Folding a blade in half 12 times (2 to the 12th power) creates 4096 layers - and this was about the maximum number of folds used by Japanese smiths. This process aligns the iron in a crystalline matrix, between micro-thin carbon layers, making it much stronger (and less brittle) than pure iron. Then they treat the edge with a special mix of ingredients (secret to each swordsmith) to make it hold a razor-sharp edge.
Truly a work of art. But a few other cultures had excellent steel too.
Pardon I thought traditionally most katana's usually were folding between 6-10 times. It was very rare to hit anything higher. Depending on how the steel reacts to the folding, the smith would either stop at 6, or require going up until he sees fit. Remember the goal of folding was to homogenize the steel, not to create the most folds. As soon as the steel was "pure" enough, the smith should have stopped.
the reason old tamahagane katanas were folded were to distibute the even among the iron evenly, and remove impurities. you dold steel 10 times it has alot of layers. if you really folded it thousands of times the steel would literally just fall apart.
@1bol1 meh, it really depends on the sword smith, most modern swords don't list the times they've been folded or they lie n shit. old katanas were folded a lot of times to give the steel more consistency, with modern folded steel swords it's more about producing a blade that's atheistically pleasing
@FatGuyWithAKatana Just because it would take years (which it would, two or three probably) Does not mean it wasnt folded that many times, and ten folds could not make 5000 layers. Its kinda common sense.
@Zackthedalj probably not and yeah, it doesn't take years, in order to get the number of folds to how many layers 2 = 1 fold so just go 2x2x2x2x2x2x2 and so on.
@RaiAntou i like this version of the comment better, it seems more friendly. yeah, folding a sword 5,000 times would take an ungodly amount of time and all the times the swordsmith would have to heat it up to fold it that many times would basically ruin the sword, making a katana is like brain surgery that's why they're about as expensive but you can get plain old high carbon nonfolded steel blades for as low as $50.
@countnickoli there'd be no point to folding it 5,000 times, steel is folded nowadays for looks and if it was folded 5,000 times the layers of the steel would be microscopic.
The comment about 5,000 times is just a mistake by the voice over guy here.
SystemOfStrategy 3 months ago
Folding a blade in half 12 times (2 to the 12th power) creates 4096 layers - and this was about the maximum number of folds used by Japanese smiths. This process aligns the iron in a crystalline matrix, between micro-thin carbon layers, making it much stronger (and less brittle) than pure iron. Then they treat the edge with a special mix of ingredients (secret to each swordsmith) to make it hold a razor-sharp edge.
Truly a work of art. But a few other cultures had excellent steel too.
LemmeLieHere 9 months ago
Pardon I thought traditionally most katana's usually were folding between 6-10 times. It was very rare to hit anything higher. Depending on how the steel reacts to the folding, the smith would either stop at 6, or require going up until he sees fit. Remember the goal of folding was to homogenize the steel, not to create the most folds. As soon as the steel was "pure" enough, the smith should have stopped.
AsAnAtheistFilms 11 months ago
the reason old tamahagane katanas were folded were to distibute the even among the iron evenly, and remove impurities. you dold steel 10 times it has alot of layers. if you really folded it thousands of times the steel would literally just fall apart.
ZentetsukenVII 11 months ago
@THBOJANMILJIC that is copyright
wparoo 1 year ago
TROLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLO
Supercucu123 1 year ago
It's cool how the upper sliced portion of the mat stayed on long enough for the dude to slice it again vertically.
RaCrime 1 year ago
folded 5,000 times? it would take years to do that. it's been folded about 10 times or so to make around 4,000 layers.
FatGuyWithAKatana 1 year ago 7
@FatGuyWithAKatana i just copy/paste it from discovery channel.
THEBOJANMILJIC 1 year ago 5
@THEBOJANMILJIC yeah, they need to fire whoever typed that then...
FatGuyWithAKatana 1 year ago
@FatGuyWithAKatana according to tradition, only 16 times. witch makes approximately 65 000 layers (the exact number is 65 536)
1bol1 1 year ago
@1bol1 meh, it really depends on the sword smith, most modern swords don't list the times they've been folded or they lie n shit. old katanas were folded a lot of times to give the steel more consistency, with modern folded steel swords it's more about producing a blade that's atheistically pleasing
FatGuyWithAKatana 1 year ago
@FatGuyWithAKatana meh, guess you're right
1bol1 1 year ago
@FatGuyWithAKatana Just because it would take years (which it would, two or three probably) Does not mean it wasnt folded that many times, and ten folds could not make 5000 layers. Its kinda common sense.
Zackthedalj 1 year ago
@Zackthedalj probably not and yeah, it doesn't take years, in order to get the number of folds to how many layers 2 = 1 fold so just go 2x2x2x2x2x2x2 and so on.
FatGuyWithAKatana 1 year ago
@FatGuyWithAKatana Actually, scientifically, it will take 12.2878 times, which means about 12 times.
RaiAntou 1 year ago
@FatGuyWithAKatana Actually, scientifically, it will take 12.2878 times, which means about 12 times, very close my friend!! =)
RaiAntou 1 year ago
@RaiAntou i like this version of the comment better, it seems more friendly. yeah, folding a sword 5,000 times would take an ungodly amount of time and all the times the swordsmith would have to heat it up to fold it that many times would basically ruin the sword, making a katana is like brain surgery that's why they're about as expensive but you can get plain old high carbon nonfolded steel blades for as low as $50.
FatGuyWithAKatana 1 year ago
@FatGuyWithAKatana folded 1000 times usually
Xerothe0th 5 months ago
@FatGuyWithAKatana but u gotta think now days its auto hammers making about 2 tons per hit so not years more like months
countnickoli 3 months ago
@countnickoli there'd be no point to folding it 5,000 times, steel is folded nowadays for looks and if it was folded 5,000 times the layers of the steel would be microscopic.
FatGuyWithAKatana 3 months ago
@FatGuyWithAKatana ah u got me there i was just saying that it wouldnt take years anymore thats all i ment
o and i like ur name its comical and deadly lol
countnickoli 3 months ago