1060 Carbon Steel Guide

Steel is available in several flavours, while we’re all mostly familiar with stainless steel, there are actually more than 100 types of steel alloy available. Steel can be used in an incredible amount of industrial applications, varying in hardness, toughness and flexibility depending on the levels of additional compounds mixed into the alloy. These variations mean one type of steel is ideal for shock absorbers, while another is better suited to cutlery. Every steel contains at least some carbon, the amount present varies depending on what the steel is to be used for.

1060 Steel Properties

1060 carbon steel is a commonly available general purpose steel which is frequently used in a range of engineering applications where extreme toughness and strength are not major concerns. It’s designated as medium carbon content, containing 0.60% carbon. It’ll frequently be used in automotive parts such as axles, shafts, pistons, gears and clutches. Owing to its availability, adequate toughness and reasonable mailability, the steel is often used in the production of swords. Other steels in the 10xx range may contain more or less carbon, generally speaking, the lower the final two numbers, the less carbon is present and the softer the resulting steel will be. 1060 carbon steel offers a reasonable balance between hardness, mailability and affordability.

1060 Steel for Swords

1060 steel swords can take a decent edge which will additionally be resistant to wear and tear, meaning less time required for sharpening. However, as with all carbon steels, it may rust if not cared for correctly. All of our swords are delivered with a think coating of oil which stops the oxidization of the steel. This coating must be maintained to avoid rusting. If rust spots do appear they can be easily removed with a bit of patience and some very fine sandpaper.

1060 steel is less brittle than other steels with a higher carbon content and it presents an excellent balance between toughness and flexibility. The steel can be sharpened with very little effort and it will remain sharp through continued use. However, as with all swords, they must be handled correctly and professionally, taking due care to use proper techniques. A mishandled blade can snap or cause serious physical harm.

In order to create an even harder cutting edge, 1060 steel can be differentiated hardened, which creates a tough cutting edge and a flexible spine. This process must be professionally performed so as to avoid weakening the structural integrity of the blade.

CARING FOR 1060 STEEL

To ensure your sword lasts a lifetime of use, it’s important to perform regular maintenance, this will prevent rust spots from forming and ensure the blade remains functionally sharp. After every use, wipe the blade clean to ensure all fingerprints are removed, as well as other contaminants. Take the time to lightly oil the blade every fortnight with mineral oil or oil specifically designed for swords. If you intend to store the sword for any length of time, then coating the blade with vaseline or Renaissance is a great choice. These substances create a barrier which prevents the oxygen from reacting with the iron content of the blade. Additionally, a coating of oil provides a nice shiny finish for the sword,

In order to keep your sword in tip-top condition and rust free for as long as possible, a few minutes of maintenance every week is recommended. Wipe the blade clean after every use to remove fingerprints, dust, and other contaminants, and ensure it’s oiled at least once a fortnight. If long-term storage is required, consider coating the blade in vaseline or Renaissance which has been specifically designed to preserve items. The oil creates a physical barrier from the elements such as water and oxygen from reaching the blade and will prevent rusting. The coating of oil will also give the sword a nice shine.

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What is T10 Steel?

T10 is a type of tool steel, which perhaps unsurprisingly is used in many manufacturing processes. As with all tool steels, they must be able to withstand significant pressures and temperatures, which makes them ideally suited for sword use.

Tools steels are made to withstand repeated impacts at a range of extreme temperatures without losing their endurance characteristics, which is why they are so well suited to use in industrial settings.

There are numerous flavors of tool steels available, most of which function in a similar manner, while others are specifically made to meet niche requirements.

T10 Steel

With regards to t10 steel, the T, in this case, signifies that it’s a High-Speed steel with a Tungsten Base. High-Speed tool steels include tungsten (t1 to t15) and the molybdenum (M1 to M52) steel alloys. These allow are characterized by their ability to be hardened to 62 to 67 HRC. while maintaining this hardness through significant temperature ranges, up to 1004°F, which means they are particularly well suited to high-speed machinery (hence the name). These steel alloys are commonly employed in drills, lathes, routers, and saws. The 10 in T10 signifies the carbon content, which ranges between 0.95% and 1.05%. The T types of steel start at T1` which is between 0.05% and 0.15% carbon content, all the way up to T15 which typically has a carbon content of between 1.2% and 1.3%.

