Originally posted by Apple:

I skipped straight to a black metal sword from an iron sword.
Didnt see the small increase in physical as worth it on the silver sword.

Plus since I have a flax and barley farm im passively stockpiling black metal ore.

Silver is usually the first time I make a sword. The spirit damage on it is great, especially when you have to go back to swamps for Iron (well, pre-Mistlands anyways). Mace was always my go-to for Iron Age, though that somewhat changed to include Axe when Abominations were added. (Before that, I sometimes didn't even bother with an iron axe and went straight to Black metal.)

My flax and barely farms have almost always been exclusively on islands, except for maybe one or two playthroughs, but always had enough Black metal from looking for Yagluth (Vegsivrs or the altar itself).