Best steel for a beginner sword collector?

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Mayejon

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Jul 14, 2025
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Best steel for a beginner sword collector?"
I’m new to collecting swords and want to buy my first one. I’ve read about 1045, 1060, and T10 steel.
Which one is best for a beginner, and why?
 
Not a sword guy, but when we get the same question in the knife sections, I tell the questioner, "Find a design you like by a solid maker and let that maker select the steel. It's what he does for a living."
 
Welcome aboard.

It depends.

Your list reads like you are shopping an Asian made sword. Something along the lines of a katana?

What are you going to do with it?

What is your budget?

It sucks playing 20 questions.

Buy the best sword you can afford but that depends on lots of other factors.

Cheers
GC
 
Welcome Mayejon.

You need too be more specific. All those steels will work, depending on what type and use of sword you want. If it is a wall-hanger, then any steel will work.

Price will be your biggest determinator.
You can spend $50 for a katana up to $5,000 for a katana.
Most others swords will run in the $75 to $300 range.
Again, intended use will be the thing that decides the price range and steel you choose.

Knarfeng has good advice. Most all people who make a sword know what steel to use and how to HT it. If there are two choices of steel for the same basic sword, then the use will decide.
 
All of the mentioned steels are acceptable for beginners. Kult of Athena has a wide variety of swords and weapons, armor etc. and has good descriptions and pictures. Look for the words " Battle Ready" or "Fully Funtional".
 
Giedymin uses 6150 and his swords chop and split hardwood like a good axe... that steel, his heat treatment and his know how make a great product. The steel alone means noting.
 
Michael Allenson, if I remember correctly, forged a sword in 1075 steel and won Forged in Fire Knife or death season 1. The gentleman who won season two used a forged kopis made in 80crv2.
 
Mayejon said:
Best steel for a beginner sword collector?"
I’m new to collecting swords and want to buy my first one. I’ve read about 1045, 1060, and T10 steel.
Which one is best for a beginner, and why?
Click to expand...
Useful comments above.

Steel type/quality may make a difference if planning to bang swords against one another, such as in re-enactments.

Some sword mfrs offer swords which are intended for such use. Suggest finding them and seeing what steels they use.

Unless sword mfr specifically states "Fully Functional" or the like, suspect sword is "not".
 
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