Characteristic Feature Found in Typical TATARA Product, Japanese Sword

Abstract

Abstract. Tatara is traditional iron making method developed around San-in area in Japan. Typical product of Tatara is Japanese sword, which is tough and strong and is also known as an art object. It is said that Japanese sword cannot be produced without Tatara iron. Thus microscopic observations of Japanese sword attracted researchers and were performed for example by Tawara with optical microscopy at the beginning of 1900s. Since then a few microscopic observations have been performed but not so many. A lot of knowledge of steels has been accumulated and new equipments have been also developed, which give information on atomistic scale. Thus the precise microstructural observations of Japanese sword using such as SEM/EBSD have been made and are compared with ordinary steel. The preliminary experiments indicated that the average martensite block thickness is little longer than that of ordinary steels and crystal orientation distribution is different from ordinary one.

Welding by Hot Forging of Two Carbon Steels for the Manufacture of Spanish and Japanese Weapons

“…Before the classic hot forging in the forge, the preparatory action is carried out by hot rolling of the model (Figures 8 and 9) [10][11][12].…”

“…Here the hardening has certain variations for both steels, related to the Final grooming is a fundamental step in the manufacture of these knives; it gives them the final appearance and shape. In Japan, the grooming master is the most valued [12][13][14][15].…”

Mechanical Properties of Samurai Swords (Carbon Steel) Made using a Traditional Steelmaking Technology (tatara)

“…Because of martensite formation, the Vickers hardness of the sharp edge area is as high as HV 866, compared with a value of 787 for the thick edge area [4].…”

Effect of Fold-Forging Techniques for Sword Making Process on Mechanical Properties of Medium Carbon Steel

“…In other parts of the world, swords have been differently made, in which other various types of material such as Tatara steel [2][3][4][5], Tamahakana steel [6], Damascus steel [7] were used. According to documentations and archeological researches, many traditional ways for producing swords have been available, for example Japanese Samurai technique [2][3][4][5][6], Eastern Damascus technique, Welded Damascus technique [8][9][10], etc. It was reported that Japanese swords have a long history more than a thousand years, in which Japanese sword smiths have their own special techniques to produce the swords [11][12][13][14].…”