Swords are built with various types of metals and the most prevailing one is steel. Though a high-quality steel is needed for constructing a reliable sword still many technical concerns such as how the steel is processed should also be considered. In this article, we have listed the most common blade materials used in the manufacturing of European blades as it’s related to the modern sword industry and highlight their qualities and limitations.
Stainless Steel Swords
Stainless steel swords are shiny swords which are rust resistant and require minimal maintenance. But at the same time, they are very hard. Though they make for beautiful ornamental pieces, you might not practically use them. Stainless steel comprises of high chromium content which is commonly more than 11 percent. Chromium is known for giving the steel its stainless qualities. However, when the stainless steel blade is put under tension, the stress points may cause the sword blade to become brittle and weak.
Carbon Steel Swords
A superior quality sword blade is manufactured with carbon steel. Steel is a popular alloy comprising of iron, carbon and other trace elements. Though iron is the significant component of steel, the proportion of carbon added to the iron will primarily determine the properties of the subsequent steel. The steel is much stronger and flexible than iron whereas the percentage of carbon added has a direct impact on the practicality and underlining qualities of the steel used for the sword blade. The properties of the carbon steel swords can be modified by the varying amount of carbon and alloy. Presently, you will find four grades of steel including mild steel, medium steel, high carbon steel and ultrahigh carbon steel. The most frequent steel in sword making is plain carbon steel. All these classes of steel are based on their carbon content which directly impacts on the finishing of swords and the degree of stress it can handle.
1045 Blade
The carbon steel is labeled by four digits or 1xxx. The first digit represents the main alloying element which is carbon, the second indicates the secondary alloying element whereas the last two digits range from 1 to 99 indicating the percentage of carbon present from .01 to .99. A blade made of 1045 such as Japanese Black Knight Dragon Warrior Katana is a plain carbon steel comprising 0.45% carbon. Steels with carbon content from 0.05 to 0.45 are mild and medium carbon steels. Swords built from 1045 steel are very economical. These blades can be hand forged or machine milled. Typically, they range under $100 and are machine refined. However, they are poorly tempered.
1060 Blade
Another popular steel is 1060 you can find in Samurai Hand Forged Katana which makes for an ideal piece between 1045 and 1095 steel. While 1045 is weak due to its soft properties, 1060 sword blades are known for their durability. Also, they have a significant amount of the edge holding capability which is typically found in 1095. 1060 is relatively a harder steel than 1045. But due to high carbon content, it is difficult to forge and shape.
1095 Blade
Swords with 1095 blades hold and maintain a sharp edge in comparison to steels comprising of low carbon content. Typically, European sword blades are built with 1095 and yet they are brittle due to their inflexible nature. Though not very delicate, the 1095 sheets of steel are not as durable as 1060 blades for their high percentage of carbon content.
The Processing of Steel
As mentioned above the steel is a crucial component for a high-quality sword, likewise how the steel is processed is also important. Regardless of the steel quality, if it is poorly processed, the blade will weaken at several levels. A sword needs to be stabilized, sated and heat treated to produce a blade which is metallurgically made for toughness and flexibility. During the building process, once the blade is shaped, it must be quenched. The reason for the quenching is to harden the blade by heating and then quickly cooling it. The resulting steel contains iron carbide, a mix of iron and carbon with 6.67% and 93.3% respectively.
Heating
The blade is heated until it gives a constant dull orange, then it is gradually plunged into a bath of water or oil. As the blade cools rapidly, it becomes harder. Using water is more effective for knife making while the sword blades should preferably be oiled to gain superior flexibility.
Quenching
Quenching is one of the most significant steps in sword making process, but keep in mind that the rapid change in temperature can cause the blade to crack. Moreover, tempering is time sensitive. If you are leaving the blade for too long, it will get more hard and brittle. If left for a shorter interval, the structure of the steel will not be affected to a sufficient degree.
Heat Treatment
Once the quenching procedure is finished, the blade will be hard. From here the blade needs to be heat treated. Afterward, it should be reheated to a particular temperature as determined by the type of qualities of steel. Any flaws in blade geometry can be corrected during the process. When the blade is reheated, it is then cooled naturally. When the blade has reduced edge holding capabilities, it will have a significant degree of flexibility and toughness. After the blade is cooled, it must be refined and fitted with the guard, pommel, and grip. Also, the point of balance should be carefully determined by the dynamics between the geometry and weight of the blade and pommel.
Conclusion
To conclude this, the quality of the steel is a must for a sword. For this purpose, quenching, softening, tang, assembly, geometry, and point of balance are all precision aspects that best combine the harmonic balance of the sword. You can have a look at many other swords with varying construction materials at Swordswords.com.
