What's the difference in Sword Materials?

To assist you in selecting the items that meet your needs, please review this information to select the steel material you prefer a sword and dagger to be made from. The simplest net-net summary of the metals used to make swords would fall into two main categories:

• Stainless Steel swords and daggers are for decoration only (no contact or use).
• Carbon Steel swords are most commonly considered to be "functional" stage steel and appropriate for full-contact use in SCA/LARP renaissance reenactments, staged performances and in theatrical choreographed combat.

Swords today are manufactured using a wide range of materials including alloys, stainless steel, hi-carbon steel, flexible steel and other materials. The quality of materials used in your sword and the quality of the craftsmanship will impact the price. To assist you, we have included a few basic factors to consider when selecting your sword:

HOW WILL YOUR SWORD BE USED?
If you will never use the sword, stainless steel sword will be fine for display only. The trick is finding one with enough quality to be proud of. We do our best to separate them for you and only provide the better ones for selection on this site. Carbon and flexible steel are stronger and more expensive materials often used in the best swords and are also beautiful for, but more expensive than stainless steel (and require regular cleaning and care).

WHAT'S YOUR BUGDET?
The budget you set might cause you to seek a compromise on your selections. Please note you can often find a sword that you are very happy with if you know what you want. Feel free to contact us for assistance.

STAINLESS STEEL SUMMARY:

Don't be discouraged - you can find some really nice looking swords that are heavy, enjoyable, relatively maintenance free and can be either very sharp or dull bladed. You just have to remember they are not toys nor designed for withstanding "impact" in any capacity. For that kind of material, see our next section "functional swords".

• See Grades of Steel Used in Swords below for more information

FUNCTIONAL STEEL SUMMARY:

FLEXIBLE STEEL (spring steel): This is the best material for functional swords. Will bend if struck hard (large impact) and can be bent back into shape by a professional. Preferred material for "staged combat" (like you would see at a renaissance faire).

G2(sm): Under special contract with the foundry, these high carbon spring steel swords are developed with specifications that can only be called G2(sm). G2(sm) Mfgs Note: The 3/16" blade of high carbon spring steel has a full hefty tang. Tested on many standing 2"x4" boards, split them with no marring on the blade. Also tested it on horizontal 2"x4 resting on each side (solid resting) and came straight down. It did not cut completely through, but did cut deep (again no marring of the blade or edge). The final ultimate test was the Steel-to-Steel(sm). We performed 9 good blows only nicking the blade. The blade did not break nor did the tang or handle in either of these test. — BEST VALUE for Functional Swords

Note: Swords made of functional steel are often coated with protective lubricant during shipping. To clean, remove excess with paper towels then repeat using WD-40 sparingly.

STAGE / THEATER SWORDS:
Stage Steel™ swords are full-tang swords made of rigid steel with blunt edges. These swords are durable and designed for reenactment fighting and staged combat or battle. (See Grades of Steel Used in Swords below for more information.)

GRADES OF STEEL USED IN SWORD MANUFACTURING

AISI/American 1050/10xx - A very similar steel to the traditional/Japanese version. Although not identical, it's the best alternate.

AISI/American 5160 - A good choice for European style swords, because of its toughness. Even though small amounts of chromium exist, there is not to qualify is as 'stainless steel" (More than 13% is required to make steel "stainless).

A2 Tool Steel - The "A" stands for 'Air Hardening' also called air cooled ("slow cooling") and is the better way of cooling steel than having it submerged in water or oil ("fast cooling"). A2 is a tough chromium tool steel and will hold an edge very well. Again, the chromium content is not sufficient to qualify this steel as "stainless". Despite having excellent properties, this material does not allow for a hamon ("cloud pattern line") to be created and therefore should not be used in a Japanese katanas.

D2 Tool Steel - Good choice for a chrome-vanadium tool steel. Although it possesses 12.5% chromium (not stainless) but enough for most other steels discarded for sword steel. However, D2's unique inclusion of vanadium and tungsten (acting as grain refiners) counteract some of the weakening effects of the chrome. Addition use of molybdenum and nickel makes this steel tough and hard, its ability to hold a good edge is controversial. Unfortunately, as in the A2 steel, not being able to make a hamon, it may only be a slight improvement over stainless steels.

S-5 Steel - The "S" represents "shock-resistant" as a result of its 2% silicon content. This material is harder to source, and therefore likely to be more expensive than other carbon steels.

S-7 Steel - Again a shock-resistant tool steel which has been air harden. If made incorrectly it will be difficult to heat treat. The sword smithing process is critical and inferior heat treating often results in poor steel. More recently S-7 has become more alloy-rich and note preferable as a high-performance sword material.

CK55 Krupp Steel - Common in some retail swords, this material is the European equivalent of AISI 1055. This good steel is made in Germany and the "C" represents "Carbon" and "K" for Krupp (the German manufacturer).

