Laminate Question / San Mai

Soltangris

Soltangris

Joined
Apr 24, 2020
Messages
283
With my limited knowledge of the craft, basically googling everything I hear on Forged in Fire... I was under the impression you get this pattern by doing a san mai, so I was searching San Mai to try and buy such a blade.... To my surprise, I find laminate that will produce this pattern.... So, I understand the principles of San Mai, but whats the W2 Laminate? .... Here is a pic of burt fosters laminate hunter, which no I dont own.

https://imgur.com/a/w2g9Teo
 
San-Mai is a Japanese word mean "three parts" refer to the method making those blade which is forge welding 3 peices of steel (2 as jacket and 1 as a core) we also call this as laminated steel. So basically San-Mai and laminated steel are the same.
 
Yes, as shqxk says, the name implies three layers.
It is used more broadly however.
Often a thin layer of tin is added between layers for contrast and also to stop migration of minor components of the hardenable steel during heat treat. This appears to be the case in your photo.
Also, some people use many layers of damascus for the outer "layer" but still call it San Mai.
Thus for example on the takefu site, you will see things like 22 layer san mai for sale.
 
Thank you both, I was just massively confused on what "laminate" was, since its looks like San mai, this clears things up... and hamon is just staining a certain part with acid and then polishing, correct
 
A hamon is usually seen in a monosteel blade that has been differentially heat treated, resulting in a transition zone between different phases of the material. It is more of an art than a science and people use various procedures to bring it out visually. You can use the search function to find many examples.
 
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