Thread: Is ball steel really from old anchor chain?

Originally Posted by kevint

IIrc Leon Kapp The Craft of the Japanese Sword translates tama as jewel, and So at japan-tool does as well. I think the best translation of tamahagane is tamahagane. This leaves no doubt what one is speaking of.

Translating it as jewel steel might have been the intended/original purpose. You are right though, it should be left as Tamahagane, but foreigners just have to have everything Japanese, translated into English, and some get very agitated if a word can't be translated.

I suppose it is easy to get caught up in the mystery of it all and get something that is more flashy than practical. Especially, if it is from the mysterious orient.I guess I am a sucker for this stuff.I have a kiradashi I have been using for chipping away at the bad spots on my windowframe in my house. I don't think it is tamhagane though. it is welded steel though.I know it is not its intended purpose but it works good.

I remember reading that legendary knifemaker William Scagel used ball bearing steel for some of his blades and googled same. The only thing useful I came up with was this quote from knifemaker Ed Fowler's catalog,"The Ed Fowler Steel My steel of choice is hand forged 52100 steel, the steel of ball bearings. Based upon extensive comparison shop testing and field evaluation I believe that when carefully forged and heat treated, this is the most versatile and dependable steel available to the knife industry.