I've been looking into battle-ready katanas a lot lately. And I've come across some debates between the best forges and steels to be used for them. The functional katanas I use now are Musashi brand katanas, using 1045 carbon steel. They each cost roughly $200-$250. The straight carbon steels are mentioned in the debates, but they aren't very sophisticated in their design. Now the higher end of this middle class of katana ($250-$1000) uses higher carbon. spring, damascus, and other various steels and combinations. I've heard a lot about the strength of damascus steel and it's cutting power. But I look for more than that. I've also been looking at (and for) durability, flexibility, and how well it stands up to contact. So I guess what I'm asking is for the opinion of people who have used these steels, and an answer on what the community thinks is the best steel for a mid range ($250-$1000) battle-ready katana. Looking forward to some good answers.
There is no such thing as a battle ready katana... if it is not ready for battle - it is not a katana. Having said that: The hardness of the cutting edge depends on the carbon content the better (in general). 1045 is poor quality steel for sword manufacture. Musashi swords are cheap pieces of crap. 1060 is better. Some manufacturers use modern materials that aren't perhaps consistent with traditional manufacture, like 9260 silicon spring steel or even L6 Bainite. Damascus steel is not a type of steel at all. It is a folding technique that creates a wavy grain in the metal. It may or may not mean that a sword is good. No swords will stand up to contact with other swords. They will inevitably be damaged. The best way to find a quality sword is to ask you instructor. There are no quality swords under a thousand dollars. The answer also depends on what you are going to do with the sword. It may also depend on the style or school of swordsmanship.
Go okorder / They have a list of the different types of steel and the qualities of them. Bugei Trading sells very good swords. i prefer the Cheness katana simply because they sell a nice sword at a lower price. Currently I use the Cheness Kazi Ko-Katana. It has a shorter blade length with allows me to do the draw properly for the style I practice. Hope this helps! P.S. just for reference, when I hear the term, Battle Ready, it makes my skin crawl. That terminology simply is not used by experienced martial artists. It is like using the word Studio to describe a martial arts school. EDIT: Peter Gun makes a good point about steel. For what its worth, Ive had several Paul Chen katana.
This Site Might Help You. RE: Best battle-ready katana steel? I've been looking into battle-ready katanas a lot lately. And I've come across some debates between the best forges and steels to be used for them. The functional katanas I use now are Musashi brand katanas, using 1045 carbon steel. They each cost roughly $200-$250. The straight carbon...
