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The steel used in sword production is known as tamahagane (玉鋼:たまはがね), or "jewel steel" (tama – ball or jewel, hagane – steel). Tamahagane is produced from iron sand, a source of iron ore, and mainly used to make samurai swords, such as the katana, and some tools. Diagram of a tatara and bellows
The word tama means 'precious', and the word hagane means 'steel'. [1] Tamahagane is used to make Japanese swords, daggers, knives, and other kinds of tools. The carbon content of the majority of analyzed Japanese swords historically lies between a mass of 0.5–0.7%; however, the range extends up to 1.5%. [2] [3]
5160, a spring steel. Popular steel for forging swords and large knives, with high toughness and good wear resistance. [citation needed] Popular sword manufacturers that use 5160 spring steel include Hanwei and Generation 2. [citation needed] 5160 spring steel is mainly used on Medieval type swords. [citation needed] 4140 [definition needed]
When steel with a carbon content of 0.7% is ... ("Five Swords under Heaven") – five individual swords traditionally viewed as the best Japanese swords; Wakizashi;
The origin of the name "Damascus Steel" is contentious. Islamic scholars al-Kindi (full name Abu Ya'qub ibn Ishaq al-Kindi, circa 800 CE – 873 CE) and al-Biruni (full name Abu al-Rayhan Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Biruni, circa 973 CE – 1048 CE) both wrote about swords and steel made for swords, based on their surface appearance, geographical location of production or forging, or the name of the ...
This allows the sword to have the strength and the ability to hold a sharp edge, as well as to cause the sword to tend to bend rather than flex under stress. The process starts in the combining of the iron and carbon, by heating iron sand to 1200-1500 degrees Celsius in a traditional furnace, or tatara , for 72 hours.
Tamahagane (玉鋼) is a general term for steel, not used prior to the Meiji Era, literally meaning "precious steel". Steel is smelted at Shimane facility for Japanese swords (nihontō (日本刀), commonly known as katana (刀)) by contemporary Japanese forge masters like Kihara Akira and Gassan Sadatoshi is still smelted in a tatara.
There are accounts of good quality stainless steel Japanese swords, however, these are rare at best. [93] Some replica Japanese swords have been used in modern-day armed robberies. [94] As a part of marketing, modern ahistoric blade styles and material properties are often stated as traditional and genuine, promulgating disinformation.