It is often the case that forges will not completely understand or know what type of steel they are selling to people. There is a distinct lack of publicly available and easily understood information published, which can result in T10 tool steel being lumped in and sold as something which is largely identical to the more popular and better-understood carbon steels such as 1060 or 1095. However, there is an important distinction to make between these steel types, both in endurance, strength, and ability to resist scratches and marking.

T10 steel is perhaps one of the strongest and most suitable carbon steels that we are easily able to obtain for sword use. Its characteristics and properties are not only suitable for tools, but it can create a superb sword as well.

Pretty much any steel can be worked and sharpened to hold an edge, but most are unable to hold a candle to T10’s edge holding ability. A T10 edge will remain for a significant amount of time without additional sharpening requires, it’ll also resist most types of abrasive damage which is common to swords that are used for cutting. Additionally, T10 will remain impact resistant and allow for the stresses normally produced when performing a cut to be easily absorbed without any compromises made to the integrity of the blade.

Most high carbon steels will lose a portion of their carbon content during the forging process, heating and quenching repeatedly will inevitably reduce the overall carbon levels. In a practical sense, this means that that steel that was 1095 will normally end up with a lesser carbon content once it’s been forged into a sword. With regards to T10, it has been specifically designed to retain its carbon content at high temperatures. This allows for a sword made out of T10 steel to be hardened significantly more than a normal production sword.

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What is Tamahagane Steel?

Tamahagane is a steel originating from Japan which often used to create traditional Japanese swords. In a metallurgical sense, the metal is primarily made up of two parts, steel ore, and carbon. The steel ore originates from iron sand and the carbon is derived from charcoal. These two components are heated and smelted in a traditional bloomery, which is also known as the Tatara. Once this mix is sufficiently heated the two components are melted into a steel slag called Tamahagane.

Tamahagane

The process used to create Tamahagane is quite labor intensive and it’s carefully regulated and supervised by the NBTHK (Nittoho) organization. Only steel made in the traditional manner and in an authentic Tatara (which there is only a handful left in the country) can be called tamahagane. The NBTHK also control the sale and regulate the distribution of iron sand ore sand, ensuring all resulting steel meets their strict guidelines.

A ‘Nittoho Tatara’ is only allowed to be lit for a three week period in the deepest part of winter, this ensures the humidity is at its lowest which creates a purer steel. During this three week period of activity, each forge can create a maximum of three batches of steel, with each batch taking 7 days to process and complete.

Due to the very limited and regulated supply of Tamahagane, prices are extremely high and competition between sword smiths to acquire the steel is fierce. Due to this limited supply of traditional steel, many smiths will use a steel blend called orishigane (leftovers). These leftovers can be made up from old nails, steel shavings and other types of iron-containing materials. By supplementing the steel with additional charcoal, the swordsmiths are able to control the amount of carbon present in the resulting Oroshigane steel ore. Most traditional swordsmiths will use smaller versions of the Tatara, which are often bespoke made by the swordsmiths themselves.

Due to the heavy regulation imposed on Tamahagane production by both the government and the NBTHK corporation, it’s very unlikely that any swordsmiths that are not registered will be able to acquire Nittoho Tamahagane.

Anyone that is located outside of Japan is free to create their own Tatara and smelt tamahagane. However, the traditional iron sand (ore) that is used in the production of Nittoho tamahane is only found in the Northern tip of Japan. The sand (satetsu) is unique in terms of chemical makeup and color (green / brown), and it’s these impurities that give Tamahagane it’s unique visual feel and looks. So, even if you have your own forge up and running, you’ll not be able to replicate the coloration and features present in genuine Tamagane without access to the genuine iron ore sand.

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Is 1095 Steel Any Good?

Steel doesn’t just come in one type, in fact, there are more than a dozen types of steel in common use today. This is largely due to the variety of functions that steel is used for. It is mixed and alloyed with a variety of compounds and metals, these combinations affect the properties of the steel making it better suited to certain tasks, which is why so much effort is made in creating the types we have available today. Carbon is found in every steel type, regardless of the purpose, while the exact amount of carbon present varies depending on what the intended purpose of the steel is.

1095 Steel Properties

1095 Steel is a standard type of carbon steel and it is most often used in the forging of swords and knives. The 95 in the name of the steel indicates the carbon content, in this case, it’s 0.95% carbon content. The inclusion of carbon helps harden the steel and toughens the resulting blades, making them more impervious to wear and tear over time. Despite the toughness provided by the carbon content, other types of steel are tougher still due to increased levels of manganese. The trade-off with higher manganese levels is a more brittle blade, which has an increased chance of snapping or shattering.

