Katana Blade Blank

V

Vess

Joined
Oct 2, 2001
Messages
583
A friend of mine is more than a little nuts about Japanese katanas, so I thought I'd ask if there's a place where I can get a high-carbon katana blade blank? I am fairly proficient with softer metals and wood, so I can make the handle and sheath, but the blade is beyond my abilities.

So, I guess my question is how expensive would a blade alone be, and where to get one? The blade doesn't need to be of high quality, or hand-forged, or anything like that, but it has to be good enough for light use. I checked a few places, and it's either a $200 blade that is of relatively high quality, or a $20 one made from 420J2 that will snap in half on the second swing...

So, any ideas? :)

I am pretty sure it's a lost cause, but I thought I'd ask anyways...
 
Try Kris Kutlery
http://www.kriscutlery.com/

you might want to call Ceicel and talk to him. I haven't bought anything from them for years but at one time they were the people to deal with for quality beaters. He did carry nice katana blades then. They were about $80.00 for a 40 or 42" blade...they were forged 5160 edge quenched.

As much as I hate to send anyone over there, you might try posting on Swordforums. There are a few people who deal with Kris and there may be other newbies out now that have better deals. Just don't listen to most of the snobbish prattle that gushes out of that place!:barf:

Sorry I can't help more but since I started making my own, I just don't keep up with the sources.
 
Thanks for the suggestion, I'll try emailing them and see what the possibilities are. I also saw a few Paul Chen Zatoichi swords for about $80, so that might be a possibility... :)
 
Chen is a possible although keep in mind that they have had problems in the past.
 
There sure is an open space in the market since Bob Engnath left us (in more ways than one). He used to make just what you're asking for, heat treated and ready to sand. It was done right too, with hamon if you wanted it. Very reasonable prices too; I still kick myself for not buying one when I had the chance.
Atlanta Cutlery has katana blades, though I'm not certain of the steel or heat treat details.
 
Wow! :)

Well, even the blade blank alone can cost US$80 and more, while a ready-made Practical Katana can be had on EBay for US$160. Something I must seriously think about... :)

But thanks for the info you guys, I now definitely have some options... :)
 
Vess, while some of Paul Chen's swords have had problems, the Practical Katana is very very good. I have one that my wife gave me and it handles very well (better than most of mine) Somewhere I have a video of me slashing 5 full gallon jugs of water at once and the water level is even with the cut on all of them. This was with my Practical Katana. The biggest drawback is that they are UGLY.

It is something to think about though!
 
Well I've had one for some time, unfinished. From tip to slide on guard (the guard's are extra and not made of iron) is 28 3/4", and from handle tip to guard is 8". Single hole in handle. Slight curvature to it as per the style in question. Definitely high carbon steel, with a mild polish to it. The grind lines need straightening (wavy) with paper or stones. What I can't tell you is the type of steel or quality of heat treat. There's probably a picture in the catalog. They used to carry a damascus version. The one I got is sized to modern day humans and is a bit longer than the blades of old.

Just noticed you found the pictures, that's it.
 
Well, I will consult the friend in question and see if Paul Chen's Zatoichi will be enough for him (most likely it will), but sometime soon I'll have to get a blade and actually try putting together something beautiful. I have a large, long jet-black ebony hardwood board that could work as handle and the scabbard. If done right, could be stunning. And getting the blade to a mirror polish by hand using sandpaper will be fun too, I regularly do it on my big khukuri knives... :)

So, how likely is it that the $45 Atlanta Cutlery blade will snap on the first stroke? Anyone? :) Because so far it looks like the most probable candidate for my first sword attempt..
 
So, how likely is it that the $45 Atlanta Cutlery blade will snap on the first stroke? Anyone? Because so far it looks

It's more likely to bend than snap. This will almost always be the case with lower priced sword blades.

I'm going to stick my neck out and try to clear up some of the confusion about sword blades. This is my opinion from over 40 years of use and a little less than 10 in making them. It should not be taken as the last word in the matter and is not given as such. There will be many opinions that differ.

The swords were made to fight against other edged weapons but needed a sharp edge because of the weight of the swords. Durnin that time period, heavy swords were common to defeat armor. The Katana was the assault weapon of it's time. Light fast and because of it's keen edge, very effective.

The best swords were folded to allow more flex with the hard blade and they used their famous clay coat again to allow a hard edge with a softer back and some flex. Now the point to this rambleing is that all this was done to allow superior cutting.

