The folding process of steel for katana and other traditionally made Japanese samurai swords was part of the refining process in blade forging in ancient Japan.
- The folded steel is also called Damascus steel.
- When the steel is folded, it creates a subtle hada (grain) on the surface of the blade.
Katana Blade: Folded or Not?
If you want a blade with a beautiful grain pattern, you should Buy a Katana with a Damascus blade.
However, with modern steel, the folding process neither enhances the hardness nor the performance of the sword. Therefore, folding primarily serves artistic value. Since folded blades visually resemble traditional nihontō / shinken katana more closely, many buyers prefer a blade made of folded steel.
Folded Steel in Today’s World
Nowadays, many katana for practical use are not folded; they are made from a single monolithic piece of steel. There is no correlation between folded and monosteel swords and their cutting ability, durability, or edge retention. Much more critical for the sword’s functionality is the type of steel used (see: differences in various steel types for katanas) and the manufacturing process (clay tempering, polishing, grinding, etc.).
The downside of katana blades made from folded steel is the possibility of weld defects between the layers. If the folding process is not done correctly, the folded blade can be much less durable than its monosteel equivalent.
Many enthusiasts also want to know how many times a blade is folded. Some manufacturers make the number of folds a major selling point, which can confuse the buyer. When you fold steel once, you get 2 layers. Fold it twice, you get 4 layers (8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, etc.). So, folding the blade 13 times will give you 8192 layers. Folding it 20 times will result in a million layers. The number of layers neither influences the quality of the blade nor is the folding process very laborious these days, so the number of folds is not a suitable selling point.
In Summary
How does a katana made of damascus steel differ
- Damascus steel is folded steel.
- Folding the steel creates a hada (grain pattern) on the blade.
- Katanas made of folded steel are visually closest to traditional samurai swords.
- The process of folding no longer affects the hardness and cutting ability of a blade.
- Nowadays, the folding of the steel has a purely visual value.
Buy a Damascus Katana
In our Katana Shop, you will find genuine Japanese katana of various quality levels and with different types of steel, including Katana Made of Folded Steel (Damascus steel). Browse through our catalog and find the katana that is best suited to your wishes.
Katana from our shop:
Katana “Doragon no Hi”
Katana “Kogane no Doragon”
Katana “Mitsuri”
Katana “Roiyaru Tonbo”