Benefits of Hamon?

[Don Hanson III]

You like the 1086M better, because it has a nicer hamon....if you ever bent one, you would like the L6 better.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

The other reason I like 1086M and it has nothing to do with swords but for me 1086M cuts better and stays sharper longer. The hamon thing is just a visual bonus

PS, it's also very similar to W2, with a bit less carbon.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Steve,
Thanks for the info. As I said, I haven't used one, so your experience is good to know.
Stacy

 

[Don Hanson III]

The bendy thing can be controlled by placement of the hamon (high or low) on the blade.

I just finished a 12" 1086M blade with a high hamon, it would be hell to bend! Not a sword but just saying.

 

[Kohai999]

The bendy thing can be controlled by placement of the hamon (high or low) on the blade.

I just finished a 12" 1086M blade with a high hamon, it would be hell to bend! Not a sword but just saying.

I'm just saying you need to forge out a sword blade, and let me cut with it!

A very low hamon is almost certainly going to yeild a bent, not broken blade, and could take a set, a very high hamon with certainly control the flexibility, but too high(onto shinogi ji, for example) and now you have a flying object potential, as it is not a matter of if, but WHEN the blade will break.

The torsional differences between a 12" blade and a 19" blade are massive, and get multiplied exponentially with a 29" blade.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[stephanfowler]

The advantage is that it doesn't break, and will not take a set unless encountering extreme circumstances. Even when cutting mats that are maybe 20"+ in diameter,(like two medium sized people side to side, facing each other) I have not seen katana break....have seen a LOT of blades bend, so that is the problem we as cutters deal with.


Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

Howard Clark's L6 Bainite can very accurately be described as nearly impossible to break, no problems there

there are a couple of sword production companies out there that CLAIM to be making bainite swords but have had disastrous failures.

apparently all bainite is NOT considered equal