Does more folds make the blade better?
If you didn’t know any better, you might assume that a 8192 layer blade is at least twice as good as a 4096 layer blade, and maybe twice as hard to make. To get 4096 layers you would start with two layers and fold them 11 times (2 * 2^11 = 4096). If you want 8192 layers, you fold it once more (2 * 2^12 = 8192). For any type of forge/folding, overworking can also be problematic, creating carbon loss, weld failure, and microstructural problems. The bottom line is a 32,768 layer blade is not going to be any better or worse performance-wise than a 512 layer blade or a 1 layer blade. All our pattern welded steel swords are forge-welded around 13 times from two to three different stock steels to yield 8192 layers. We believe the tighter grain pattern best replicates the look of tamahagane steel (without replicating the cost and frailty of that steel). We also produce small numbers of Tamahagane or Satetsu steel swords for their great aesthetic value. Q: Is pattern-welded steel (i.e. two or m
