Matt Stagmer: The swordsmith of Baltimore

If one puts a stick in the hands of most young boys the chances are it will soon be wielded like a sword.

That was certainly the case for Matthew Stagmer, only he never stopped playing with swords.

Today he is a swordsmith who forges medieval weapons for use in stage combat, at renaissance fairs, and for theatre, film and even video games.

The BBC went along to his foundry in Baltimore to find out more.

Produced by the BBC's Colm O'Molloy

Additional footage courtesy of the Folger Shakespeare Library and Defy Media's Man at Arms.

First Person is a series of video features published every Monday on the BBC News website which tell the stories of unique individuals from all walks of life in their own words.