Zanshin Blades & Steel Types (Please scroll down for blade descriptions)
The science of metallurgy has developed considerably since the pinnacle of Japanese samurai sword forging in the thirteenth century.
The needs and expectations of modern practitioners versus the requirements and training practices of traditional samurai are in many ways dissimilar. Improvements in steel purity, hardness and grading as well as the availability of exotic alloys and chemically enhanced steels provide choices that were unavailable to traditional smiths. It is difficult to determine how Japanese smiths would have availed themselves of such materials, and it is a subject of debate as to how new steel types and technologies fit into the needs and purposes of modern Iai training. The following is our basic position.
The historic samurai sword was deeply personal possession often passed down from generation to generation over long periods of time. No two swords were exactly alike. A lifetime of training with this highly personal item produced a unique bond between the samurai and his principal tool of training. We seek to provide the option of producing your own personal sword with authentic themes that will have personal meaning.
Zanshin’s first passion is to push the state of blade forging and finishing, producing blades that are as true as possible to the original Japanese samurai sword and traditional methods of forging. Zanshin’s position is that such blades have special aesthetic qualities as well as having a purely practical purpose for training. We attempt to make authentic samurai swords that you will be pleased to use over a lifetime of Iai practice.
Having said this, there are economies of production, technology and materials that allow us to produce blades of great practical as well as aesthetic value at a more affordable cost. We believe these blades are true to the original swords, have extraordinary beauty, and provide a critical tool of training for the majority of students.
Finally, there are the legitimate needs of modern practitioners engaged in frequent forms of heavy cutting that exceed the design capabilities of traditional samurai swords. Here there is a legitimate need to take full advantage of modern technologies, materials and manufacturing science.
Blade Descriptions
All blades come with your choice of handcrafted lost wax cast historical reproduction fittings, tsuka color and wrap style, and black or white same (ray skin). All parts are made in the US or Japan and all wraping is meticulously done by hand in our workshop.
Kunimasa – Kobuse Laminate
Our "Kunimasa" blade is made in the traditional Kobuse lamination method involving a hard outer sheath for strength, wrapped over a softer steel core for resiliency. The blade is traditionally forge folded to produce 4000 layers and is hand forged and drawn out. The blades have a beautiful hada and a naturally hand clayed and water quenched hamon. This is a beautifully balanced blade that is extremely quick, possesses exceptional aesthetics, and is ideal for Iai kata and suitable for medium cutting (we have cut up to three bugei wara rolled together (7.25") in the dojo). This blade is currently only available with bohi. (no-bohi version coming soon).
Kasane Tetsu - Multiple Steel Laminate
These blades are made using what we refer to as the "Kasane Tetsu" method of construction. The sword blade is formed utilizing multiple high carbon steels specifically selected to recreate and enhance the characteristics of historical blades. The different steels are stacked in layers and forge welded to form the sword billet. The billet is then heated and drawn out, split and then folded back on itself multiple times creating a 9000 plus layer blade with strength and beauty. The use of different carbon steels and the precision with which the steel is folded, hammered and forge-welded yields a beautiful and distinctive grain pattern in the blade known as “hada” (jihada). Finally, the blade is hand coated with clay, reheated and water quenched to produce a differentially tempered blade with true crystalline structure hamon. The Kasane Tetsu process results in a tough blade with a spectacular natural hamon and hada that truly emulate the look and feel of a historic blade.
These are extraordinarily beautiful, resilient and well balanced cutters. They are also available with traditional Japanese Stone Polish or the ultimate – Tamahagane steel (Japanese Stone Polish included).
Tamahagane – Authentic Japanese Sand Steel
In Japan the traditional source of iron was from black sand found in stream beds called satetsu. The iron sand is smelted in a special type of furnace (tatara) and carbon is added by the use of charcoal in the heating process resulting in raw steel known as Tamahagane.
In historical blades – the skillful manipulation of tamahagane steel is the acknowledged source of the legendary qualities of the Japanese samurai blades. Modern Japanese smiths credit Tamahagane with producing the extraordinary aesthetic appearance of the historical Japanese samurai blades which they seek to emulate and would not think of using any other source of steel in newly forged blades (shinsakuto).
Our Tamahagane iron sand is sourced from similar types of alluvial sands as are found in found in Japan. Like the original tamahagane our smelting process is done through low-temperature oxidization. The temperature is raised enough to turn the steel into a sludge and separate, but is not so hot as to make it liquefy. Smelting is not done in a “tatara” (traditional clay smelter), which has to be rebuilt every time but is smelted with modified using modern equipment that closely replicates the historical process and prevents the steel from liquefying. Some Japanese smiths use a similar process also replacing the temporary tatara with a more permanent smelter. The result is a beautiful steel with historical aesthetics and weight characteristics, clearly identifiable as Tamahagane at a more manageable cost.
Our Tamahagane blades are of extremely high quality and aesthetic beauty, representing the epitome of the samurai sword forging art outside of Japan. There is no comparison to these blades in term of weight, balance, aesthetic beauty and authenticity of materials. Their cutting ability is extraordinary.
Each blade is individually hand forge folded and clay tempered with 9000 laminations, resulting in an authentic and beautiful hada pattern. The sword is hand polished in a seven-step process using authentic Japanese stones, and finished with Jizuya and Hazuya finger stones to bring out the extraordinary qualities of the natural Hamon and Hada
The hamon on these blades are never acid etched. These blades have a “Hadori” polish done with Japanese finger stones which makes the hamon stand out with a frosty white appearance in many of the photographs. Blades with a more traditional “sashikomi” style polish that us less opaque and follows the line and activity of the hada are available upon request.
Each blade is unique and we provide you with a choice of several blades for your final selection. We work closely with you to find the perfect fit for your particular style, experience level, and stature. As always we offer you a choice of fittings, tsuka color and wrap style. We think you will be astonished by the extraordinary quality and individuality of these blades.
Meduim and High Carbon Steels and Modern Enhanced Steels
Coming soon
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