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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cedric" data-source="post: 3093689" data-attributes="member: 2044">Some of the common sword myths were brought up, but most of them have already been refuted by people who've gotten the details right. I'll add a few things...Typical weight for a "heavy" two handed sword designed for battle use...5 lbs. Typical weight for a "longsword" equivalent...3 lbs.Short sword...2lbsHeavier, western style swords are honed to a fine edge by a very skilled smith. The secret is to get the blade geometry along the cutting edge such that the edge isn't scalloped, lacking full support of the spine of the blade, if it is scalloped that will generate numerous nicks and cuts. However, the sword can be quite sharp with the proper blade geometry. As to "razor sharp" this was an "illusion" largely. For exhibition purposes a very skilled smith would raise tiny burrs along the cutting edge (very, very tiny), this would snag and catch on fabrics like silk and allow the swordsman to cut a silk kerchief in midair. Not because the sword was so sharp, but because their was a slight serration that the naked eye would only detect with very careful scrutiny. Swords were not sharpened in such a manner for combat use. The mythbusters episode was true in regards to a swords swiping at another sword that was held steady and cutting it in half...this would only happen if the cutting blade was of superior quality (notably so). However, two swords swung at one another ...that's much more likely to cause a sword to break, because the angle the swordsman use could minmize the ability of one sword to flex, compared to the other. They didn't test that.As to steel...Modern pressure hardened stainless steel (like 17-4PH stainless steel) is perfectly well suited to any blade less than 8" in length. For anything longer, carbon steel "must" be used if the sword, dagger, etc is going to see actual use. 5160 Spring steel is very popular for this. I could go on and on and on though...but if people post more questions I'll answer them. I'm, by no means, an expert...but I'd consider myself a well read hobbyist with a background in metallurgy and materials. Oh, on another note...Katana's are not "indestructible", and in general are not vastly superior to well made Western Swords. More ancient katana's exist in good condition today only because of the value a House placed on them in spiritual terms. Whereas, most western nobility who had an excellent sword...were buried with it. Cedric</blockquote>

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