TRADITIONAL SAMURAI BLADE CONSTRUCTION

IN THE FORGE: TRADITIONAL SAMURAI CONSTRUCTION

For 600 years the blade of the Japanese sword was considered far superior to any other swords made in the world. It was around the 13th century that the techniques Japan’s sword smiths used were created, and it wasn’t until the rise of modern metallurgy in the 19th century that any other metal came close in quality.

It was Japanese sword smiths that learned to overcome the problems of the blade being too soft, or too hard. Sword makers of the day knew how to make a blade hard. The problem was that the hardened steel also became brittle, and many times would break in battler. They also knew how to make a softer sword. The problem then became that the blade would not retain its edge. Japan overcame both problems by learning how to fold and layer the steel.

FORGING THE BLADE (KITAE)

To forge the blade of Japanese swords, the sword smith begins with two pieces of steel. The biggest piece, which will become the outer layer, is called the kawagane. The other piece that becomes the edge of the blade is known as the shingane.

A sword smith will select the right pieces of steel for the kawagane, and then forge weld them into one larger block. He will then begin to forge and fold the blade from the steel. Before the blade is finished it will be folded over on itself as many as 16 times. This is what creates the beautiful grain in a well made sword.

The outer layer is then folded around a softer iron core. This iron core will become the edge of the sword after hardening.

HARDENING THE EDGE (YAKI-IRE)

When the sword smith is finished creating the blade it is time to harden its edge. The Japanese sword makers had a unique technique for this which made their blades the best that could be found.

To begin the blade would be covered in a thick layer of clay. The edge would be left exposed. With the clay hardened the sword would be heated until the right color of red showed in the steel. Then with a prayer the sword maker would plunge the blade into the water.

The exposed edge would harden quickly and become very hade, and the clay covered outer layer would remain softer. This is what gives the Samurai sword its unique qualities.

There are still sword smiths today who use the same techniques that started more than 600 years ago. With the best of them, even the Shinto rituals of the early masters have been preserved.