Also, 1060 steel is commonly used among beginner sword makers, due to its simple heat-treating requirements. You can expect to pay somewhere around $200-$250 for a sword or katana forged from this steel. When it comes to price, swords made from 1060 steel are in the low/medium category. Due to the poor corrosion to resistance, proper sword maintenance for this steel becomes more important. You can’t imagine how much difference an increase of only 0.15% carbon content makes. As we already said, it also offers a great level of flexibility which is crucial for any sword. When you compare it with 1045 medium-carbon steel, this one is much harder and has much better edge retention. Visible temper lines that are on those Japanese swords look great so it adds to the beauty of visual appearance. It is also ideal for differential tempering which is also why most katanas are made from this grade of steel. This is why you could also say that this fact places it in the sweet spot, in terms of the balance between these two characteristics. For some sword makers, 1045 might be too soft whereas 1095 is too hard. 1060 steel offers an excellent compromise between flexibility and hardness. This is one of the lowest carbon content steel in this category but it is still very popular for sword making. As with all swords, proper maintenance is key to preserving its quality and performance. However, compared to other high-carbon steels, 1045 steel may not offer the same level of edge retention and durability. It is also relatively easy to forge and is a great choice for beginner sword makers. With a carbon content of 0.45%, it offers good hardness while still being flexible enough for functional use. 1045 Medium-Carbon-SteelĪlthough technically not a high-carbon steel, 1045 steel is still a popular choice for sword making due to its balanced properties. So, there are 4 grades of carbon steel that are commonly used for swords. Note that here I will also mention 1045 steel, which technically isn’t high-carbon, mainly due to the simplicity of categorization. Due to their high carbon content and other material properties, they have typically been considered the best choice for sword making. High carbon steels are usually considered those which contain carbon in the range of 0.6%-1.5%. On the other side, mild steel, due to its low carbon content, is very easy to shape. If you have ever tried to forge tungsten carbine, you will know exactly what I’m talking about. The most popular grades in this category are 1045, 1060, and 1095 steel.Īnother thing to keep in mind is that the lower the carbon content, the easier is to shape it, due to the lower level of hardness. Note that the higher the carbon content, the harder the sword will be, so it is important to find the ideal balance between hardness and flexibility. What you want is steel with at least 0.4% of carbon. Swords made of such steel would be too soft for functional use. Generally speaking, steels containing less than 0.4% of carbon content are not recommended for sword making. For example, the steel classified as AISI 1095 has 0.95% carbon content, 1045 means 0.45%, and so on. The last two digits present the carbon content. The first two digits, 1 and 0 mean that is plain carbon steel. As its name suggests, it contains a high carbon content which is ideal for this purpose.Īccording to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), carbon steel is represented by 4 digits. High-carbon steel is by far the most popular choice for making a sword. Nameīest Steels for Swords Best High-Carbon Steels for Swords You can compare their features and decide which one is right for the type of sword you’re looking to make. Here’s a chart with all the best metals I recommend for swords. It’s easy to forge, holds an edge well, and is easy to harden. If you plan on making your own sword, the best steel is 1060, which has a carbon content of. Anything lower will be too flimsy and anything higher will be too brittle and the sword will be prone to breaking. What is the Best Carbon Content for a Sword?įor swords, you generally want steel with a carbon content between 0.45% to 0.9%. 1060 steel is also relatively inexpensive, making it a great choice for most sword makers’ budgets. It provides the perfect balance between hardness and strength, which relate to a sword’s ability to hold an edge and its overall durability. The best overall type of steel for sword-making is 1060 steel.
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