Introduction To Hamons

In this class, students will learn the traditional Japanese method of heat-treating blades, known as differentially heat treating, with the goal of producing a distinct hardening line or Hamon on the blade. The curriculum will cover various aspects of the process, including steel and clay selection, forging techniques, grinding, and finishing, clay application for heat treating, and the final steps of finishing and polishing the blade.

It is important for prospective students to have prior knowledge and experience in blade forging and finishing. Completion of the American Bladesmith Society Introduction course is highly recommended, as it provides a solid foundation in Bladesmithing techniques. However, if students have not taken the Introduction course, they must have independently acquired knowledge and familiarity with blade forging and finishing techniques.

This class is not suitable for beginners in Bladesmithing, as it assumes a certain level of expertise and understanding in the field. By the end of the course, students will have gained a comprehensive understanding of the Japanese style of heat treating and will be able to produce blades with a visually appealing hardening line or Hamon.