Recently there have been several questions about hamons which reminds me of a nagging question that maybe some of you can clear up for me: When clay coating a blade, how deep does the hamon typically go into the blade steel? Is this something that extends completely through the steel or simply a surface feature? (I have always assumed that it goes completely through but you know what assuming can do for you.)

Gary

Yes, it does go through the entire edge of the blade.

It's basically the same idea as an edge quench, just a fancier way of doing it. The bigest difference is going to be your transition line. In an edge quench the line is very smooth and linear. With clay baking you can get pretty wild, almost artistic, with your hamons. Take a look at Japanese sword makers.... they each have there own specific pattern.

Here's some hamon examples....(Caution may cause droolling!)
http://www.ricecracker.com/japanese_swords/katana/sk6.htm
http://www.ricecracker.com/japanese_swords/katana/sk7.htm
http://www.ricecracker.com/japanese_swords/katana/sk9.htm
http://www.ricecracker.com/japanese_swords/katana/sk11.htm

Notice how each one has there own specific pattern. Some of them are just spell binding!

It's spelled metallurgist !! Yes the hamon goes all the way through.

"I'm not a metallurgist, but I play one on the internet" ;)

Gary, from your question I have a supsicion that you may have concerns about ashi placement. For the most part the hamon goes all the way through (otherwise the edge wouldn't be very useful), but the whispy spiking features do not always duplicate exactly from side to side. These effects occur at the top of the hamon where the metal is very much thicker and deviations can occurr from side to side. If the steel is shallow hardening enough, one can have different spikes in different locations in very busy hamon patterns like choji (imagine trying to line up choji style ashi perfectly from side to side :eek: ).

Thanks for the clarifications. I suspected as much but didn't know for sure. Sorry for the spelling (never was my strong suit). Maybe that's why I aced my lab courses but strugged with term papers. :lol

Chris,

Thanks for the links. You're right. They are drool inducing. Hard to tell for sure from the pics but some appeared to be wootz blades.

Being a stock removal guy, I have always stayed with alloy steels but am facinated with the artistic as well as functional aspects of some of the traditional H/T and plan to do some playing with them.

Again, thanks for the help.

Gary