An extremely complicated blade pattern

Battara · 26th May 2015, 04:40 PM

What an interesting mix of patterns!

josh stout · 26th May 2015, 05:55 PM

I think the confusion is from the phrase "horse tooth hamon". As far as I know, the horse tooth pattern in Chinese swords is "jia gang" or inserted edge construction, while a similar wavy edge pattern, made only through differential heat treatment, is found on some Japanese swords. Chinese sabers often will have both an inserted edge and differential heat treatment, but do not usually show a fancy pattern in the heat treatment. Some show an abrupt transition while others have a slow cloudy fade in, but I have never seen anything like a horse tooth done with heat treatment. Most twist core Chinese sabers do not have an inserted edge, so this one with the horse tooth pattern is truly rare. In high polish, the heat treatment can be obvious, but also it will also show as part of a patina. I am not sure if this one shows differential edge heating, but it is still amazing.

Very, very nice

RSWORD · 26th May 2015, 06:04 PM

The blade has an inserted edge between cheeks of twistcore steel. If you look at my bottom picture and then to the left side of the blade, which is the cutting edge, you will see regular undulations. Below those undulations there is no pattern. This is the area I am referring to as the hamon. While my pictures may not highlight it particularly well there is definitely a clear delineation. Look to the right side of the screen and you can see the twistcore pattern goes to the spine. That regular up and down undulation is referred to as horse tooth by the Chinese because of the regularity. Horse tooth hamon are fairly rare on their own but to accomplish this between cheeks of twistcore steel is a particularly fine forging.

I tend to use hamon in both a Japanese and non Japanese context. The high art polish of a Japanese sword is what really gives it that milky white coloration. Take a Japanese sword for just a foundation polish and you will clearly see the "hamon" but it will not be milky. Many cultures have blades made from inserts steel between cheeks of soft steel and if polished you will see that delineation between the two zones. You see it in Moro, in Chinese, in Indian and occasionally in Southeast Asia. You also see changes in coloration from heat treatment along the cutting edges. Some dha, for example, have their edges flamed hardened and this creates a dark zone along the edge. You see this on wootz steel sometimes. There will be a clear color differentiation between the hardened area and the rest of the blade. You even see it in Nepalese kukri and American Bowie knives. You can learn a lot about how the blade was forged, quenched and hardened from a professional polish and etch. I even one time had an early Kilij blade that had an inserted edge of high carbon steel between cheeks of wootz steel!

spiral · 26th May 2015, 10:24 PM

A lovely piece! What great forging!

So it is a rounded horse tooth pattern of mono steel inserted in a twist core sandwich?

Beautiful!

I would have never guessed Chinese in my ignorance... Its nice to see something different.

CharlesS · 27th May 2015, 09:28 PM

I know very little about Chinese swords, but do recognize a gorgeous blade when I see one. Great piece!

Battara · 27th May 2015, 10:32 PM

I do love the Turkish ribbon!

josh stout · 2nd June 2015, 03:51 PM

Thanks for explaining the "hamon" in the horse tooth inserted edge. Now that it is pointed out, the "milky", "cloudy" look is obvious along the edge. Some of the "teeth" are whiter than others, and you can see some where the milky look is discontinuous.

Again, amazing.

Andrew · 13th June 2015, 11:55 PM

Banal comment alert!

So cool, Rick...incredible.

26th May 2015, 04:40 PM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	What an interesting mix of patterns!

26th May 2015, 05:55 PM	#2
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	I think the confusion is from the phrase "horse tooth hamon". As far as I know, the horse tooth pattern in Chinese swords is "jia gang" or inserted edge construction, while a similar wavy edge pattern, made only through differential heat treatment, is found on some Japanese swords. Chinese sabers often will have both an inserted edge and differential heat treatment, but do not usually show a fancy pattern in the heat treatment. Some show an abrupt transition while others have a slow cloudy fade in, but I have never seen anything like a horse tooth done with heat treatment. Most twist core Chinese sabers do not have an inserted edge, so this one with the horse tooth pattern is truly rare. In high polish, the heat treatment can be obvious, but also it will also show as part of a patina. I am not sure if this one shows differential edge heating, but it is still amazing. Very, very nice

26th May 2015, 06:04 PM	#3
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,087	The blade has an inserted edge between cheeks of twistcore steel. If you look at my bottom picture and then to the left side of the blade, which is the cutting edge, you will see regular undulations. Below those undulations there is no pattern. This is the area I am referring to as the hamon. While my pictures may not highlight it particularly well there is definitely a clear delineation. Look to the right side of the screen and you can see the twistcore pattern goes to the spine. That regular up and down undulation is referred to as horse tooth by the Chinese because of the regularity. Horse tooth hamon are fairly rare on their own but to accomplish this between cheeks of twistcore steel is a particularly fine forging. I tend to use hamon in both a Japanese and non Japanese context. The high art polish of a Japanese sword is what really gives it that milky white coloration. Take a Japanese sword for just a foundation polish and you will clearly see the "hamon" but it will not be milky. Many cultures have blades made from inserts steel between cheeks of soft steel and if polished you will see that delineation between the two zones. You see it in Moro, in Chinese, in Indian and occasionally in Southeast Asia. You also see changes in coloration from heat treatment along the cutting edges. Some dha, for example, have their edges flamed hardened and this creates a dark zone along the edge. You see this on wootz steel sometimes. There will be a clear color differentiation between the hardened area and the rest of the blade. You even see it in Nepalese kukri and American Bowie knives. You can learn a lot about how the blade was forged, quenched and hardened from a professional polish and etch. I even one time had an early Kilij blade that had an inserted edge of high carbon steel between cheeks of wootz steel!

26th May 2015, 10:24 PM	#4
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	A lovely piece! What great forging! So it is a rounded horse tooth pattern of mono steel inserted in a twist core sandwich? Beautiful! I would have never guessed Chinese in my ignorance... Its nice to see something different.

27th May 2015, 09:28 PM	#5
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	I know very little about Chinese swords, but do recognize a gorgeous blade when I see one. Great piece!

27th May 2015, 10:32 PM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	I do love the Turkish ribbon!

2nd June 2015, 03:51 PM	#7
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	Thanks for explaining the "hamon" in the horse tooth inserted edge. Now that it is pointed out, the "milky", "cloudy" look is obvious along the edge. Some of the "teeth" are whiter than others, and you can see some where the milky look is discontinuous. Again, amazing.

13th June 2015, 11:55 PM	#8
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Banal comment alert! So cool, Rick...incredible.