steel. Other metals tend to be reserved for the local nobility because they are likely precious metals used in jewelry although lower grade stuff like bronze or copper might make it into tools as a cheap substitute.

So if your players want iron weapons they need to go up the metaphorical food chain unless they are monks or rebellious farmers and don't mind using a pitchfork, a scythe, or a large bread knife.

Answer 5

If you are going to use the "cold iron" vs "iron" distinction, make the cold iron similar to silver weapons in D&D - more expensive, prone to nicks/dents/snapping more than forged iron or steel, and a big pain in upkeep - oiling to prevent rust, repairing regularly, etc.

In general, most "metal" objects in town would be forged iron (or copper or bronze, etc.), as it has more durability and strength. Only specific items dedicated as useful against fey would be cold iron - possibly an applique that might be attached to door handles, screens over glass windows or bars over other types of windows, or small things to be used in the event of an emergency fey incursion.

Cold iron may be common in the economy, but it is used sparingly as a ceremonial dagger or small hammer. It's not "useful" in the everyday sense, so it is relegated to ceremony and last-ditch defense.