Thursday, November 15, 2018

How a samurai sword gets its curve from r/interestingasfuck

3 comments:

  1. They are quenching in oil, but the oil seems to be incredibly clear (and pure).

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  2. Don't they also paint some kind of clay on the sharp edge to help in the hardening?

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  3. No that is good old H2O. Japanese swords are never oil quenched. They paint the blade in a mix of clay, very fine sand and wood ash. Then heat the steel to a certain color. (every tradition, and these traditions go back more than a thousand years, has a different ,and secret process) then ONLY ever quench in water. IF the sword survives this, and more than half break when quenched. You have a sword. If not it go's in the scrap bin to become something "less" than a sword. AND: BTW. ALL bladed weapons with holes in the tang are swords under Japanese law, and tradition. It doesn't matter if it is 4 inches long or 36 inches. If it is made for fighting it is a sword in Japan----Ray

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