how to make Japanese swords?

[DaQo'tah Forge]

okay, so I have been reading about them long "KILL BILL", type Japanese swords...

And I find that the blade has a soft core that is wrapped with a very hard steel.

So how do they weld that all together?

And I know I could never make a sword like a Japanese master, but if I wanted to also make a sword with a soft core under a hard steel outer shell, What is the steel that a American like myself could find to use that is fitting?

What is the softest, yet toughest steel that I could place in the core of the sword to keep it from ever breaking? Im talking about a steel that is strong! What steel just will not break under normal circumstances?

Now what steel is the hardest?...what steel is just gets a bit harder than other steel and can get a bit sharper than most steels?

how would I weld the steel up?

 

[Michael J. Spangler]

give a post over at swordforum.com.... they get a lot of posts like that and can send you to some good resources. good luck and let us see some work when you get it done

 

[Joss]

A good book is Kapp & Yoshihara's the craft of the Japanese sword. It can be bought from Amazon.com, and it's a great book.

 

[Bruce Bump]

Like Joss says: "Craft of the Japanese sword" I have it and although its not a "how to do" book it has loads of info in it. Thats a huge subject and its no wonder why Youre not getting too many replies. It is more like a lifetime quest. Good luck Grasshoppa