1095 Steel for Swords

1095 steel, when forged into a sword is capable of holding an excellent edge and are straightforward to sharpen. However, if not cared for correctly, the steel can easily rust. Often swords will be delivered with a coating of oil which helps prevent rusting, it’s important to maintain this coating over time to avoid unsightly rust spots. Any rust that does occur can usually be removed with some very fine sandpaper and a bit of patience.

1095 steel is often more brittle than steels with lower carbon content, so it’s quite well suited for blades which are not too think, swords are an ideal fit due to their robust nature. They are very easy to sharpen and will maintain the edge through use. However, proper techniques and methods must be used when using a 1095 carbon steel sword, a misplaced cut or mishandled strike can lead to a snapped blade.

1095 can be differentiated hardened to create an ever harder cutting edge and more flexible spine, but care must be taken in this process to avoid weakening the overall strength of the blade. Even though 1095 steel is a great choice for swords, it can be frequently found in thicker knives. If so inclined, it is possible to polish 1095 steel to create a shiny blade, while other metals such as Stainless steel are better suited to polishing, 1095 can take a polish with a little bit of effort.

Caring for 1095 Steel

In order to keep your sword in tip-top condition and rust free for as long as possible, a few minutes of maintenance every week is recommended. Wipe the blade clean after every use to remove fingerprints, dust, and other contaminants, and ensure it’s oiled at least once a fortnight. If long-term storage is required, consider coating the blade in vaseline or Renaissance which has been specifically designed to preserve items. The oil creates a physical barrier from the elements such as water and oxygen from reaching the blade and will prevent rusting. The coating of oil will also give the sword a nice shine.

Other Uses for 1095

As we’ve already established, 1095 steel is perfect for functional swords such as Katana and Wakizashi. It’s also well suited for daggers and replica blades. Other types of steel such as stainless are better suited to display only pieces or to be used as utensils, this is due to the rust resistance this type of steel has natively. 1095 may also be used in machetes or gardening tools. Any application that requires a wear resistant sharp blade may benefit from 1095 steel. It is our recommended choice for anyone that needs a functional blade.

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Legandary Swords from History

History is jam-packed full of stories, legends, fables and rumours of mystical and powerful swords. Quite often, the weapons described in these tales have a certain amount of grounding in reality. In this article we’ve brought together 10 of the most fascinating legendary swords from history, each has an interesting if not fully understood saga with tales of incredible feats, mystery and intrigue.

The Sword in the Stone

The legend of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is known to be a tale with more myth and legend rather than facts. However, a small sanctuary located in Monte Siepi, Italy plays host to a real world ‘Sword in the Stone’. The legend states that the sword once belonged to a 12th century Tuscan Cavalier who later became Saint Galgano. Before the sainthood stuff happened, Archangel Michael appeared to Galgano and ordered him to cease his sinful ways.

Galgan being a man that enjoyed a little bit of sin now and then protested at the Archangels demands, saying that stopping his ways would be as stabbing a stone with a sword. In order to illustrate his point, he thrust his weapon at a nearby bolder, but rather than snapping, then buried itself in the stone all the way up to the hilt where it remains to this day. Needless to say that Galgan turned his life around and even became a Saint in the process. It’s easy to understand why this sword is often considered to be the inspiration for the legend of Excalibur.

The Kusanagi

The Kusanagi is a true mystery with very little in the way of solid evidence and a very mysterious mythical origin story. According to the well-known folklore, Kusanagi or the “Sword in the Snake”, was originally retrieved from the remains of an eight-headed serpent which had met its demise at the hands of the god of seas and storms. This is understandably a little bit out there in terms of verified histories, however, the sword in all likelihoods did exist. It’s an essential component in the ceremony and imperial regalia of Japan. The sword is meant to be a sign that the imperial family is descended from the sun god and cements their right to a rule. 

Legend also states that a monk stole the sword during the 6th century but it was later lost at sea when the monk’s boat sank. A group of dedicated Shinto priests recovered the sword from the seabed and it was returned to the imperial family.
Given that the sword has not been seen since and the priests refuse to let it see the light of day, in all likelihood the sword remains lost.

Durandal

For millennia a mysterious sword has been lodged into the cliffs located behind and above the Notre Dame chapel located in Rocamadour, France. The legend states that the sword was previously owned by the paladin Roland, who had named the sword Durandal. 

