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1050 vs 9260 Spring Steel

by mike tong
(Evansville,IN USA)

QUESTION: Can you tell me the different between 1050 spring steel (cold steel katana) and 9260 spring steel (cheness Tenchi) which steel is more stronger?

I know your website don't have cold steel katana, but I'm with cheness Tenchi all the way.

Thanks.
Mike

ANSWER: Hi Mike,

The 9260 Spring Steel (and specifically, how well it is tempered by Cheness) is a lot more resiliant and tougher than Cold Steels 1050.

On the whole, most Cold Steel swords are tempered very well, but tend to be a bit thick. The Cheness 9260 gets the same and a better toughness without needing such a beefy blade, so the end result is - 9260 is the best in terms of durability. I really haven't seen anything else out there in this price range that comes close.

Hope this helps.

- Paul

Comments for 1050 vs 9260 Spring Steel

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1050 spring steel imperial forge
by: Barry Harman (UK)

Hello Mike
I notice you website doesn't review imperial forge katana's. Despite that i bought one and although the sword looks good the blade has no apparent hamon. And the blade doesn't seem that sharp. Is that expected or have i picked a bum blade? would have gone with your recomendations, but not much choice in the UK.
Cheers great website!

edge retention
by: Anonymous

so 9260 is definitely tougher then 1050, but does it hold an edge as well? are there pros & cons to each one?

Input
by: Caleb

9260 has the capability to be a harder blade. The silicon alloy increases shock resistance and if tempered correctly is a superior material. That being said heat treating is everything. I've produced blades in both I prefer 9160 and 5160 for durability and spring. However I would recommend through hardened steel over other tempering methods. With modern steel and modern heat control you actually lose functionality for aesthetic. And remember a sword above all must be a reliable tool.

Cheness produces some well tempered blades. Descent for intro level. The fittings are sub par and the blades are a bit meaty and incorrectly shaped. Thé habaki are non historically fit to the blade. Tsuka had to be replaced due to cracking

Cold steel the blades are overly hearty. I have never tested their blades to failure so I won't vouch for quality.

9260 ebay????
by: charly

i already find some 9260 spring steel katanas on ebay they sold them for 99 to 150, do you know something about them?? are they good as the cheness??

steel
by: k60

For a fully functioal sword or knife 5160 and 9260cm are the best -super tough- able to hold an edge and keep it- easy to sharpen- most smiths that know what their doing love working with it-they are corrosion resistant without losing strength - with proper heat treating i would even say they are better than welding/ folding/laminated super expensive jap swords but thats opinion and ive never seen a destructive test to put this question to bed but would love to see a 20k katana swing and meet a 5160th 300$ katana until we found which broke first- but the odds of that happening are a million to 1. so we'll never truly know.

steel
by: k60

5160 and 9260th will have an outer hc of 55 to 60and a core softness of around 30 heat treated properly which gives it the same characteristics as the laminated high $ blades without all the microscopic welding flaws ........K.I.S.S

9260
by: Anonymous

can anyone tell me the proper heat treatment for 9260 spring steel . any tips would be appriceated and is it a forgiving metal? im going to atempt to build a knifed from it in a charcoal forge. thanks for any advice.

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