| Properly forged swords last a lifetime, or at | | | | surely it would withstand a few hundred |
| least they should. Unfortunately, properly | | | | pounds of pressure that accompany a sword |
| forged swords are few and far between these | | | | swing. |
| days. Sure, a knight could have found one | | | | |
| during medieval times or a Samurai could have | | | | Other types of tough steel exist as well. The |
| found one in his local village, but Joe Schmo | | | | form L6 has recently become popular for its |
| in the USA of the twenty-first century will | | | | durability. Japanese swords often use this |
| have to really search for a well forged sword | | | | with a clay tempering method. Many times the |
| if he wants one that will last. Thankfully | | | | beautiful swords are not the durable ones. |
| our livelihood does not depend on these | | | | Because we no longer need these little |
| weapons of war any more. | | | | weapons, great smiths are a dying breed. |
| | | | While some will opt for metals like 01, D2, |
| While stainless steel might work for forks, | | | | or A2, these fall into the steel realm and |
| spoons, and butter knives, it does not work | | | | thus only work well functionally. You |
| well for swords. Any sword made of stainless | | | | wouldn't want to hang them on the wall as |
| steel does not qualify as genuine because it | | | | show pieces. |
| just will not last. The forging and | | | | |
| metallurgical processes that make this sword | | | | The quality of steel will vary as much as the |
| cause the metal to literally become brittle. | | | | variety of steel. Where a steel sword is |
| | | | manufactured matters just as much as how it |
| This does not mean that a sword love should | | | | is manufactured. For example, many third |
| completely shy away from this type of metal. | | | | world countries like India and Pakistan will |
| On the contrary, many of these swords make | | | | use recycled steel from the same tough truck |
| for some great decoration in the home. Think | | | | springs we talked about earlier. The result |
| about how a pair of Cavalry swords might look | | | | often times is not pretty: swords will |
| in a crossed pattern on that large blank wall | | | | literally crack under pressure. This does not |
| in your den. If you love shiny aesthetics, | | | | occur all the time, but far more often than |
| this might work better for you than a | | | | desired. Recycled steel does not always |
| painting. | | | | result in a bad sword. Some of the best |
| | | | swords out there come from forged welded |
| Swords made of 5160 have proven themselves | | | | cables and Russian anchor iron. |
| much tougher than those made of stainless | | | | |
| steel. We find this type of steel in truck | | | | In the end, a buyer is always taking a risk |
| springs, so the steels durability only makes | | | | when he purchases a sword. But if he examines |
| sense. After all, it has the ability to | | | | all of the factors, he can at least minimize |
| support tons of weight without breaking, so | | | | the risk and know what he is buying. |