The forging process of a japanese sword made by the huanuo forge. More info @ http://www.samurai-sword-shop.com
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Thanks bunches on that... really.The application of clay along the cutting edge of the sword prior to cooling is for exactly what Bob said; as the shaped blade is put into the water, the clay acts to slow the cooling along the edge, meaning that it contracts slower than the back of the blade, "pulling" it into the familar curved shape. It also allows the edge to show particular crystaline particles, giving the hamon, or edge pattern. A skilled smith can create pretty much whatever pattern for his or her hamon they want, often having personal favourites that they become known for.
This is a big part of what gives the Japanese sword it's particular properties, an incredibly sharp edge, a graceful curve, and the flexibility to absorb the impact of use. While various aspects (such as the curve and hamon) can be rather beautiful, it should be remembered that these aspects are there primarily because it makes the sword a more efficient cutting tool. And a big part of that comes from the application of the clay, and the tempering/cooling process that involve it.
I was just wondering about the same thing. I mean, a modern scientist could come up with something like that, but when they figured that out, how much did they really understand the physics of impact and the properties of steel? I would guess that it was intentional and some genius just thought it up!
Thanks bunches on that... really.
You gotta wonder about something. Try letting your mind go back as far as possible to the FIRST time someone thought about using clay to do this. How did they come up with the idea? Was it accidental? Pulling it out of the fire/hearth and burning their hand and dropping the piece in mud and picking it up and dropping it into the trough and voilia! Or was it intentional? Either way ... ingenious.
Oh the things you learn on Martial Talk dot com. :uhyeah: