posted on Sep, 9 2005 @ 11:13 PM
I have been obsessesed about katana's for quite a while now... and I have learned a few things about forging the perfect one along the way. I'd
like to offer what I have learned, and ask... what do you at ATS know?
1) It is best to jacket a sword of springy steel with a high carbon steel in the forging process.
2) It is better to forge a bloodgroove than to grind one out, and bloodgrooved swords are stronger per pound than non-bloodgrooved because of the
inherent "I" beam.
3) The curve of a katana serves two purposes... A) it helps in drawing the sword smoothly (and a sword's curve should be in proportion to the
owner's armspan). B) the curve serves to make the angle of the blade more accute relative to the path of motion, at the point of contact.
4) Alternating thicknesses of clay can be used at the egde of the blade before final heat treating. The varying thicknesses will act as buffers when
cooling causing varying patterns of hardness at the edge... hamon sp? I believe.
5) the rhythm and strength which you strike the steel during forging plays a huge role.
6) it is a misconception that most "damascus" blades are folded thousands of times. They are actually folded 6-20 times causing thousands of
layers. 1 2 4 8 16 32 64 128... folding too much will actually remove carbon from the steel, leaving soft iron.
7) weaving and braiding steel cable then forging is a common way to make strong steel.
These are trying times. Primative weapons may come to play a vital role.
Interested in your thoughts... especially the Master's out there.
Sri Oracle
ps... if you are building these things, make sure they stay in hands of righteous people; there is something to be said for a perfect katana