Step 1: Forging

Hand forging consists in hammering a billet of high carbon steel in a way to get the shape of the blade. The forging provides the best and equal dispersion of carbon throughout the steel so as to achieve an excellent strength of the blade.

Step 2: Shaping

The blade, which is still not hardened at this stage, is shaped depending on the dimensions required.

Step 3: Tradition Clay-wrapping

To get the differential hardening, the blade is hand-covered by special clay, with different thickness near the edge (thinner) and the rest of the blade (thicker) in a way to get different cooling. This results in getting hard edge and softer back.

Step 4: Quenching

At this stage, a special know-how is required. The blade is heated to a predetermined temperature and quenched in a water bath. This step will determine the shape, hamon, sori and straightness of the blade. The quality mainly depends on the skill of the craftsman.

Step 5: Sori

The curvature (sori) is made according to the balance point and point of percussion depending if the blade will be used for cutting or slashing.

Step 6:

Final hand-polishing is made to provide an excellent finishing and to get the best visual effects of the hamon line and different hardening areas.