The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word SMITH
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
S
M
I
T
H
More clues leading to the result SMITH
- Forger sends money in two holdalls first of all
- Strike abruptly terminated by hospital worker
- Singular story told of forger
- Shaping metal’s important to him primarily
- Disgraced Liberal Farron put up in small hotel
- Male boring this ground is manual worker
- Commonest name for a forger
- Fashion, feature of modernism I think
- Forge Cambridge University research findings, ultimately rejected externally
- Hush about US technology institute forger
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Shaping metal’s important to him primarily" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case shaping metal’s important to him primarily = smith.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SMITH mean?
SMITH noun- A craftsperson who works metal into desired forms using a hammer and other tools, sometimes heating the metal to make it more workable, especially a blacksmith.
- (by extension) One who makes anything; wright.
- An artist.
- To forge, to form, usually on an anvil; by heating and pounding.