How to Make a Japanese Sword: Forging a Katana with Walter Sorrells

American swordsmith Walter Sorrells demonstrates the forging of a Japanese sword, or katana. This short video contains excerpts from his three-hour instructional DVD set on how to make swords in the Japanese tradition.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Japanese
• sword
• forging
• swordsmith
• smith
• walter
• sorrells
• how to
• forge
• bladesmith
• knifemaking
• knife
• blade
• nihonto

[daasianboi]

question: what ever happened to the many folds that takes months to make a katana? also theres only a 50% rate it would come out correct.

[slappybuckshot]

@daasianboi The video is intended to show only the shaping and heat treating of a high performance blade made from modern steel.  There's another video in the works to show the foundation forging of a more traditional layered steel blade made from tamahagane.

[96steelman]

this might be a stupid question but if you bevel a sword, what does that mean?

[slappybuckshot]

@96steelman Not a stupid question at all. A bevel is just a non-parallel surface. So basically a bevel is the slanted part which distinguishes a blade from, say, a crowbar. So bevelling (in the context of bladesmithing) means forging the blade from a flat bar of steel to a knife-shaped object with slanted sides.

[DBowenKnifeWorks]

Would you mind letting us know approximately how long each stage takes you to complete? I am a blade smith, but have not attempted a katana or similar sword. Also want to compliment you on the hamon you produce. I like to work with 1050, 1060 and 1095 for that very reason. It's hard enough to polish one out on a 6 inch blade, let alone a katana. Well done.

[slappybuckshot]

@DBowenKnifeWorks Hard to say. More hours are spent in polishing than any other part. Maybe 50 hours of polishing? Shinogi zukuri (beveled) blades take about twice as much time as hira suzuki (ridgeless) blades. Depending on the stock, you're looking at 5 to ten hours of forging. 5 hours for heat treating and prep. If you do a forge-welded (folded steel) blade, triple that. If you smelt your own tamahagane, double that. So maybe between 40 and 150 hours depending on the blade.

[slappybuckshot]

@seonidh I beg to differ. Job one for traditional smiths was making functional weapons. They used the technology of their time and worked in the religious context of their place and time. Modern Japanese smiths use power hammers because most of them can't afford to keep three apprentices on staff as strikers. If the power hammer had been available in the 13th century, Masamune would have used it. Shinto recognizes religious significance in the mundane -- even in power hammers.

[natcali256]

they make it look so easy but when you try to do it yourself your sore all over for a week

[99pppo]

Why do Japanese Smiths whet the anvil und their tools? I have never seen European or American Smiths doing that. Is that just for protecting the tools from overheating or has it a special use for the Blade?

[KineticNK]

In technical terms, it aint a japanese sword but a american sword in japanese style. Considering he is american.

[moastytoasty54]

Are there people that still teach the skill of sword crafting? Cause I'd love to do that. All that hard work for a piece of unparalleled beauty...just incredible.

[Xcess91]

2:25 that looks awesome

[Samurailord]

amercian swordsmith. japanese sword. W2 steel. lol

[96steelman]

@slappybuckshot ok, thanks for the info lol