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Senior William Williams of Madison steadies a piece of steel that’s been fired in a homemade forge while Zack McClelland, a graduate student from Killen, Alabama, hammers it into shape to demonstrate a bladesmithing technique. The mechanical engineering majors are part of a nine-person Mississippi State team that created a Viking-style sword for a national competition sponsored by the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society. Entries will be judged on appearance, blade quality and the team’s understanding of metallurgical principles.