T10 compared with 1095


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T10 compared with 1095

by Alan
(Auckland NZ)

QUESTION: I have just purchased a katana made of T10 steel, that has been clay tempered to a hardness of 58 - 60 HRC. I purchased this from a guy in New Zealand who goes under the name of Samuel 1957 @ Look Find Buy Store, and i was wondering if you have heard of him, or his swords. Aparently his swords are made in China, but the one i have has a signiture on the tsuba which according to the local Arts Museum is definatly Japanese. And is a manufactures signiture, which unfortunatly has no English translation. Is this a common practice to have the signiture on the Tsuba, instead of the Tang. Or is it the Tsuba makers signiture? Any information would be greatly apreciated.
Thanks Alan.

ANSWER: Hi Alan,

There was a discussion about T10 vs 1095 here on the SBG Sword Forum a little while ago that should shed some light on that question.

With regards to putting the signature on the tsuba, that is a modern thing - and definitely not common.

Hope this helps.

- Paul

Comments for
T10 compared with 1095

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Sep 14, 2011

Tsuba signing
by: Peter Dekker

Some tsubas were signed in the past, but in this case it was always the name of the tsuba maker. It was only done by the better ones, ordinary makers would leave their work unsigned. On a modern tsuba, it doesn't say much. It could be a reproduction of a signature of a good maker of old, or a signature of the modern maker.

Jan 13, 2011

Spine of a T10 Blade
by: Anonymous

Edge 58-62 HRC and the spine 38-42 HRC , % Carbon 0.65-.077 For T10 Steel , If the temper is done right it's crazy tough!

Jan 13, 2011

Spine of a T10 Blade
by: Anonymous

Edge 58-62 HRC and the spine 38-42 HRC , % Carbon 0.65-.077 For T10 Steel , If the temper is done right it's crazy tough!

May 31, 2010

tsuba is a copy probably
by: Anonymous

your sword is made in china, then its probably using a lot of parts that are copied from japanese swords, ... very easy for them to buy one original and then make a mold to knock off as many as they want.

The sword is probably a not that bad of a sword, but if you bought it off an aussie and it is made in china then you paid too much, cause you could have bought it from a chinese guy for sure and saved the middle man, which I do for all my swords.

Just cause the tsuba and maybe some parts are copies does not mean its bad quality either. It can be a very high quality copy, in this case it might be because you are even questioning if its from japan after the seller told you its from china.....

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