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How to forge a samurai sword
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A samurai sword, or katana, is a curved, single-edged sword first worn by Japanese warriors in the 13th century. By learning to make a samurai sword, you can create a formidable weapon or even use it as an impressive addition to your home's décor. Follow the steps below to forge your own samurai sword.
Steps
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Purchase or find a piece of steel about 2 inches (5.1 cm) wide and .5 inches (1.27 m) thick and slightly more than 3 feet (0.9 m) long (0.914 m). -
Heat the steel in a furnace or open hearth. You must heat the material to temperatures nearing 1,600 degrees F (870 degrees C) to make it malleable for forging and to remove impurities. During the heating process, substances like sulfur and silica will oxidize and separate from the iron, creating slag. The removal of slag greatly strengthens the steel.Advertisement -
Pull the heated material from the hearth when it becomes a yellow-orange hue and put it on an anvil. -
Forge the steel. [1] X Research source- Strike the substance with a hammer, turning it as you forge. You will need to reheat the substance during the forging process to keep it malleable.
- Bend and chisel the substance on the anvil to form the blade shape. Target your hammer strikes to help shape the blade. Focus on the basic proportion of the blade initially.
- Forge the sword tip once you are satisfied with the basic blade shape, and then work on curvature and bevels. Bevel the blade in two sections: a long, sharp bevel extending to the tip of the sword provides the cutting edge of the sword and the shorter, thicker section runs along spine of the sword.
- Taper the blade on the end that will join with the handle.
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Shape the blade. Use grinders and files to form the final shape of the blade. -
Treat the blade with a special clay mixture. You can add a mixture of clay and other substances, like grass and feathers, to the blade to achieve desired results. Coat the spine of the blade with the mixture, leaving the edge largely untreated. This will help make the spine flexible and the edge sharp. Reheat the blade in the forge. -
Quench the steel. This process both cools and hardens the substance. [2] X Research source You can use water or oil for quenching.- Immerse the blade in water or oil along the edge and tip first. This method has a dual purpose: to make the cutting surface hardest and to keep the back of the blade softer to absorb blows meted out by adversaries. Quenching technique is important as the faster you quench the blade, the harder it becomes.
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Temper the blade. Reheat the blade to about 400 degrees F (204.4 degrees C) after quenching and then allow it to cool to room temperature. This process helps balance the blade's flexibility and hardness. -
Remove the clay mixture from the blade and grind the blade edge until it is sharp. -
Polish the blade. Use water stones to sharpen the blade. When polishing is complete, the hardened and unhardened portions of the blade will become apparent. Give the blade a final filing for cosmetic purposes. [3] X Research source -
Drill two holes at the base, or tang, of the blade to help fasten it to the hilt. -
Fabricate the handle. [4] X Research source The sword handle, or hilt, must be long enough to accommodate both hands and provide optimum balance when joined to the blade.- Build the handle out of a hardwood, like yellow poplar or alder. Quarter-saw the wood at the end to provide maximum strength.
- Install two brass or copper pegs and anchors and align them with the tang. They will hold the blade in place.
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Secure the blade to the hilt. Insert the hilt pegs through the holes in the blade's tang and fasten them to their anchors. Use industrial adhesive and leather wraps to further strengthen the attachment of the blade and handle.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat's the best heat source for a furnace?Alvaro Mendoza, Ph.D., is a Metallurgist and the Owner of Mendoza Metallurgy in Portland, Oregon. With over 15 years of professional and research experience, Dr. Mendoza has worked in the aerospace industry in forging, casting, metal-making, and additive manufacturing primarily with nickel-based superalloys, titanium and steels. He currently runs a metallurgical consulting and education business that focuses on providing technical expertise to businesses of any size. He was recently featured on a podcast about why metallurgy matters. Dr. Mendoza received his B.S. and M.S. and Ph.D in Materials Science and Engineering, focus on Metallurgy from the University of Florida.It would depend on your needs, but propane and natural gas are great and effective choices. They provide consistent, high heat and are relatively easy to control. To make the most of your heat source, you’ll need to heatproof your enclosure. Firebricks are a great starting point because you can find them at home improvement stores. Arrange them to create an enclosed space, and then direct your propane or natural gas supply into that area. For better heat retention and safety, an enclosure, like a simple stack of firebricks or a custom steel door.
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QuestionWhat type of steel should I use for this katana Sword?Community AnswerYou need a steel with high carbon content. The most common ones used in swords are 1045, 1065, and 1095 carbon steels.
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QuestionWhere do I find all these materials?Community AnswerYou can check Home Depot, Lowe's, and other lumber and metal supply places.
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Tips
- Both water and oil quenching have advantages. Water quenching produces a harder edge, but blades quenched in oil have superior flexibility.Thanks
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Warnings
- Use high quality metal for the blade, such as steel.Thanks
- Make sure that your katana sword is made traditionally as modern katana swords lack forging process which is very essential for contributing in the quality of a sword.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- A piece of steel about 2 inches (5.1 cm) wide and .5 inches thick (1.27 cm) and slightly more than 3 feet (0.9 m) long (0.914 m)
- Open-hearth furnace
- Anvil
- Hammer
- Chisel
- Grinders
- Files
- Clay mixture
- Quenching pool
- Water stones
- Metal drill
- Brass or copper pegs and washers
- 18 inch (45.72 cm) block hardwood for the sword handle
- Leather wraps
- Industrial adhesive
References
- ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/VCSzzlnV0HbKDnmv9c0NFb/sacred-arts-how-to-make-a-japanese-samurai-sword
- ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/VCSzzlnV0HbKDnmv9c0NFb/sacred-arts-how-to-make-a-japanese-samurai-sword
- ↑ https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/samurai/swor-nf.html
- ↑ https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/samurai/swor-nf.html
- http://www.quanonline.com/military/military_reference/japanese/history.html
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Reader Success Stories
- "I am a retired boiler maker have made knives and swords since I was young. All have been forged to shape at hot temper then quenched in oil bath. This article is a check, it helps." ..." more
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"I am a retired boiler maker have made knives and swords since I was young. All have been forged to shape at hot temper then quenched in oil bath. This article is a check, it helps."
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"It helped us learn about the sword, and we used the info (in our own words) to make a presentation."
"That heating removes the impurities in the metals, and using a good hard wood is perfect."
"This helped me build one, thanks!"
