Walter Sorrells Swordsmith

Forging a sword for upcoming video

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• sword
• forging
• samurai
• arts
• crafts

[aaroncjustice]

@1metalnation, No, no, very wrong. Tamahagane is not a very good steel, the reason why it is is used is because the refining process is so laborious, and it's the only steel Japan could get ahold of in abundance. Any modern tool steel will be purer, stronger, and more resilient than Tamahagane steel. Any metallurgist can verify this information, modern smelting is a science now, not an art like tamahagane. A katana can be forged by anyone with the proper knowledge and training.

[kibuddha4]

Read some more boss.

[aaroncjustice]

@SOVIETTACO You can forge a curve into a katana. Not all steels react the same in the quenching phase. If a blade only slightly curves during a quench, forging a curve in beforehand is important. Skillful, not novice at all.

[aaroncjustice]

@TOMHYLE88 Depends on what definition of "pure" you are referring to. Smelted tamahagane may be iron only, it can contain other trace impurities. It is forge folded to reduce problems like brittleness. Essentially mixed over itself to evenly distribute any compromising problems.

Modern tool steel may contain traces of chromium, vanadium, and other minerals, but by pure I meant it is one solid, homogenous bar of steel with no inclusions, slag, or other harmful problems.

[TOMHYLE88]

@aaroncjustice Actually while modern tool steel may be superior to tamahagane steel in a variety of ways, it is cetainly not purer; chemical analysis on tamahagane steel is that it contains only iron and carbon in deterctable amounts, ie it is literally pure steel. Tool steels are alloyed with other metals to improve their various properties for specific uses (edge holding, rust resistance, work hardening, air hardening, toughness, hardness, formability, abrasion resistance etc.)

[shannon1664]

Look, no one is denying the artistic genius of the Japanese swordsmiths, and if you are a purist and you want a Katana crafted using only the ancient methods, I'm totally behind you. The truth, is, however, that using modern techniques and materials a sword can be forged that is sharper, stronger, just as flexible, and will last just as long. Gotta love the purists, though. If I had enough cash I'd certainly want one traditionally forged.

[HamsterPants522]

That's a nice anvil...

[SOVIETTACO]

uhhh did he forge the curvature cause that ain't right.... Seems like he just hammer out some bar stock into a blade and called that a sword.... so upsetting.

[outuwana]

Walter phenomenal video! Thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge. I haven't ordered your video yet because I am still absorbing some literature about the trade. I wanted to ask you a couple of things: Does your forge work with propane? Any particular building plan you can point me to? And last, what is a good resource to buy steel from?

I know some of these things might be obvious, but I am just starting to understand the art.

Keep posting stuff man!

[jonneyj]

Where did you get the Japanese wall scroll images, i would love to have them, can you tell me where to get them??

[archtopone]

The music is distracting. It does not suit the set/backdrop of the video.

[savageknives1]

ive always wondered what the advantage to having such a great distance between face and handle is on the japanese style hammers. the japanese werent the kind to stick with a design that didnt work but ive always found a short distance in that area to be more satisfactory. any explanation?