When surrounded and with little chance of escape or victory, Roland is said to have thrown the sword at the cliffs in order to save it from being taken and used by his enemy. The sword pierced the cliffs and remains there to this day. 
The chapel is something of a pilgrimage site with many making the journey to pray and see the sword with their own eyes. The sword was temporary moved in 2011 for an exhibit taking place in the Cluny Museum in Paris.

The Cursed Muramasa

The Muramasa swords are a fascinating piece of history. The tale goes that Muramasa wanted to his swords to be the most prestigious weapons around. He was already an accomplished swordsmith, but he increased their potency by praying for his swords to become ‘prodigious destroyers’.

As the gods were already impressed by his significant skill as a swordsmith they imbued his weapons with a malevolent and dangerous spirit with a lust for blood. If the blades were not regularly sated with combat they would eventually drive the owner to commit atrocious murders or commit suicide. There are many tales of previous owners being driven mad and being killed out of necessity. Such was the conviction that the swords were cursed that an imperial decree forbade the swords from being owned by anyone. 

Many examples still exist today, so even if you can’t own a cursed sword you can still see one.

St. Peter’s Sword

There are more than a few legends surrounding the sword said to have been used by Saint Peter to slice off the ear of a deserving high priest in the Gethsemane gardens. One version of the story has the sword being transported to England by Joseph of Arimathea accompanied by the Holy Grail.

However, there is another version of the story which has the Bishop of Jordan taking the sword to Poland in 968 AD. The Bishop’s sword is considered by many to be the authentic version and is now relocated to the Archdiocese Museum in Poznan. 

The Wallace Sword

If you’ve seen the film Braveheart then you’re probably well aware of the story of William Wallace and his rebellion against the English. What you might not know is that there are rumours that William Wallace used the flesh and skin from a defeated opponent to create the sheath, hilt and belt. The unlucky donor was said to have been Hugh de Cressingham who was defeated by Wallace at the battle of Stirling Bridge.

Other twists on the same tale say that Wallace and his comrades used Cressinghams skin for their sword sashes and flesh for their saddle girths. However, modern analysis of the Wallace sword indicates that this is unlikely to be the case.

The Sword of Goujian

In 1965, and absolutely outstanding discovery was made when a pristine sword was unearthed in a moist tomb in China. Despite the swords dating back nearly 2000 years not a hint of rust or corrosion was found on the sword, despite the unfavourable conditions it was stored in.

Additionally, the blade remained exceptionally sharp, a point that was proven when an archaeologist cut his finger when testing the edge of the blade. The workmanship of the sword was incredibly detailed and used techniques and methods that many believed didn’t come into existence for many hundreds of years later. 

The sword is engraved which translated as ‘King of Yue" and "made this sword for his personal use’.

While it is true that sword incorporated methods which would provide some protection against corrosion, the real reason why it’s barely aged is down to some good fortune. The scabbard of the sword was able to create an airtight seal around the sword which prevented the elements from reaching the blade. It’s for this reason why it lasted so long and in such good condition.

The Seven-Branched Sword

In 1945 a very mysterious and unusual sword was found in Japan’s Isonokami shrine. The sword was a peculiar design, boasting six protrusions from the sides of the sword. The sword itself is well weathered and the inscriptions are hard to decipher, but it is thought that the sword was presented to the Japanese monarchy by the King of Korea.

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Antique Swords: An Introduction to Japanese Swords & Their Preservation

It was through a series of unfortunate events, during WWII, that the Japanese history, particularly the tradition of their swords, came into prominence. Classifying Japanese Swords has been an extremely debated subject and it still engages many conflicting views. For the uninitiated, a Japanese sword represents a technical innovation that was at least a century ahead of its generation. Unlike swords used in other parts of Asia and the Western World, it was able to combine three parameters deemed incompatible by most sword-makers, i.e. being indestructible, having intense slicing capability and uncompromising firmness. Further, Japanese swords were able to blend these qualities and yet present the sword as a distinctly maneuverable weapon.

Historically, the Japanese people have always looked upon their swords as a symbol of personal and family pride. Even the basic etiquette regimen in just carrying a sword is so demanding that it takes years for one to comprehend it. It is believed that the Samurai warriors were so obsessed with protecting their swords that they would try to breathe at a certain distance away from the top blade, ensuring that no moisture would touch upon it. Therefore, it only seems fair that contemporary collectors of Japanese swords are familiar with the basics of such revered objects, considering that these aren't just artifacts but symbols of a proud legacy.

