Hamon?

[dcmeckel]

If ya don't ask ya won't ever learn,right?
So,not being a knife-smith,I need to know
WHAT THE HECK IS A HAMON?
David

[Cody D Works]

it's a discernable line that shows between the two grain patterns of the steel which are created during the heat treating process.

someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[Lamey]

[kbaknife]

Matt's beauty there is a perfect example of this:
"In swordsmithing, hamon,  (from Japanese, literally "blade pattern") is a visual effect created on the blade by the hardening process. Blades made in this manner are known as differentially hardened, with a harder ha than mune (for example: mune 40 HRC vs ha 58 HRC) as a result of clay applied on the blade during the cooling process. Less or no clay allows the ha to cool faster, making it stronger but more brittle; more clay allows the mune to cool slower and retain more resilience.

The hamon is the transition between the region of harder martensitic steel of the blade edge and the softer pearlitic steel of the back of the sword. This difference in hardness is the objective of the process; the appearance is purely a side effect. However, the aesthetic qualities of the hamon are quite valuable—not only as proof of the differential hardening treatment but also in its own right—and the patterns can be quite complex.

Many modern reproductions do not have natural hamon because they are thoroughly hardened monosteel; their hamon is faked via various processes such as acid etch, or more crude ones such as wire brushing. Some modern reproductions with natural hamon are also subjected to acid etching to enhance that hamon's prominence."

[tippit]

Do some steels take a a more dramatic harmon than others?  Doc...from Aiken finally out of the cold for a few days  

[Lamey]

for readily available steels,  W1,W2 and 1095 will net the best results.  There are variations even between different mill runs and the results you will get, but those listed will respond.

[kbaknife]

Originally posted by tippit:
Do some steels take a a more dramatic harmon than others?  Doc...from Aiken finally out of the cold for a few days      

Absolutely, Jeff.
Let's also not forget to distinguish between a hamon and a quench line.
A discernable line on a blade differentiating between the hard and soft zones can be created in a deep or medium hardening steel simply by only quenching the working portion of the blade, when the entire blade has been up to austenizing heat, or by only austenizing the cutting edge.
Hamons are more easily displayed in shallow hardening steels when fully quenched, and the hamon is influenced by MANY!!! factors, such as alloy, amount of heat and where it is directed, speed of quenchant, steel thickness, clay type - if any is used - clay amount and where it is placed,etc.
So, alloy has as much to do with it as anything else.
Most forging steels used for display of hamons would be 1095/W1/W2.

Then these hamons are revealed by etching with acid, since the acid reacts differently according to the amount of austenite, or hardened carbon.
Then, even with sanding alone, it can be displayed, since soft steels cuts differently than hardened steel, and leaves a different sheen on the blade surface.

[dcmeckel]

So do you blade-smiths pronounce it "HA-MOON"
"HA-MOAN" or "HEY-MAHN"?

[kbaknife]

I pronounce it hah-men - accent on the first syllable.
I've also heard hay-men.
Maybe you can come up with a new one!

[kbaknife]

Also hah-moan.
You got most of them.

 http://www.ricecracker.com/info/hamon.htm

[dcmeckel]

How 'bout Ham-on rye?

[kbaknife]

That one, too.

[Ragnarok Forge]

I have also heard it Ham on.  So ham on rye should work just fine.