How To Make A Hamon Line On A Knife

June 01,2024

Quick Summary A hamon is a visible line on a knife blade caused by differential hardening. You can create a hamon by using insulating clay on the blade, which will affect the way the steel transforms with heat. The parts of the blade with and without clay will harden differently, creating the hamon. Chances are that you’ve seen and admired a hamon. It’s a visual demarcation that appears as a wavy line across the surface of a knife or sword blade. During etching, the acid eats away more at the softer section, which appears darker, and the harder edge section appears lighter, creating a clear visual distinction. In popular culture, the hamon is most commonly found on the traditional Japanese katana blade. Around 700 AD, the swordsmith Amakuni Yasutsuna is said to have developed both the hamon and the katana