From:	Jeff Norrell <norrell@*******.ME.UTEXAS.EDU>
Subject:	Re: Katanas
Date:	Wed, 28 Jun 1995 11:03:16 +0600

> Marc A Renoug wrote:
> Aaaaaarrrgh. The katana does not do extra damage because of
> superior craftsmanship, better edge, better balance, or any other of a
> horde of pseudo-mystic "Japanese swords are just better" over-romanticized
> crap. By the time 2050 rolls around, I'd doubt that there are very few
> master swordsmiths still operating, so pretty much everyone will have the
> cheap stuff.
> -snip-
> Sorry, I just had to answer this one. Everytime subjects like
> the katana come up, people get all starry-eyed and say "gosh, they're so
> cool" without ever really knowing the true reasons why.
>
> Marc

I'd have to agree with Marc on this one. To my (albeit, limited) understanding, the
katanas of myth and legend were exceptional blades simply from their processing. Japanese
swordsmiths repeatedly folded the metal for the blades making it extremely hard and
capable of holding an excellent edge. Consequently, this hardness is also the reason you
don't want to smack a rock or something with the cutting edge. I also (vaguely) remember
that the swordsmiths folded carbon into the iron, making steel. Can't remember if they
were the first to do so or not though.

So ends the metallurgy lesson for the day. :)

Jeff