10-19-2003, 07:58 PM
Im not sure what you based any of your inferences about me on. I know that most "real samurai" swords ones sees now were actually mass produced for WW2 soldiers.
But if you look at much older blades and methods some of them are facinating. The Metropotian Museum of Art has a nice accessable collection to look at.
As for the European blades, I personally dont think welding harder and softer steel together at the forge is an especially complex or clever idea. But yes the techniques did become rather advanced in the Renaissance. Also sometimes I think people over hype differential heat treatment. It is important but a rather simple concept, perhaps not for a guy making horseshoes, but pretty basic to any sword maker.
But if you look at much older blades and methods some of them are facinating. The Metropotian Museum of Art has a nice accessable collection to look at.
As for the European blades, I personally dont think welding harder and softer steel together at the forge is an especially complex or clever idea. But yes the techniques did become rather advanced in the Renaissance. Also sometimes I think people over hype differential heat treatment. It is important but a rather simple concept, perhaps not for a guy making horseshoes, but pretty basic to any sword maker.