A good cut is dependanbt on several things, not the least of which is controlling vibration. Most people think that the convern over vibration is to keep from hurting their hand during compat. It is not, it is to keep the blade from whipping during the cut. Think of taking a hand saw and trying to chop a tree down with it.

One other important cutting feature is the angle of the cut. In other words you want to slice, not chop. The curve aids this although skilled swordsmen have always been able to use straight blades with good results.

Now back to 2003. The less expensive blades may well cut as well as one of high dollar models. One factor is how the bladed is finished out (grip, tsuba, etc) these all help determine how the blade will vibrate. The handle also needs to be contoured correctly so a natural and somewhat loose grip will still line the edge with your swing.

The steel will very likely be softer than the edge steel of a true katana but the entire sword will also be tempered to a more consistant hardness. The softer sword will not vibrate as much as the true Kat and will not hold an edge as well. They balance out and untill the edge dulls, will cut almost as well.

One of my favorite cutting targets are rolled up, wet pieces of carpet. I have "Made in India: swords that will stay cut for cut with my better swords for the first 6 or 7 cuts. Then the harder edge kicks in.

The point to all this is that unless your friend is going into combat or just wants to hang around the local rice bar showing off his magnum sword, a well made but less expensive blade may well work fine for him. If he is serious about the sport, he can have a better one built when he is ready.
 
could a person buy the carbon steel blade blank, clay coat it, quench and heat treat it to make a decent user at a good price? i understand that without knowing the exact type of steel it would kinda be a guessing game. but shouldnt that make the blade better than when you get it? or do you think it would be a waste of time?
 
I said definitely high carbon earlier on, because of some minor rust flecks. I should have said "probably high carbon steel". My guess is that it is in fact high carbon steel. Does it say they are forged anywhere? I assumed they were, and thus hc in all likelihood.
In an article in one of the knife magazines several years ago, they showed a father son team from somewhere in the area of India, making Khukris with very crude tools. I believe they were for sale to exporters. Their favored steel source was old Mercedes Benz springs, which very well could have been 5160. Who knows the source of the katana steel. Have you thought of calling Atlanta Cutlery and asking?
 
Terry, anything could be done. The thing would have to go back to mama, in other words you would have to normalize and anneal it then re heat treat. I would not be comfortable doing it but I have spoken to people who have.

I go back to my last post as far as a decent user goes. There are many lower priced blades that are good users. They are called "beaters".

It does not have to be one of Howard Clarks blades to be a good cutter. I have a 50 BMG that I built on an AR15 frame. I have a $100.00 scope on it. To be in style I should have a much more expensive scope. It's not necessary for me because the gun already shoots better than I do. The same goes for swords!
 
Well, Zatoichi is out. It looks like it might be illegal here in Canada, because it looks like a cane, and it might not be immediately apparent that it's a sword. Wouldn't want to risk it being declared a prohibited item... :)

The Atlanta Cutlery katana might be okay, but yes, I'll have to contact them and thoroughly interrogate them about it before ordering. But I still have a few months to look around before the guy's birthday. I actually bought one of those WW2 NCO katana swords yesterday, one with cast metal handle, but only since it's right here in this city and for $20, so I thought why not. At the very least I can use it as a paperweight... :)

But yeah, I am guessing a low-end katana will work for the time being, and if he gets serious about it, maybe then he can save up for a higher end piece. Although at this point I am pretty sure I'll eventually get some kind of a katana blade and try putting the rest of it together for myself as a conversation piece... :)
 
If you call Atlanta Cutlery and they tell you what it is made of post it if you would please. I would like to know myself.
 
Vess-

I read here that sword canes are now legal in Canada, if that is what you are refering to. Some of the Canadian cutlery shops sell them for that mater, Knifezone sells the CS.

http://www.windlass.com/ref.htm These are the guys who make the katana, their page doesn't really say what the swords are specificaly made of. Best quality Japanese tools are made of stuff like old anchor chains, so it isn't necesarily the case that the absence of a number means bad work. They claim Dixie gun works and cabelas as references, and make USMC swords. Doesn't really help much.

I just got Wally Hate's tapes on making your own backyard Katana today. Another nice Ont boy. I'll watch the tapes soon.
 
Windlass has quality control issues. Sometimes you get a good blade, sometimes you don't. The newer blades are much better then the old. That Katana blade is said to be too soft, but they have a good return policy. So if you get a lemon, send it back. The Zatochi. The wood they use is too soft, and breaks easily under use. Though I suppose if its just hanging on the wall it will be fine.



and during that time...impact weapons were mostly used. Mace, Hammer, flails...till swords started focusing on the power of the thrust.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top