Blade
Handle/Fittings
Scabbard & Extras
Steel Type
When choosing a sword, the type of steel is crucial depending on your intended use. Some steels are renowned for their durability or edge retention, while others have attractive patterns that are better suited for display rather than practical or combat use. To help you make the best choice, we've added detailed descriptions for each type of steel.
The 1045 High Carbon Steel has a 0.45% carbon content in its blade. This steel is relatively soft and easy to work with, resulting in it being more affordable. When properly heat-treated and quenched 1045 Carbon swords can be a battle-ready option for light-cutting practice targets, ideal for beginners.
The 9260 spring steel, with 0.60% carbon and 2% silicon, creates a flexible and sturdy blade that can easily bend without breaking. Its rust resistance makes it ideal for both decorative and heavy-duty cutting tasks.
T8 steel is a modern industrial tool steel known for its durability and strength. Renowned for toughness, T8 excels in cutting tasks against hard targets like bamboo or tatami mats. It is also the most affordable tool steel, making it a popular choice.
1095 high carbon steel, with a carbon content of 0.95%, is renowned for its hardness and ability to hold a razor-sharp edge. This steel excels in cutting practice due to its high blade hardness, but it is also more brittle compared to softer steels, making it less suitable for heavy impact or bending tasks. This makes it one of the most popular blades due to its excellent affordability-to-performance ratio.
The S5 Steel is known in the sword community as "shock steel" due to its ability to retain a sharp edge after rigorous and prolonged cutting activities. Essentially, it's one of the best materials for making durable swords that holds edge well.
The main difference between S5 and S7 tool steel lies in their hardness. S5 can be more manageable during heat treatment, which makes it slightly superior.
Crucible steel is made by melting iron, steel, and other elements with charcoal in a sealed crucible. This process produces a blade with exceptional hardness and a distinctive pattern. There are various methods and patterns, but those used by ShadowDancer, when properly polished, can evoke the look of Tamahagane steel at a much lower cost.
Similarly, crucible steel blades also feature unique patterns, but their surface pattern is less delicate and more pronounced.
The ZXN-275J is a modern spring steel ideal for abusive tameshigiri (cutting tasks) against hard targets like bamboo or tatami mats. It is a marvel of blade material with the right balance of hardness, toughness, and the ability to bend without breaking. This custom modern steel was created by the Shadow Dancer team and cannot be found anywhere else.
Damascus steel is made by pattern-welding two different metals, forging them together through repeated heating and folding. This process creates unique layers and patterns in the metal. Once the blade is shaped, it is etched with acid to enhance the contrast between the layers, revealing the blade's beautiful and distinctive pattern.
Folded steel is made by layering and folding two different types of steel - in this case, a mix of T10 tool steel and 9260 spring steel. The folding process creates a beautiful pattern on the blade from the contrast between the two steels. This method is inspired by traditional Japanese swordmaking techniques.
Advanced folded steel is similar to regular folded steel but uses higher-quality materials and a more detailed process. This creates a pattern that more closely mimics traditional Japanese blades.
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