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Forging Process >>
Forging Process
Forging Process
The Steel is Heated Prior to the
Forging Process in a Charcoal Fire
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After hammering the steel out, it is cut
in half and folded. |
The actual forging of a sword is
a most important process. This
process, along with the quality
of the steel, determines the
quality and function of the
blade. There has been some
confusion and misconceptions on
how our swords are forged. The
pictures of actual forging on
this page along with an
explanation of each process
should clearly demonstrate why
our swords are of the highest
quality. We get the best that
the forge of Chen Chiao Po can
make. These swords are exclusive
to Bugei Trading Company and are
not available to other
companies. |
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Each sword is individually hand
forged, individually heat
treated, individually polished
and individually mounted. The
result of this, besides the high
quality, is that no two swords
are the same. Each one has
individual characteristics that
differentiate it from others of
our swords even of the same
style. It takes time to make
blades of this quality. This is
why our blades cost more and are
more difficult to acquire. It is
best to order or reserve your
blade as soon as possible as we
do not always have full
availability in stock.
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The folded steel is then hammer welded
together, as the forging process
continues.
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The smith then continues to shape the
blade, first with a power hammer and
then with a hand held hammer. |
The quality and performance of
our blades is of paramount
importance to us and we will not
compromise this quality and
performance just to sell more
swords. The finished sword,
shown at bottom left, has an
edge hardness of 61 on the
rockwell C hardness scale. The
hardness transition goes to 45
rockwell just above the hamon to
36 rockwell at the mune. This
insures good edge holding with
strength and ductility in the
body of the sword. The polishing
process then shapes and sharpens
the blade and reveals the
different crystalline structure
that is evident in the sword. |
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After forging, the blade is shaped
by hand, and then coated with clay,
prior to the hardening process.
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After the claying of the blade, it
is heated to critical (about 1450
degrees) and then quenched in water.
This process creates the martensite
edge and pearlite body of the sword.
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The blade is then final shaped and
polished. This sharpens the blade
and reveals the hamon that is
created by the hardening process.
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