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hey everyone, i keep reading articles where it is talking about hamons. what are hamons?

A Hamon is the line as a result of differential heat treating. This is where a clay is put on the spine of the blade in order to allow it to cool and harden at a differnt level than the blade. The spine is left softer and the blade is harder. This can also be achieved by quenching only the blade edge and not quenching the spine durring the HT process.

Basically Devan, a hamon is a demarcation line between the hardened martensitic area of the blade and the area above which is a mixture of martensite and pearlite. More pearlite towards the spine. I have seen a description of martensite below the line and pearlite above, but I believe there is a transition area above the line which includes both and this is responsible for the ghost hamon or utsuri above the main line.

The Japanese had hundreds of distinct styles of hamon. Everything from suguha which is basically straight to things like kiku sui, which is chrysanthemum blossom. All depends on clay placement, clay thickness, temperature, and steel. The best steels are lower manganese, simple carbon, shallow hardening steels like 1075, 1095, and steels like W2 and W1. You can get a hamon on 1084 but it will not be as active because of higher manganese. Steels like 5160 can show a line, but not great. Edge quenching will show a line , but I now prefer a clay coating with satanite.

Hope this helps. There is a whole lot of information on them out there and I am still learning.

Brion

To me the two most important things to know about hamons are:

1. It is pronounced "Ha-moan", not hammin, or hammun, that is the most common misunderstanding about it.

2. It is an excellent way to add a very aesthetically pleasing feature to the blade but it will not add strength, that is the second most common misunderstanding. There are perhaps gains in impact toughness but it is often very over played as a way of making a "stronger" blade. Since impact toughness is mostly the inverse of strength a hamon will have less strength by its very nature.

Devan

There is a lot of helpful information about Hamons on the ABS Forum in the November 2011 Topic of the Month on Hamons, click: Hamons - November 2011 Topic of the Month.

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A Hamon is the line as a result of differential heat treating. This is where a clay is put on the spine of the blade in order to allow it to cool and harden at a differnt level than the blade. The spine is left softer and the blade is harder. This can also be achieved by quenching only the blade edge and not quenching the spine durring the HT process.

thanks Kyle very helpful!

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Basically Devan, a hamon is a demarcation line between the hardened martensitic area of the blade and the area above which is a mixture of martensite and pearlite. More pearlite towards the spine. I have seen a description of martensite below the line and pearlite above, but I believe there is a transition area above the line which includes both and this is responsible for the ghost hamon or utsuri above the main line.

The Japanese had hundreds of distinct styles of hamon. Everything from suguha which is basically straight to things like kiku sui, which is chrysanthemum blossom. All depends on clay placement, clay thickness, temperature, and steel. The best steels are lower manganese, simple carbon, shallow hardening steels like 1075, 1095, and steels like W2 and W1. You can get a hamon on 1084 but it will not be as active because of higher manganese. Steels like 5160 can show a line, but not great. Edge quenching will show a line , but I now prefer a clay coating with satanite.

Hope this helps. There is a whole lot of information on them out there and I am still learning.

Brion

Brion always enjoy reading your replies packed full of information thank you very much!

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To me the two most important things to know about hamons are:

1. It is pronounced "Ha-moan", not hammin, or hammun, that is the most common misunderstanding about it.

2. It is an excellent way to add a very aesthetically pleasing feature to the blade but it will not add strength, that is the second most common misunderstanding. There are perhaps gains in impact toughness but it is often very over played as a way of making a "stronger" blade. Since impact toughness is mostly the inverse of strength a hamon will have less strength by its very nature.

Kevin, love the daggers you make, thank you for telling me how to pronounce it as i was saying it like hammun. also thank you for the tech info as well!

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Devan

There is a lot of helpful information about Hamons on the ABS Forum in the November 2011 Topic of the Month on Hamons, click: Hamons - November 2011 Topic of the Month.

Thanks Dan will definitely give that look!

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1. It is pronounced "Ha-moan", not hammin, or hammun, that is the most common misunderstanding about it.

I prefer saying "Hey-Mon" like I am from the Carribean or something... <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

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Devan

There is a lot of helpful information about Hamons on the ABS Forum in the November 2011 Topic of the Month on Hamons, click: Hamons - November 2011 Topic of the Month.

This is a great thread , thanks for the post !

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Brion always enjoy reading your replies packed full of information thank you very much!

yes thanks Brion , as a new member here on ABS and an apprentice I can probably speak for others in saying we are sponges and are here to learn as much as we can....in my opinion from the best in the industry......your input and replies are very much appreciated and essential in gaining more experience......the info and videos on this site are extremely helpful but I couldn't help but notice in the Apprentice Corner the number of replies to views is a dismal 2%......thanks for those who do take the time, we need your experience and your replies don't go unnoticed !!......thanks again

off to the shop to try my false edge !!

Rob