how many times is a combat grade katana folded?

Question

exact or ruff estimated number?

Answer 1

A good sword can be attained with 150 to 200 "foldings". Proper annealing is also an important factor.

If it's high carbon steel it will rust but takes well to honing.

There is also the Mokume Gane method where different steel of varying colors are compressed through hammering to create the look of wood grain. It's really beautiful. It is also called Damascus steel.

Answer 2

combat grade? does not need to be folded at all. The reasons katanas were folded in the old days was japan had very little decent iron, it was very porous and low grade.
The folding was the only way to get the pores out of the steel.

European swords on the other hand for example were much closer to modern steels.They could be made as strong and as sharp with very little work, and no folding needed at all.

Obiously if you want a 'traditionally made katana' you will need to ask a guy who does the old folding style.

Answer 3

Cheap ones are simply punched out of factory steel and then sharpened.

The high quality ones are folded many times. There's no set number, the classical swordsmiths just go by experience. They fold the metal enough times that the hard, brittle metal and the soft metal are indistinguishable from eachother.

Answer 4

this site should give you all the info you are looking for
http://www.bladecenter.com/index.php/action/category/id/23/