Regarding the "normal" weapons you can craft, remember that you can melt your weapon down in the furnace and use the same material again to "level up" your weapon along with you:
Iron Bar + Anvil = 1h Sword, Furnace + 1h Sword = Iron Bar
Steel Bar + Anvil = 1h Axe, Furnace + 1h Axe = Steel Bar
Large Iron Bar + Anvil = 2h Sword, Furnace + 2h Sword = Large Iron Bar
Large Steel Bar + Anvil = 2h Axe, Furnace + 2h Axe = Large Steel Bar
Just remember to use the grind stone wheel afterwards.
