1060 Steel – Functional Swords Facts

1060 Carbon Steel has high carbon steel content. Katana made of this steel is popular among the sword making community because when it is properly heat treated it becomes resilient.

It is quite tough and can keep its edge fairly well. This is the reason why most cheap beater swords are made of this Steel. 1060 Carbon Steel Katana has the lowest practical carbon content of 0.60%.

Manganese is added to prevent this blade from rusting. It is not stainless though and steel needs to be oiled and maintained regularly.

This steel offers a good compromise between hardness and pliability. Other steel like 9260 Spring steel also offers the same hardness, but also more flexibility.

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What Makes 1060 Steel Perform Well

Steel is the heart of the blade. Steel is the sole determiner of how a blade performs. Some other factors that affect the performance of a blade include the following:

• Heat treatment
• Blade geometry
• Handle geometry
• Materials use

There are some factors that cannot be visibly seen by merely looking at it. The only thing that an owner can do is make an educated guess.

One thing can be done and that is to get a full listing of the alloy elements of the steel. A good sword can easily be sharpened. A common rule of thumb would be that better steel will perform better. Exploit the steel by sharpening it.

Understand the Properties of Each Steel

• Resistant to wear – This means having the ability to withstand abrasion. One of the factors that will determine a blades wear resistance includes distribution of carbides
• Strength – Strength means its ability to take a huge amount of load without getting deformed. Strength is proven as an important factor especially when a cut is made or lateral stress place on the edge
• Toughness – This is the blade’s ability to take an impact without causing damage to it. This includes chipping and cracking. This is when the sword maker can trade or compromise strength versus toughness. Strength increases but, toughness decreases. It is also possible to apply different heat treatment to leave the steel hard as it is supposed to
• Stain resistant – This simply means rust-resistant. The blade has the ability to fight rust
• Edge holding capabilities – The capacity of the blade to hold an edge. Some people make the mistake that wear-resistant is the same as the blade’s ability to edge holding. This process is actually job-specific.
• Manufacturing process – Dirt in steel will hamper its performance. The cleaner and purer the steel is the easier it will be to process it.

Understanding these properties will help buyers understand more about the right kind of steel for what they have in mind. Whether the steel is for a sword or a knife by knowing more about its properties it will easier to choose whether 1060 steel is suitable for your needs.

As a buyer, we encourage you to understand and make a wise decision on the best kind of steel for yourself. A well-informed decision can only be made when armed with sufficient knowledge about these steel types, you can learn more by clicking here.

Pros of Using 1060 Steel

• Simple steel
• Differential treatment and the resulting hamon can be done for a 1060 Carbon Steel Katana (However we offer it only for 1095 and T10 steel.
• Capable to take 45-degree bend and still returning true. This provides practitioners an ample leeway to create a less than perfect cut.
• Easy to use during play or practice
• Has 0.6% carbon hard enough to take a good edge
• Can cut through water-filled bottles, a double roll of tatami and occasional cutting of fresh green bamboo
• Affordable prices, Some models are sold around $200+; including shipping.
• Belongs to the 10 series of steels or known as 10x
• Can be folded to create thousands of layers
• Easy to maintain