EDU: How to forge your own Katana.

**ar549** · Posted On: 12/05/2006 9:31am

You guys can go to Daniels website and download a free short movie on forging damascus here.

http://www.ferrum.cc/en/online/videos.html

**bricco** · Posted On: 12/05/2006 4:13pm

I can't thank you enough: that's exactly what I was looking for.
Please, if you ever come across another video like this let us know, thank you.

**hangooknamja88** · Posted On: 12/14/2006 1:05am

is there a way to forge a blade with only 600-900 temp heat?

**Rock Ape** · Posted On: 12/14/2006 9:58am

Hey guys..

As a student of JSA and ownder of a gendai forged and folded toshin, I'd be very pleased to see what results you get.

Regards

Dave

**Dr. Sleepless** · Posted On: 12/14/2006 11:08am

Ewwwwwww ar549 posted in my thread that was going places. :(

**bricco** · Posted On: 12/16/2006 4:33am

Here.

**JaredB** · Posted On: 8/08/2010 2:36am

So, this is a really good article for the most part, but you left out a few crucial details.
First is the fact that most katana are made from steels of multiple strengths. Traditional Japanese smiths would forge their own steels and select from hard and soft steels to include in their blades.
Usually, katana are forged from as many as four pieces of steel, arranged for their properties during combat.
The hardest steel is used for the blade, and placed in the center and on the blade side of the Katana before the various pieces are forged together. The softest steel is used for the spine. And two pieces of a mid-level steel are used to form the sides. These varying hardnesses allow the Katana to retain it's edge and absorb impacts that might otherwise cripple the effectiveness of the blade in combat.
Also, the substance used to coat blades before tempering and quenching the blades wasn't simply clay. It was a mixture of clay, ash, and metal filings. The clay was painted onto the spine of the blade, leaving the edge exposed. The use of clay is also what gives Katana their signature wavy pattern along the edge. This pattern also serves as the signature of the swordsmith and so is very important.
Something you left out about the sharpening of the blade is also crucial. Unlike in western blades, which use a straight angle bevel, Japanese blades curve to a point. This is what makes them such efficient cutters. Material flows smoothly past the edge of the blade, meaning that less friction is created and cutting becomes easier.

**Tamashī no gizō** · Posted On: 5/01/2013 8:19am

they made their own iron by taking black sand aka iron oxide sand, and adding charcoal
to form a giant chunk of metal, then they break of pieces heat them up and hammer them to purify and stack the pieces together to form a billet. the rest is pretty explainatory. by-the-by i know this tadbit and i'm only 16. :D

***jnp*** · Posted On: 5/01/2013 8:42am

Originally Posted by Tamashī no gizō

they made their own iron by taking black sand aka iron oxide sand, and adding charcoal
to form a giant chunk of metal, then they break of pieces heat them up and hammer them to purify and stack the pieces together to form a billet. the rest is pretty explainatory. by-the-by i know this tadbit and i'm only 16. :D

I will leave this post in the Armory because it is on topic. However, you should know that most teenagers don't last around here, especially the ones with a holier than thou attitude.

I know this and I'm only 44.

Read the stickies and take the time to familiarize yourself with the different posting standards in the individual forums. They are all different and some, like this one, the Armory, are strictly moderated.

**hungryjoe** · Posted On: 5/01/2013 6:57pm

Originally Posted by Tamashī no gizō

they made their own iron by taking black sand aka iron oxide sand, and adding charcoal
to form a giant chunk of metal, then they break of pieces heat them up and hammer them to purify and stack the pieces together to form a billet. the rest is pretty explainatory. by-the-by i know this tadbit and i'm only 16. :D

The charcoal, in addition to being used as fuel for heat, imparts carbon into the steel. You can't have hardness without the added carbon.

The poster above you is incorrect as the differences in hardness of various parts of the blade are the result of tempering. Tempering draws back the hardness to a given point needed for a particular application. Too brittle means chips/breaks easily. Too soft and you can't hold an edge.

The folding of the steel during the forging process, in addition to gaining needed carbon, changes the grain of the steel at the molecular level, leaving a blade less likely to break at a given point if the above mentioned temper is correct for the application.

I'm 53 and a life long tool and die maker. See what I did there?

Anyway, thanks for chiming in as this is the first I've seen of this thread.