50CRV4 - Very small amounts of Vandium and Chromium combined with trace amounts of Silicon and Manganese make this a makes a good spring steel material.

STAINLESS STEELS (420, 440A, 440B, 440C, 440V, ATS-34) -. Great for household kitchen knives, pocket folding knives, and similar products. Stainless steel is unsuitable for swords intended to be used in full-contact swordplay reenactments, because of weak grain boundaries caused by chromium. The chromium gives stainless a mirror finish when polished, but makes it more brittle. Other alloying elements like Vanadium, Tungsten, etc. in the right proportions qualify steels as stainless. NOTE: Beware of buying "440 STAINLESS STEEL" swords unless they specify "440-C STEEL" which is significantly better than 440-A, or 440-B.

CPM420V Stainless Steel - This is an upgrade for CPM440V (made by the Crucible Materials Corporation). This 20% high alloy material was originally created as a high-wear steel for increased wear, corrosion resistance and edge holding capabilities. Due to a high alloy content, high finish results are limited. This is an excellent steel for knives and knife makers find CPM440V blades can out cut all other steels.

420J2 Stainless Steel - This is the very low end of stainless steel with very little carbon content. Many third world overseas companies use this material to speed the production process (lowering quality as well as price). Because this material can have sword edges ground easily, as many as ten 420J2 swords can be ground in the same time it takes to make one higher quality 440-C decorative sword.

High Carbon Steel / High Carbon Spring Steel - Basically a plain carbon steel, it's also known as "Spring Steel" or "Live Steel". Commonly made of recycled 5160, 1065, 1050, CK55 or any low alloy or plain carbon steel. If the steel is not properly heat-treated when re-smelted it will retain memory of its previous shape and be more likely to break. Most issues of quality can be found originating in India, the Philippines or in Malaysia. These materials will require oiling to prevent rusting and it's a good idea to keep swords out of scabbards to avoid damage from moisture and corrosion from the chemicals in the leather.

Damascus Steel - This is an extremely high carbon content steel. Historically know for its incredible strength and flexibility, the blade was also very distinguishable by a "water marking" design left on the surface of the blade as a result of the sword making process. Swords made of Domascus steel were very prized and expensive. The original steel material was called "Wootz" steel, but the art of making it was lost about 1750. Today Damascus is actually made by a pattern-welded process (among a few others). See Damascus Sword Making for more information.

Are you finding what you need? Whether you are looking for a unique gift or something special for yourself, we strive to help you make a sword or dagger selection with ease.

Please contact us with questions or additional needs.

References:

• Medieval Combat by Mark Rector
• Halbritter's Arms through the Ages by Kurt Halbritter
• Swords, Daggers & Cutlasses by Gerald Weland
• Knights & Armor by Sadel Doc
• The Roman Invasion of Britton by Kultur
• Rome Power & Glory: Legions of Conquest by Ed Fields & Joel Westbrok
• Arms & Armor of the Medieval Knight by David Edge
• Arms Through the Ages by William Reid
• Weapons of War by P.E. Cleator
• Weapons, An International Encyclopedia from 5000 BC to 2000AD by The Diagram Group
• Warriors & Weapons of Early Times by Niels M. Saxtorph
• Book of the Sword by Richard Francis Barton
• A Knight and His Weapons by Ewart Oakeshott
• Metallurgical Analysis: Grades of Steel, By WarAngel, with special thanks to Motoyasu and Bob Engnath (Highlander's Sword Shopper's Guide)
• Medieval Warfare: A History by Maurice Keen
• War in the Middle Ages by Philippe Contamine
• The Roman Sword in the Republican Period & After by James Hurst
• Celtic & Roman Swords by Christian Fletcher
• Soul of the Sword by Robert L. O'Connell
• Shoshone Medieval Teaching Tool
• Franciscan University of Steubenville
• The History Net
• Choose a weapon, Shaolin-Society
• Toga & Dagger: Espionage in Ancient Rome by Rose Mary Sheldon
• Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
• A Record of European Aarmour and Arms Through Seven Centuries by Sir Guy Francis Laking
• European Mediæval Sword by Lee A. Jones
• From Rapier To Langsax: Sword Structure in the British Isles in the Bronze and Iron Ages by Niko Silvester
• Association for Renaissance Martial Arts (http://www.thearma.org/)
• Dress, Jewels, Arms and Coat of Arms: Material Culture and Self-Representation in the Late Middle Ages Central European University and Russel Mitchell, Vladimir Baranov, Annamaria Kovacs, Dora Sallay, Elena Lemeneva, Kiss Farkas Gabor

If you have any questions about our products or would like to have us carry something you did not see here today, contact us and we will see what we can locate for you.

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