Japanese Sword Care Basics

Often called the Nipponto, every Japanese sword has a scabbard or the casing, also called the saya. Swords are often presented in wooden sayas and many of them are adorned with handcrafted embellishments. Collectors should ensure that the head of the saya, called the kojiri, should always be the first to enter the casing. Though this is regarded as a way to prevent damage from accidental falls, it also represents a mannerism endorsed by generations of Samurai warriors.

The scabbard should tightly fit around the sword, particularly around the opening. If this is not so, chances are that the sword under consideration has been excessively tampered with. Around the opening of the scabbard is the collar or the Habaki of the Nipponto. When pulling out the sword, ensure that the sword is first partially drawn, i.e. at par with the length of the Habaki. Only then, the sword should be completely pulled out. A single, forceful pulling can be extremely damaging and it can harm the collar configuration beyond redemption.

Once the sword has been partially pulled, the blade has to be held firmly, ensuring that the slicing edge does not face either sideways or downwards. This is not only the preferred method of pulling the sword from a preservation perspective but also a traditional custom of Japanese swordsmanship. This is also the safest, forward-holding position for drawing out the Nipponto. When placing back the sword into its scabbard, the tip of a sword, with its cutting-edge pointing up, has to be rested gently on the scabbard's opening for a moment before being firmly pushed-in. When doing so, feeling an obstruction around the collar is expected - a small, firm nudge is needed to make the sword edge past the collar and slide inside its casing.

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The Western Sword and the Katana

Over the years that have followed World War II, an obsession for Japanese martial arts and Japanese martial history has grown in the United States. One of the most important symbols of this martial history is the katana (the samurai sword). This sword has been given so much credit, mainly as a result of WWII propaganda films, that it has overshadowed much Western martial history. Life is always divided into binaries. The binaries are often handled like an equation. If you add to one side of an equation, you must balance that equation by subtracting from the other side. Sadly, this has happened with the historical ideas associated with the western sword and the eastern sword. However, despite some popular belief, the western sword was not an inferior weapon to that of the eastern sword.
The western sword has been demoted in status over the years. Some popular belief lists the western sword as a clunky, heavy weapon designed for hacking and slashing without control. It is not seen in the same light as the katana, which is viewed as a versatile, light, elegant weapon by many people. However, the strengths of the western sword should be noted in comparison to the katana in order to discard some of the myths surrounding both weapons.

The flexibility of the western sword.

The western sword was designed for longevity. As such, the steel was made softer, allowing for more flexibility and thus, a longer life. For instance, the claymore, a Scottish broadsword, should ideally bend quite far and return to its original form after being released. It should act as a spring. The katana, however, is a much more rigid weapon, with far less flexibility than the western sword. Both swords have their strengths. The rigidity of the katana derived from a harder steel allows for a finer cutting edge. The harder the steel, the sharper the cutting edge can be. Thus, the katana, on a whole, might be sharper than the western blade. However, the western blade could suffer much more abuse before breaking. We must also take into account the small amount of pressure, 3 lbs, that it takes to cut skin. It is not necessary to have an excessively sharp blade.

Folding versus not folding

One of the first things mentioned about the katana is often the process of folding the steel, thus homogenizing the steel and making a better blade. However, what is not often mentioned is the necessity for this process. In Japan, iron was much rarer and was of lower quality than in Europe. The folding of the blade was necessary to take bad iron and work it into a decent steel. The katana, when this iron is taken into account, is an amazing feat of engineering. However, the western sword did not have this problem. With better iron available, and advanced steelworking techniques, the western sword was strong enough, and the steel was homogenized enough, to work without the folding. Folding does not denote a better sword.

Weight

As the katana became more and more popular, the myth of the western sword's extreme weight also became more prevalent. I have heard a variety of weights listed for a western long sword, from 8 - 25 lbs. These weights, when considered in a reasonable light, are ridiculous. The average western sword would weigh no more than 3 lbs. Obviously, this would make the weapon just as versatile as the katana.

Although many myths have arisen on both sides of the equation, it is important to, before talking about swords in any form, research the subject. I have heard the weight of a western longsword listed as 18 lbs by a highly educated college instructor in Renaissance literature. Obviously, these myths are widely spread, but it just isn't the truth.

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