Crucible steel blades

[Rich]

The Japanese had the same problem with their blades are cold temps during
the Manchurian invasion/occupation in the 1930's-40's. That's why they
developed the Koa Isshin Mantetsu blades, to withstand the cold Manchurian
winters without breaking.

Rich

[Jens Nordlunde]

Thank you for many very interesting mails. You have done well in explaining a rather complicated thing, so that even I have understood it thank you very much.

When it comes to the quote in my first mail, we must remember that al-Biruni was an observer and a writer, but by no means a sword smith. It seems to me, that making swords in those days, you needed a smith, who was a very good craftsman, and the craftsman needed a good portion of witchcraft, or the blades would bend, break or maybe bothe.