Are you looking for the best steel for katana swords? Something to consider when deciding is the purpose of the sword –whether it will be a decorative piece or an actual battle sword. Be sure to consider the flexibility, sharpness and materials involved in your katana sword. Here are some of the steel types a katana sword can be made of.
Table of Contents
Best Steel for Katana
Stainless Steel Katana Swords
When it comes to general application, stainless steel is a rather common item. However, when it comes to functioning katana swords, it might not be the best product. The reason stainless steel is shunned upon as a material for working swords is it breaks easily. This might not be the case with smaller swords and knives, but when the blade is longer than twelve inches, it gets too weak and brittle. If you’re only looking for a display Katana, then stainless steel may be a good choice.
Carbon Steel Katana
There are three common types of carbon katana steels. The 1045 carbon steel is malleable and tends to last longer. The 1060 carbon steel is considered the optimal sword as it is relatively long and maintains the sharp edge. Lastly the 1095 carbon steel is a sharp but brittle sword.
The numbering system is derived from two sets of numbers. The first set of numbers is 10; this indicates the material used is indeed steel. The second set of numbers range from parentage of .01 to a percentage of .99. The percentage measures the amount of carbon content present in the material.
Spring Steel Katana
This type of Katana sword gets its name from its ability to spring back into standard form when it has been bent out of shape. This is because it has an addition of silicon for flexibility. Moreover, it is also in the .60% percent carbon sweet spot. There are two main types of spring katana swords: the 5160 spring steel and the 9260 spring steel. The 5160 has a detectable level of chromium content, so it is not considered a stainless sword. The 9260, on the other hand, is not only stainless; it also has ten times as much silicone as those above. It is able to retain form even when bent at a 90-degree angle.
Tool Steel Katana
As a result of their toughness and sharpness, tool steels have become somewhat popular in recent years. There are two types of tool steels in the market. The T-10 tool steel has little silicone content and high carbon content, and the L6 Bainite has low alloy steel and is one of the most expensive swords in the market.
Bottom Line
To get the best steel for katana swords, there are some characteristics to consider. You will need to look at how well it can retain its standard form once bent, how often you need to sharpen it, and how rigid it is when it comes to cutting things.
