A TRANENT armoury craftsman’s call to arms has been answered by more than 1,000 people from around the world.

Paul Macdonald, who owns Macdonald Armouries – which makes high-quality reproductions of edged weaponry for historical fencers, collectors, museums and theatre companies – has been on the lookout for an employee and apprentice to join his Edinburgh business.

The 41-year-old, who has run the business on Brunswick Street Lane, near Leith Walk, since March 1998, has been inundated with 1,200 applications and notes of interest in the jobs from 30 countries, including Slovakia, Serbia, New Zealand, South Africa and Brazil.

With the deadline having passed on Saturday, Paul, of Tranent’s Edinburgh Road, will now sift through the mountain of applications.

The process of choosing the right people to join his business and learn the craft is expected to take another two months.

“It’s been interesting to have as much interest,” Paul told the Courier. “It proves the importance of heritage arts and crafts.

“There is no set term for the apprentice, there’s no official course. It takes as long as it takes to get to a level of production.” He added: “The employee has to have all the skills ready to go.

“The apprentice has to have a very centred approach to learning and a passion for history and research.” With demand high for hand-crafted knives and swords, made on site, Paul is looking for extra pairs of hands to help, as well as to pass on his experience and knowledge.

He said: “There’s reasonably high demand. I have about 100 knives on the order board at the moment and a couple of dozen swords beside that. It is a lot of work – too much for one pair of hands.

“I still regard myself as an apprentice in many ways. There are always new methods – it is a constant learning process.” Having originally taken an interest in fencing, Paul, who has lived in Tranent for about four years, eventually found his calling in making armoury.

“I had a natural interest in crafting weapons,” he explained. “I started working with a couple of dirk and sgian dubh makers on the Royal Mile.

“I worked full-time for one following university. But I was looking to make more accurate and realistic weapons and the only way to do that was by starting my own business.” As well as creating knives and swords, Paul also teaches traditional swordsmanship and European martial arts and is an Army reservist.

This year, his teaching will take him to Las Vegas, Italy and possibly St Petersburg.

Earlier this week he met with Colin Beattie, MSP for Musselburgh, to discuss traditional crafts.

“It is highlighting the case of traditional crafts in Scotland,” he said.

“There is no Government support for traditional crafts, and it makes it very difficult for these types of businesses.”