Effect of Phosphorus Content of Nanban-tetsu on Forgeability of Japanese Sword Making

• SUZUKI Takuo

  Formerly Japan Institute of Art Japanese Sword

Bibliographic Information

Other Title

• 日本刀の鍛錬性に及ぼす南蛮鉄のリン含有量の影響
• ニホントウ ノ タンレンセイ ニ オヨボス ナンバンテツ ノ リン ガンユウリョウ ノ エイキョウ

Abstract

Nanban-tetsu is a steel which was imported into Japan by Portuguese or Spanish merchant ships in the end of Muromachi period (1392-1573). The steel was produced in India and called "Wootz steel". Nanban-tetsu steel was shaped in some forms of a gourd called "Hyotan", a oval called "Koban", a square timber called "Saijo", a semi-cylinder called "Tajo" and others. In 1613, one of the Japanese sword smith, Echizen Yasutsugu 1, first produced a sword using Nanban-tetsu steel. Since then, many sword smiths who lived in Echizen area (Fukui Prefecture) had used Nanban-tetsu steel as a material of Japanese swords. The steels produced using the "Nittoho-Tatara" furnace in Shimane prefecture has been examined by forge-welding as a function of phosphor content in the steels. It is concluded that "Hyotan" shaped Nanban-tetsu steel is not good for forging, "Saijo" shaped Nanban-tetsu steel is good for forging, "Koban"-shaped one is difficult to forgeweld and "Tajo"-shaped one is intermediate.

Journal

• Tetsu-to-Hagane

  Tetsu-to-Hagane 90 (1), 43-47, 2004

  The Iron and Steel Institute of Japan

Keywords

• effect
• Nanban-tetsu steel
• Japanese sword
• phosphor content
• fragility
• forgeability

Details

• CRID: 1390001205184707072
• NII Article ID: 110001457670
• NII Book ID: AN00151251
• DOI: 10.2355/tetsutohagane1955.90.1_43
• ISSN: 18832954
• ISSN: 00211575
• NDL BIB ID: 6818259
• Web Site: https://ndlsearch.ndl.go.jp/books/R000000004-I6818259
• Web Site: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/tetsutohagane1955/90/1/90_1_43/_pdf
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • NDL
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed