Moonswords 1095 Sword Collection
MoonSwords 1095 Collection
1095 High Carbon Steel Swords
Hand-forged katana, tachi, and tanto in clay-tempered 1095 high carbon steel — a longtime favorite for its purity, its crisp cutting edge, and the vivid hamon it produces under differential hardening.
1095 is a high-carbon steel running close to 0.95% carbon, with no alloying additions to complicate the heat treatment. That simplicity is exactly its appeal: 1095 takes an extremely hard, sharp edge and produces one of the clearest, most classic hamon lines of any sword steel we work with. It's a well-proven choice for both dedicated cutters and collectors who want a traditional, no-frills carbon steel blade.
Below are our 1095 steel pieces currently in the shop. FAQ on what makes 1095 steel different, how it compares to T10 and Damascus, and how to care for it is below the products.
春霜
Harugasumi Katana
Clay-Tempered 1095 High Carbon Steel · Katana · Mid-Range Tier
A straightforward mid-range 1095 katana — a solid starting point in this collection.
Shop Harugasumi →
火ノ子
Hi no Ko Katana
Clay-Tempered 1095 High Carbon Steel · Katana · Mid-Range Tier
“Spark” — a mid-range 1095 katana with its own dedicated spec sheet.
Shop Hi no Ko →
邪龍
Jaryū Katana
Clay-Tempered 1095 High Carbon Steel · Katana · Mid-Range Tier
“Wicked Dragon” — a mid-range 1095 katana in the same clay-tempered line.
Shop Jaryū →
火龍斬
Karyūzan Katana
Clay-Tempered 1095 High Carbon Steel · Katana · Mid-Range Tier
“Fire Dragon Slash” — a mid-range 1095 katana rounding out the group.
Shop Karyūzan →
緑野一輪
Ryokuya Ichirin Katana
Clay-Tempered 1095 High Carbon Steel · Katana · Mid-Range Tier
“Single Blossom of the Green Field” — a mid-range 1095 katana with deep stock across the catalog.
Shop Ryokuya Ichirin →
竜騎
Ryūki Katana
Clay-Tempered 1095 High Carbon Steel · Katana · Mid-Range Tier
“Dragon Rider” — a mid-range 1095 katana in the same clay-tempered construction.
Shop Ryūki →
春宵
Shunshō Katana
Clay-Tempered 1095 High Carbon Steel · Katana · Mid-Range Tier
“Spring Evening” — a mid-range 1095 katana in this collection.
Shop Shunshō →
天逆
Tengyaku Tanto
Clay-Tempered 1095 High Carbon Steel · Tanto · Mid-Range Tier
One of two tanto in this collection — a compact, full-tang companion blade in 1095 steel.
Shop Tengyaku →
天魔
Tenma Katana
Clay-Tempered 1095 High Carbon Steel · Katana · Mid-Range Tier
“Heavenly Demon” — a mid-range 1095 katana in the same clay-tempered line.
Shop Tenma →
天覇
Tenpa Katana
Clay-Tempered 1095 High Carbon Steel · Katana · Mid-Range Tier
“Heavenly Hegemon” — a mid-range 1095 katana rounding out the tier.
Shop Tenpa →
雪見梅
Yukimi-ume Tanto
Clay-Tempered 1095 High Carbon Steel · Tanto · Mid-Range Tier
“Snow-Viewing Plum Blossom” — our second tanto in this collection, in the same 1095 steel.
Shop Yukimi-ume →
風林火山
Fūrin Kazan Tachi
Clay-Tempered 1095 High Carbon Steel · Tachi · High-End Tier
Our genuine tachi in traditional edge-down koshirae — the only tachi in this collection, forged in 1095 steel.
Shop Fūrin Kazan →
化竜
Karyū Katana
Clay-Tempered 1095 High Carbon Steel · Katana · High-End Tier
“Transforming Dragon” — a high-end 1095 katana with refined fittings and finish.
Shop Karyū →
猫虎
Mōko Katana
Clay-Tempered 1095 High Carbon Steel · Katana · High-End Tier
“Fierce Tiger” — the top of our 1095 line, with the most refined fittings and finish in the collection.
Shop Mōko →
修羅蓮
Shuren Katana
Clay-Tempered 1095 High Carbon Steel · Katana · High-End Tier
“Ashura Lotus” — a high-end 1095 katana in this collection.
Shop Shuren →Common Questions
1095 Steel Sword FAQ
What actually makes a blade “1095 steel”?
1095 is a high-carbon steel, running close to 0.95% carbon, prized for taking an extremely sharp edge and a vivid, well-defined hamon when clay-tempered. It's one of the most widely used steels in traditional sword-making, valued for its simplicity and predictable heat-treat response — no alloying tricks, just very pure, very hard steel.
What's the difference between 1095 and T10 steel?
Both are high-carbon steels in the same family, capable of a hard, sharp edge and a visible hamon when clay-tempered. T10 adds a small tungsten alloy that improves wear and chip resistance over plain 1095. 1095 in turn is prized for its purity and the crisp, classic hamon it produces — a trade-off between raw simplicity and added durability, rather than one steel being strictly better than the other.
How does 1095 compare to our Damascus line?
1095 is forged from a single steel billet, while Damascus blades are folded and forge-welded from multiple layers of steel before grinding and polishing to reveal the pattern. Damascus generally sits at a higher price point because of the extra forging time involved — the difference is process and appearance, not raw cutting performance.
Is 1095 steel good for actual cutting (tameshigiri)?
Yes. Properly heat-treated 1095 reaches a high hardness and takes an excellent edge, making it a longtime favorite for functional cutting swords. It's slightly less abrasion-resistant than T10 over repeated heavy use, but for standard tameshigiri and dojo cutting practice it performs very well.
How do I care for a 1095 steel blade?
Like any high-carbon steel, 1095 is not stainless and will rust if neglected. Wipe the blade down after handling, apply a light coat of choji or mineral oil before storing, and keep it in a dry environment away from humidity swings. A few minutes of maintenance after each use keeps the edge and the hamon looking their best for years.
Should I choose sharpened or dull?
Sharpened blades carry a true cutting edge, suited to trained handling and test cutting. Dull (unsharpened) blades share the same steel, temper, and fittings but ship with a rounded edge — the more common choice for display or collectors who don't plan to cut.