1095 Carbon steel is carbon steel that contains 0.95% of Carbon. Actually, it is called very high carbon steel. This carbon percentage results in hard steel, which is hardly forged by hands. The heat treatment must be conducted delicately because the carbon tends to leak at a certain temperature and if improperly heat treated.
?Heat treatment is to be operated very carefully because it is a delicate operation: improper treatment can result in loss of the carbon fraction and therefore the non-obtaining of the martensite, which can result in the loss of the whole material. The 1095 Carbon Steel comes to be softer than the Stainless Steel, yet it is easier to handle, durable, and more resistant. But among the Carbon Steels, 1095 is the hardest and perhaps the best choice for making swords intended to last longer while being roughly and frequently used.
The Carbon element makes the obtained steel relatively resistant to oxidation even if it has no chromium to be considered stainless. Although, the acquired durability which excels the durability of the Stainless Steel, makes Carbon Steel more preferred for making Swords.
1095 carbon steel katana inherits the hardness and the toughness of the Carbon Steel material. The Swords are intended to regular use and very frequent Dojo cuts. For outdoor displays and shows, 1095 Carbon Steel katanas are more suitable than the 1060 and 1045 Carbon steel Katanas; the last one is already preferred when it is about decorative use. The hardness of the Steel makes the forging process into sword a tough operation and increases the price value of the resulting piece, if handmade. This characteristic induces excellent durability for the 1095 Carbon steel Swords. The durability and the Edge Sharpness are reinforced by the Differential hardening process. It is important to notice that Clay tempered 1095 carbon steel katana are resistant to corrosion and are more resistant to oxidation; they are perhaps stainless. These swords are easier to sharpen and they do not need to have a thick layer of what the swordsmen call 'meat'; the edge keep its sharpness for long time.
The hardness of the 1095 Carbon Steel katana is inherited from the Steel material used for the forgery. Actually, forging Katanas fusing 1095 Carbon Steel appears to be harder than forging swords from others Carbon Steel types. Thus, the price of a 1095 Carbon Steel Katana tends to be higher.
Although 1095 Katanas are tougher than the others Carbon steel Swords they are still susceptible to abrasion and to corrosion if they are not properly cleaned and carefully maintained. Thus, applying cleaning process and using the recommended oil and tools to proceed may augments the durability of the edges and keep the 1095 Carbon Steel katanas properties for long time.
The toughness of the blade, which allows it to be the favorite choice for frequent functional use, may require particular pieces to mount on the blade to form the final Katana. Already, the Carbon steel type has imposed the forging process.
1095 Carbon Steel Katana are full tang katanas because of the hardness of the material and its resistance to shocks which require a tough handle mounted on a tang that is solid enough. Differential Clay Tempering results in a hardening the edge and keeping the spine softer, this operation may increase the durability of the edge and enhances the resistance to corrosion, therefore the edge will support the frequent dojo cut and outdoor display.